Hotel Indigo

Profile

Though there are now dozens of design-conscious Indigos nationwide, the Chelsea flower-district outpost—opened in late 2009—has become the brand’s flagship, thanks in large part to its independent owners’ commitment to doing things a little differently. Though booking goes through the InterContinental Hotels group, you won’t find chain-branded logos on anything here. Instead, the 120 rooms and two penthouse suites are kitted out with Italian-made custom furnishings, Frette sheets, Sony flat-screens hooked up to 150 channels, and Keurig coffee makers. The décor is streamlined and modern but colorful, with multi-hued headboards and bright lampshades in the rooms, dramatic wall-size pictures by Italian fashion photographer Marco Glaviano greeting guests on every floor, and nods to the flower district throughout. There’s a decent-size gym and small meeting room and business center on the lower level, plus the hopping Glass Bar and Lounge on the rooftop. The lobby restaurant, Blu, serves Mediterranean fare by chef Robert Belissimo and pizza made fresh in its brick oven. While the place still feels like a small hotel (front-desk attendants double as concierges, for example, and there’s no evening turndown service), it’s a hit with corporate and upscale leisure travelers looking for something a little higher-end in the neighborhood. — Sandra Ramani

An upscale offering on a street crowded with low-end chains (and wholesale florists); great views from the rooftop bar; on-site brick pizza oven; top-quality furnishings and a design with personality.

Cons
Prices can be a little high for a four-star hotel, so check the web for seasonal specials.