Profile

This glamorous Chelsea hotel, once the headquarters for the National Maritime Union, made its striking debut in June 2003. The owners revamped the building, using its nautical architectural elements—most notably the 5-foot porthole windows (one per room) overlooking the Hudson—and expanding on them with perfectly conceived details, such as the cabin-like teak furniture. The rooms have custom beds with Japanese fabric headboards, 20” flat-screen TVs, a complimentary WiFi connection and dimmer lights, as well as a waterfall showerhead in the green-tiled bathroom. Two terrace suites, which have outdoor showers, are also available. The guests, many from the entertainment and art worlds, are suitably stylish and keen on the hotel’s bumping nightlife scene. Among the hot spots—not to mention the cool lobby with a fireplace—are the lovely, in-demand sushi restaurant Matsuri, the Japanese-themed nightclub Hiro, and the less formal bar and trattoria, La Bottega, which extends outside into 6,000 square feet of patio seating. Factor in the party cabanas on the terraces and the Maritime has the most outdoor space of any hotel in Manhattan. — Karen Hudes

You’ll feel like a guest on a retro luxury liner.

Cons
The portals and river backdrop are charming, yet some guests may prefer more expansive windows and rooms.