Brooklyn, New York, USA ~ Wythe Hotel

April 2018

When we learned that the Brooklyn Museum was bringing the retrospective of David Bowie to New York (the one originally presented by the V&A in London), we booked a weekend away to see the show and discover a bit of Brooklyn. Picking a hotel in New York is both fun and a challenge — so very much to choose from — but the Wythe caught our eye for its location and its reuse of an old factory as a modern hotel.

Stark in just the right way

The Wythe is certainly not overdone. The floors are polished concrete, the furnishings, perhaps, sparse in the judgement of some. But this allowed the floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Manhattan to take center stage. We did decide that should we return, we’d request to be at least one floor up (we were on 4), which would make the view all the better. For us, the aesthetic was just right, and some of the extra touches — radiant heating in the floor, custom wallpaper, surround sound — made the room feel unique.

The only part of the room that was truly indulgent, however, was the mini bar. We didn’t take a picture, but let’s just say we were fully equipped to make some lovely craft cocktails if the mood struck.

Not quite the oldest people in the hotel

Speaking of cocktails, rather than making our own (we can do that at home), we headed up to the bar, which features more views and a lovely patio. This is when it became fairly clear that Brooklyn is a place for young people. Depending on who you are, you may think Brooklyn is ultra cool — or past its prime. The Wythe certainly had its share of hipsters for whom image reigns supreme, but we saw the full range of young people just out having a good time.

Perfect for exploring

On top of finding that the Wythe genuinely aligned with our aesthetic preferences, it worked out really well as a base for exploration. After ordering coffee in-room each morning — it arrived in a retro thermos (a little precious), but it was quite good — we set off, mostly on foot, and covered ground that included Green Point, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, Clinton Hill and Park Slope, all in Brooklyn, but also took us on a foray over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. Right in the neighborhood of the Wythe are great restaurants and bars (Brooklyn Brewery is across the street) and fun parks both waterfront and otherwise.

Stay details

• Wythe Hotel: https://wythehotel.com/
• Location: Brooklyn, on the north end of Williamsburg
• Stay: 3 nights stay, April 20-22, 2018
• Room: Manhattan View King Room

What we saw, what we ate

• Drinks at The Ides in the Wythe
• Dinner at The Bedford
• “David Bowie Is” at the Brooklyn Museum
• Beer at Torst in Green Point
• Dinner at Reynard in the Wythe
• Coffee at Grade
• Fearless girl statue near Wall Street
• 9/11 Memorial
• Beer at the Tribeca Tap House
• Dinner at Lilia

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