Profile

Once a fringe neighborhood, the cobblestone Meatpacking District has become so saturated with restaurants, clubs and boutiques that a glamorous hotel now fits right in. The Gansevoort (named for a nearby Dutch-christened street) rises to the occasion with plenty of fresh, luxuriant touches, most notably a rooftop swimming pool—illuminated with subtle, changeable colored lighting—and the outdoor Plunge bar. Rooms have nine-foot ceilings and lots of natural light, with vast views of the Empire State Building to the north and the Hudson River to the west. Beds are covered with gray or deep plum throws, down duvets and Egyptian cotton sheets, while bathrooms are outfitted with heat-retaining granite ceramic floors and custom marble-and-stainless-steel sinks. Flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and a complimentary WiFi connection are among the rooms' other tuned-in features. Guests who can bear to leave such comfort will find that the hotel also has a Japanese restaurant, Ono, a salon/spa, a world-famous leather goods boutique, Henry Béguelin, and an on-site fitness room. — Karen Hudes

The design, the rooftop and the locale are exceptional.

Cons
If you don't like attitude and you don't look good, check in elsewhere.