Hotel Frank

Description:

• Its location -- only a block from Union Square -- and chic-boutique makeover are the two main reasons this former Maxwell Hotel is the new darling amongst hip business travelers and serious shoppers. A major renovation in the fall of 2008 brought the hotel to a far more upscale, boutique-hotel standard. A clever interior makeover by one of the country's most cutting-edge designers, Thomas Schoos Design, Inc., incorporates a blend of popular design trends through the decades, from turn-of-the-century Beaux Art classicism to '40s Art Deco and retro '60s chic (yes, I know, it sounds odd, but it works). The guestrooms -- each with 32-inch flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations -- exude a custom designed look: houndstooth-patterned carpeting, elongated emerald green headboards in crocodile-patterned leather, sleek white leather couches, vintage 1930s artwork. Even the bathrooms are outfitted in floor-to-ceiling Carrera marble. The hotel's 28 roomy junior suites offer excellent value despite the slightly audible elevator noise, but best of all are the pair of one-bedroom penthouses on the 13th floor, both of which offer separate living rooms and exceptional views of the city.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010