Hotel on Rivington

The Scene

Hotel on Rivington is located smack in the middle of the Lower East Side (LES), a historic New York neighborhood that has transformed into one of the city’s hippest. It still retains some of its gritty, immigrant past (e.g. low-rise, tenement-style buildings), though much of it is now being converted into hip, independent storefronts. Expect a younger demographic and lots of energy including in the dozens of shops, cafes, art galleries and bars that stay open till the late hours. As its immediate neighbors, the East Village, Nolita, Chinatown and Soho are all within walking distance, and Brooklyn is just a quick subway ride away.

The Concept

When it first opened in 2005, Hotel on Rivington had a big impact in the neighborhood. First because it was one of the few modern high-rises in the area, and secondly because it kicked the LES party scene up a notch by offering a more sophisticated backdrop in which to indulge, be it in the restaurant, lounge, tequila bar or occasional rooftop shindigs. To this day, the hotel’s main draw remains its vibrant communal areas, namely CO-OP (the restaurant and lounge), Viktor & Spoils (the tequila tar) and The Penthouse, the rooftop event space that includes a 900-square foot open air terrace with killer Manhattan views. Be sure to check in with Adam, Hotel on Rivington’s concierge and man-about-town, who will fill you in and set you up with anything you may need while in the Big Apple.

The Look

Hotel on Rivington is hard to miss---its 21 floors of glass and steel façade towers over the mostly low-rise neighborhood and practically dwarfs its immediate brick-and-mortar neighbors. It’s modern and sleek---and that carries over to the interiors, from the egg-shaped lobby entrance (which is an actual art installation dubbed “the egg-trance”) to the DeVinn Bruce-designed CO-OP and Viktor & Spoils Bar & Lounge. Rooms---while still sleek---are more on the minimalist side, letting the floor-to-ceiling windows be the star of the show. Not surprisingly, rooms on higher floors offer the best views---either of the city or East River. Also, expect luxe amenities such as Tempur-Pedic beds, Frette linens and robes, and Davines bath products. Wi-Fi is complimentary, and some rooms have balconies and soaking tubs---two very nice things to come home to.

In Short

Taking the Lower East Side party scene up a notch, Hotel on Rivington seduces with a mix of sophisticated interiors and a vibrant atmosphere that gets filled with locals, guests and in-the-know tourists.