First Look Inside The Hotel Williamsburg

November 14, 2011 at 11:31 AM | by ASchechter | Comments (3)

It's the beginning of the end: Williamsburg's first boutique hotel flung open its doors earlier last month on a quiet, park-facing street near the waterfront. Though we initially had assumed Brooklyn would allow for significantly more square footage than, say, an equivalent hotel in Manhattan, we might have been proved wrong.

But all is not lost: the hotel's prime location has already begun attracting tourists and film crews alike (The Good Wife, a Vogue fashion shoot, and an unnamed MTV pilot, have all shot here). And if it weren't for the taco truck (it will eventually be installed next to the pool and bi-level art gallery (opening date still TBD), we wouldn't be nearly so excited about the public spaces here. Most of all, we can't wait for the opening of Pillar & Plough, the hotel's farm-to-fork eatery, next week.

There are positives here. Sleek, compact rooms (which start at $300), offer a bright, orange and white palette�if you're thinking creamsicles, you wouldn't be so far off�a Crosely record player (as promised) and some very well-stocked minibars, including the hotel's yet-to-surface signature Brooklyn Brewery beer. �

The rooftop, which won't be publicly open for a while, has totally unobstructed views across three boroughs (and thanks to zoning laws, that's likely to remain unchanged).

While the bathrooms are pretty unremarkable, the beds themselves are framed by a simple strip of mirrors that spans the length of the wall above where you sleep. Over at the minibar, an eclectic mix of liquors ensures a characteristically Brooklyn drinking experience: weird and delicious. Averna, Sheep Dip whiskey and Crystal Head vodka are included in the array, not to mention the souvenir-ready Brookyln Brewery pint glasses.

For those traveling in groups, each floor contains two adjoining superior King rooms that make the perfect corner double suite for families or friends�aka, the party room!

While Superior Queens start at $300, go for the $325 Superior Kings. Superior King Deluxes go for $350, but might not be worth the minimal extra room you get. Two of the hotel's suites three suites boast balconies, but then again, if it's the outdoors you're craving, just head down to the pool! When the cold weather hits, the hotel plans to winterize the courtyard space with tents and heating.

[Photos: HotelChatter]

Comments (3)

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Loved the suite's living area (can they re-do my apartment?), but the starting rates of $300+ are way too steep. Let's not fool ourselves. This is still Brooklyn.

The cocktails and staff when you walk into the lobby are lovely. Although currently only three cocktails on the list. The lobby is minimalist. The check-in desk is at the bar, but I don't believe they offer a complimentary cocktail upon check in. The water treatment is interesting but sputters everywhere and one of the plexiglass plates is already broken. I think that will get re-imagined very soon. It's an ok hotel, but doesn't look like it was thought out 100%. It looks like they started in one direction, then switched directions then tried to come back to their original ideas but it was too late. It's not very "Brooklyn" - and if you're going to open up in Williamsburg... you better make it have a "brooklyn" vibe. This is more Miami / South Beach then Brooklyn. Other hotels in Manhattan do Brooklyn better than this. But staff was great. Looking forward to pool in the summer... but I can imagine there is going to be an uproar of locals. As long as allllllll the bridge and tunnel folks can go HERE and leave all the other bars to the brooklyn kids, maybe they'll be fine... Who knows. But I predict a pretty big backlash.

HotelGeek75, I agree totally. The water feature wasn't even on when I visited. And the Miami vibe is definitely a bit...misguided. Maybe this place just needs to be more "lived-in"

As for the price, I think they're trying to lure a more upscale crowd and thus want to match that with a more upscale price. The rooms look good, but I feel it will all depend on the scene here as this place grows into the neighborhood (or the neighborhood grows into it)

I must say, the flat screens over the lobby bar are a cool touch! Will add more photos next time.

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