The Marlton

West 8th Street, once a parade of piercing parlors, poster stores, and shoe stores, has been undergoing a transformation since the arrival of cult spots like Stumptown Coffee Roasters and an offshoot of Parker Meridien's Burger Joint. The Marlton, the first solo property from trendsetting hotelier Sean MacPherson, who also owns the Bowery, the Maritime, and the Jane, has joined the newly desirable enclave. The 1900 building has a lot of local history—Beat icon Jack Kerouac wrote a couple of novellas while staying there, and would-be Andy Warhol assassin Valerie Solanas stayed there—but the deceptively lived-in-looking interior, including the lobby's cunningly retro oak paneling, was mostly designed from scratch.

You can relax in a worn-in leather armchair while sipping a cup of house-roasted Ferndell coffee and flipping through books on NYC history or local artists. The bedrooms are miniaturized versions of a Paris grand hotel, measuring only 150 square feet each, with gilt-edged velvet headboards, crown moldings, and shaded sconces held by brass hands. The bathrooms have petite marble sinks, antiquey brass rain showerheads, and Côté Bastide products. The classic decor is offset by midcentury touches, including art by Berlin-based artist Stefano Castronovo, who was inspired by Abstract Expressionists like Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell, and Serge Mouille chandeliers that resemble Anglepoise lamps on steroids. A restaurant and bar are being planned.

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5.0

Address: 355 W 16th StNew York10011

Contact: 212-229-2559

Website: dreamhotels.com/downtown