While Manhattan’s Lower East Side isn’t shy of happening bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and live music venues, the area could always use another boutique hotel. Having just opened in the fall of 2022, Moxy Lower East Side — the Moxy Hotel brand’s fourth flagship property in New York City — made its grand debut at the corner of Bowery and Broome Street. And despite there being multiple Moxy Hotels out in the world, each of their properties feels individualistic, boutique, and unique to its core.
The buzz of the neighborhood is immediately tributed from the moment guests pass through the entrance doors, which open to a catwalk that leads to the uber-eccentric lobby. Inspired by the vaudeville theaters of the 1800s, burlesque houses, and old-time menageries, Michaelis Boyd and Rockwell Group equipped the lobby with playful touches: Andy Warhol-esque wallpapers, circus-themed chandeliers, and all-day co-working lounges occupy the space.
Within the 303 guestrooms, expect the same eclectic, unique design throughout bedroom corridors — brightly hued paint backdrop king-sized bed headboards, and floor-to-ceiling windows allow for sweeping skyline views and natural light to spill in. Mimicking studio-styled city apartments, similar amenities supply guestrooms and suites to maximize the space: Folding-wall stationeries, built-in under-bed storage, and hanging racks disguised into the décor, to name a few. Bathrooms feature rain showers with colored glass shower doors, lava-stone sinks, and Hollywood lighting-inspired lined mirrors as the perfect spot to get ready for a night out on the town.
However, guests won’t have to go far from this boutique stay to find the buzzy nightlife scene for which the Lower East Side is most known. Start the evening heading to the glitzy 16th-floor rooftop bar, The Highlight Room, replete with lush foliage and breathtaking views of New York City for a pre-dinner cocktail. When it’s time for a bite to eat, Sake No Hana — a stylish 1980s-style, New-York-meets-traditional-Japanese restaurant beneath the hotel’s dramatic entry catwalk — offers a shareable menu comprising grilled teppanyaki dishes, Wagyu beef, and creative sushi rolls, paired alongside a curated list of sakes, beers, and cocktails highlighting Japanese spirits.
Once dinner comes to a close, it’s time to hit the hotel’s buzzy nightclub: Loosie’s. The sleek underground club boasts a dazzling disco ball chandelier and a unique cage-like bar that accompanies a killer sound system and inviting dance floor. And if guests aren’t quite ready to wrap up the evening, they can head to Silver Lining Lounge, the sultry, lobby-adjacent piano lounge that is the epitome of a debonair nightcap spot with its blue velvet accented furnishings and smooth jazz ambiance.
It goes without saying, but Moxy Lower East Side knocks it out of the park in the trendsetting boutique hotel realm, from its wealth of entertainment options to its ubiquitous eccentric style.
Top Takeaways:
Location: Lower East Side, New York City
Rating: Four-Star
Food + Drink: There’s a medley of food and drink options at Moxy Lower East Side. Grab a coffee and pastry at the hotel’s all-day cafe, The Fix, in the lobby before embarking on city adventures. Then, return to the Japanese restaurant, Sake No Hana, for sharable dinner dishes. And lastly, of course, a cocktail should be enjoyed at The Highlight Room or Silver Lining Piano Lounge at some point during the trip.
Our Favorite Part of the Hotel: From the eccentric design to the number of dining and entertainment options, it’s tough to say what part of the hotel is our favorite. However, the spot that catches our attention the most is The Highlight Room on the 16th floor with its unmatched cityscape views and lush foliage centerpiece.
Amenities: Fitness center, Restaurant, Bar, Meeting space, Daily housekeeping, Pet friendly
What’s Nearby? Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center, National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, and Chrysler Building
Any personal neighborhood recs? Heading to the famed Katz’s Delicatessen and Essex Market is highly encouraged when staying on the Lower East Side. Our official guide to the Lower East Side and East Village highlights all of the best places to eat, drink, and visit while wandering around these iconic Manhattan neighborhoods.
Rooms: 303
Pricing: Rooms start at $147/night
Closest Airport: LaGuardia Airport
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