Upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood just got its first high-rise boutique stay: The Radio Hotel.
Blueprinted by Stonehill Taylor and MVRDV, the unique lego-like structure’s whimsical exteriors — clad in eight different chromatic shades of glazed brick from vibrant orange to muted plum — is architecturally different from any other skyscraper in the city. The stacked shape allows each complex to have its own outdoor terraces — perfect for overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
Prideful of its rich Latin-Caribbean roots, the Radio Hotel honors Washington Heights’ Latinx community through both its interior art pieces and outfacing façade. By partnering with local Dominican artists such as designer Danny Peguero, the hotel pays tribute to Latin provenance with specific art pieces: a colorful chandelier and festive knick-knacks harbored in wooden cubbies populate the lobby, while the exterior brims with vivacious hues.
A clutch of different studio-styled corridors embed the 221-key hotel, from the Suites, which feature king-bedded accommodations, pull-out sofa beds and wall-to-wall windows, to the Bunk Rooms, which offer two, lofted twin beds and walk-in rain showers. To mirror the building’s unique model, each suite features bathrooms painted entirely in one of the primary hues — similar to the outer frame’s palette — to categorize them by size. The contrast between the subtle, sunlit bedchambers and the bright tiled lavatories creates an ambiance that feels both approachable and fancy at the same time.
While staying at the Radio Hotel, guests can walk downstairs for an elevated culinary experience that serves Santo Domingo-inspired dishes at the hotel’s restaurant, Jalao NYC. The iconic Latin-Caribbean restaurant’s first-ever U.S. outpost highlights its signature items such as the Chicharrón y Casabe (fried pork belly and cassava bread) with several new additions exclusive to its New York location (we hear the Mofongo Mar y Tierra — the Dominican version of surf and turf compromising of shrimp and crisp pork belly with a garlic mojo sauce, along with the option to add lobster — is a true delicacy). If you’re in the mood for a drink, the suave, island style bar at Jalao serves classically crafted cocktails infused with a Dominican twist. (Order the Mamajuana Manhattan: a rum-and-red-wine mixture sweetened with honey as well as botanicals indigenous to the culture.)
Radio Hotel boasts a sizable outdoor courtyard — bordered by a lush bamboo garden — for restaurant seating and community events. The rooftop event space, called Above The Heights, boasts 360-degree panoramic views.
To differentiate amongst New York City’s prolific hospitality scene is a hard task to accomplish. That said, Radio Hotel does so with flying colors (literally and figuratively).
Top Takeaways
- Location: Washington Heights, New York City, NY
- Rating: Four-star
- The Vibe: A playful Dominican Republic-inspired boutique hotel in the heart of New York City’s diverse Washington Heights neighborhood.
- Food + Drink: Radio Hotel presents Jalao NYC: an elevated culinary experience that serves Santo Domingo-inspired dishes. The iconic Latin-Caribbean restaurant highlights its signature items with several new additions exclusive to its New York location. (Try the Chicharrón y Casabe Mofongo (fried pork belly) or the Mar y Tierra (Dominican-style surf and turf). If you’re in the mood for a drink, the suave, island-style bar at Jalao serves classically crafted cocktails infused with a Dominican twist. (Order the Mamajuana Manhattan: a rum-and-red-wine mixture sweetened with honey as well as botanicals indigenous to the culture.)
- Amenities: Fitness Center; Restaurant; Bar; Free WiFi; Outdoor Terrace; Parking Garage
- Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The colorful outdoor façade is so different from anything else in the city.
- What’s Nearby: George Washington Bridge; Tenzer Garden; Wave Hill; Hispanic Society Museum and Library; Rockefeller Center; Top of the Rock
- Any neighborhood recs?: Home to Manhattan’s only lighthouse along the Hudson River, Fort Washington Park is a cute spot to spend the afternoon. (Fun fact: the structure’s popularity in the children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lyn Ward, garnered itself a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979).
- Rooms: 221
- Starting Nightly Rate: Rooms start at $230/night
- Closest Airport: LaGuardia Airport
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