McCarren Hotel & Pool

The Scene

Williamsburg is a section of Brooklyn that, thanks to its location just across the East River from Manhattan, became at one point popular with artists and creative types who wanted to escape the city’s high rents and benefit from wider open spaces. That process started well over a decade ago, and the transformation of Williamsburg into one of the world’s hipster hotbeds (see London’s Shoreditch, Paris’ Canal St Martin, Berlin’s Kreuzberg, etc.) is by now common knowledge to most. Today the neighborhood is still teeming with creativity, but it has somewhat matured (thanks in part to rising rent prices and the influx of Manhattanites). Walk around Bedford Ave and you’ll find thrift stores next to cutting-edge restaurants and stylish boutiques and cocktail bars. The McCarren Hotel & Pool overlooks McCarren Park, a popular destination with locals, and is a short stroll from the main drags of Bedford Ave; Manhattan is one subway stop away on the L train (a short walk from the hotel).

The Concept

Formerly known as the King & Grove Williamsburg and sometimes referred to as Brooklyn’s original boutique hotel, the McCarren Hotel & Pool is an urban retreat catering to a hip and creative crowd who never turns down a party. Brooklyn and Williamsburg are known for their intense nightlife---from rooftop shindigs to all-night warehouse parties to block parties---so it’s no surprise that the hotel would borrow some of that vibe. However, while a lot of parties in Brooklyn tend to be more on the gritty and chaotic side, the McCarren is the antithesis, providing a much classier backdrop that includes stylish interiors, a forward-thinking restaurant helmed by a Michelin-starred chef (The Elm by Paul Liebrandt, which is also available for in-room dining) and, as the main star, a large saltwater pool and deck that is home to some of the city’s most memorable (and popular) summer pool parties. Sheltering Sky, the 8th-floor rooftop lounge with unparallaled Manhattan views, is another big draw and puts on regular events, including a rotating series of local and international DJs (mostly during summer). And unlike most of the city's rooftops, it has vowed to stay open year-round.

The Look

The hotel’s eight stories of steel and glass channel some of Brooklyn’s rough aesthetic, but the overall décor is clean and sophisticated. Rooms function as a welcome refuge from the lively atmosphere in the common areas, and are defined by clean lines and neutral colors: gray walls, white linens, blonde-wood floors-- elements that produce a rather calming effect. Fortunately, luxuries are not overlooked including Malin + Goetz amenities, huge flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms with rain showerheads, and Frette linens and bathrobes.

In Short

Williamsburg in Brooklyn is known for its fun atmosphere and vibrant, creative population. With a great location, quality restaurant and a buzzy pool and rooftop lounge, The McCarren Hotel & Pool is all of that plus a haven of comfort when you need it to be.