Hotel Hugo ★★★★

Ever seen Mad Men? If not, you’re missing out, but that’s beside the point. If Jon Hamm’s Don Draper were a hotel, he would be the Hotel Hugo. Their shared characteristics extend beyond alliterative appellation: both are effortlessly stylish and coolly cosmopolitan, but with a little bit of edge. The Hotel Hugo offsets its contemporary glamour with industrial accents from a bygone era. Rather than Madison Avenue, it occupies prime real estate in vibrant Hudson Square, but doesn’t lack any of the uptown cachet. The hotel combines contemporary comfort and retro style, and pulls it off in spectacular fashion.

You’d be forgiven if you walked straight past, thinking it was just a trendy Soho coffee shop, with its discreet exterior and the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Felix Roasting Co. – the only clue that this is an exclusive boutique hotel is the cheery doorman in immaculate livery. While the neighbourhood’s warehouse heritage is alluded to with the lobby’s exposed concrete and raw leather armchairs, its glossy Italian walnut panelling and stunning marble floor hint at the opulent luxury that characterises this hidden gem.

Surprisingly spacious for a Manhattan boutique hotel, the rooms are well-appointed and luxuriously comfortable. The lacquered panelling continues into the rooms, but is offset by warm neutral painted walls and exquisite Egyptian cottons. Ask for a room on a high floor and enjoy excellent views over the city rooftops from vast windows which flood the rooms with light.

Throughout the hotel, bright natural light and horticultural highlights offer a contrast to the urban chic interior design. Behind the check-in desk at the lobby is a beautifully maintained vertical garden, giving the lobby a calming ambiance. Fortunately, the service matches the impressive setting: slick and formal, yet warm, friendly and attentive to detail. A well-staffed concierge attends to even the most fastidious of requests with a calm efficiency.

At the celebrated Felix Roasting Co. coffee shop, enjoy comfort food at breakfast, lunch or dinner, along with exceptional coffee – served in an elegant getting, which includes a seasonal patio. The principal restaurant is an outstanding asset to this stunning hotel.

For spectacular views and an upbeat vibe, head to Azul on the Rooftop, a Cuban-cantina style outdoor rooftop bar, offering cocktails and tacos with fantastic 360-degree views of Lower Manhattan. Alternatively, for a more of a cosy lounge bar, head to the Hugo’s exclusive duplex rooftop bar – and perhaps enjoy Don Draper’s drink of choice, an Old Fashioned, lovingly crafted by the chatty and knowledgeable barmen. The atmospheric ambience of the Bar Hugo offers a warm respite from the city outside, and an ideal place to view the sun set on The City That Never Sleeps.