Profile

Overlooking the Hudson in the far West Village, the six-floor, red-brick Jane Hotel had a storied history even before trendy hoteliers Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson (of Maritime and Bowery hotels fame) took control. In the early twentieth century, the claustrophobically tiny rooms housed sailors, and in 1912, they were used by Titanic survivors. Now, they serve as podlike quarters for guests, with single twin beds and limited, but modern, amenities like free Wi-Fi and iPod docks. The first of these 150 standard rooms, inspired by luxury train cabins, opened in fall 2008, and 40 captain's cabins—with waterfront views, private bathrooms, and five times as much space—are scheduled to follow. Bohemian décor now pervades the landmarked building, which—in its most recent iteration—was the dilapidated, residential Hotel Riverview. (Some of those tenants still remain.) Quirky accents include carved moose heads and stuffed monkey bellhops, a clock behind the front desk with counterclockwise numbers, and a tattered disco ball (shipped from MacPherson’s L.A. home), which hangs in what was the Jane Street Theater, birthplace of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and now a chic bar.
— Caroline Kinneberg

For budget travelers who don't plan on being in the hotel often and who are accustomed to shared bathrooms (i.e., European travelers and students), the tiny rooms are offset by the downtown location.

Cons
Couples have little choice but to select the captain's cabins, as the standard rooms are just too tight for two.