Boro Hotel

The Boro Hotel has the best lobby in Long Island City for working and using free Wi-Fi. The elegant industrial space, designed by Grzywinski + Pons (also responsible for the Hotel on Rivington in the Lower East Side), features plenty of natural light, tables and chairs, modern sofas, a fireplace, and bookshelves curated by Strand Books in Union Square. Because of the mid-century modern furniture, stark white linens, and hanging edison bulbs, the rooms and suites have a similar minimalist feel. A few rooms even have panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. Non-guests can order coffee and drinks from the cafe and the lobby bar. Monday through Friday, happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m.

Long Island City is undergoing a significant transformation from a former manufacturing district to a cultural center. Cheap rent drew savvy Manhattan and Brooklynites to the nabe, and excellent restaurants, bars, and clubs soon followed. Local institutions such as the Chocolate Factory, MoMA PS1, and the Oracle Club have helped to establish Long Island City as a destination in its own right.

Price: $187 per night
Google rating: 4.1/5.0
Address: 38-28 27th StLong Island City11101
Phone: 718-533-1375
Website: borohotel.com