Profile

Robert De Niro co-founded this luxury boutique hotel not far from his other pet projects, Tribeca Grill and Tribeca Film Center. Opened in April 2008, the eight-story property has a signless brown façade fashioned by a Pennsylvania brick-maker to blend in witho the surroundings. Inside, many of the doors and floors are fashioned of reclaimed wood, giving the air a rustic scent. Each of the 88 rooms is uniquely decorated with homey accents such as zebra-patterned chairs, potted plants, sculptures, and coffee-table books, while all feature soft Swedish DUX beds, flat-screen TVs, and minibars with free—yes, free—snacks. Some of the thirteen suites are corner rooms with clear views of sunsets over the Hudson, while others are duplexes with jaw-dropping 30-foot slanted windows and fireplaces. The bathrooms, too, can vary: Some have Italian marble tubs; others, Moroccan tile floors or Red Flower toiletries. But the biggest surprises may be found in the teak-and-bamboo-walled basement that houses a state-of-the-art fitness center and the Japanese-inspired Shibui spa, which has traditional bathing and Shiatsu rooms and a warm, lantern-lit swimming pool. — Julie Mehta

Those with a design affinity will appreciate the meticulously decorated rooms, abundance of high-class amenities, and soothing spa. Guests can also get colorful Italian fare from the in-house Locanda Verde 24 hours a day.

Cons
The steep rates make longer stays impossible for most, and the old furnishings and materials may be a no-no for those with allergies.