Review: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge (New York City)

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

Just prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, I enjoyed a wonderful trip to New York City and the Caribbean islands of Anguilla and St Maarten. You can read my trip reports here:

• Review: Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350 Business Class from London to New York
• Review: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, New York City (today)
• Review: TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport
• Review: JetBlue Airbus A321 Business Class (Mint) from New York to St Maarten
• Review: KLM Airbus A330 Business Class from Amsterdam to St Maarten
• Review: Belmond La Samanna, St Martin
• Review: Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla
• Review: The Four Seasons Resort Anguilla
• Review: Delta Airbus A350 Business Class (One Delta) from Detroit to Amsterdam

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Today (January 6, 2021): Review of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge (New York City).

• Location: Google maps
• Hotel website: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Classic Travel

A natural sanctuary located waterfront on Brooklyn Bridge Park, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge stands right beside the East River and 5 blocks west of the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade. Set in a 10-story building with sweeping waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge offers 194 guest rooms and suites, communal spaces for working or relaxing, a spectacular rooftop space, 24-hour Fieldhouse fitness center, 50-person screening room, and F&B outlets with a menu of locally sourced and fresh fare, among additional features. The property follows a seriously sustainable ethos: its upcycled materials and artwork tell a story of the borough’s past, while its green design makes a commitment to its future.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge features in my top 10 lists of the best hotels in New York City and the best hotel views in the world.

Have you ever stayed at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my Youtube clip & slideshow):

• Pros & things I like
• Cons & things to know
• My verdict
• Tips for future guests & save money
• Best time to visit
• How to get there
• Photos

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PROS & THINGS I LIKE

• 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge enjoys a waterfront setting in Brooklyn Bridge Park, a patch of greenery that stretches 1.3 miles (2 km) along the East River in the New York suburb of Brooklyn. The park, as its name suggests, is stationed under the Brooklyn Bridge, and features a series of piers filled with recreational facilities, a sandy beach, and a historic warehouse. It draws thousands of visitors each day who come for awe-inspiring views of Manhattan and idyllic picnic spots along the waterfront. Dumbo ferry terminal is next to the hotel, and the High Street and York Street subway stations (both one stop from Manhattan) are only a 10 min stroll away.

• The hotel’s location in Brooklyn, just one subway stop from Manhattan, places it close to the electrifying rhythm of New York, but also far enough away to relax after a day of sightseeing or doing business. Some hotel guests who are familiar with the Big Appe won’t even bother hopping over to Manhattan, since the area around the hotel – known as Dumbo – is one of the city’s most enjoyable and upmarket neighborhoods. Lively cafes, restaurants, and bars are on literally every block, including local landmarks like Grimaldi’s Pizza. Dumbo is also home to an outdoor hipster market, as well as luxury designers, national chain stores, and bespoke local retailers.

• Created by landscape architecture firm Harrison Green, the hotel’s nature-inspired decor is at its most dramatic in the light-filled lobby. The latter opens to a dramatic 25 ft (8 m) green wall, featuring steel grating covered in hand-placed plants and creeping vines that are evolving over time. The lush greenery is fused with industrial design elements, like exposed pipes, hanging spruces, and glorious metallic lamps, all designed by New York-based firm INC Architecture & Design. A two-story industrial spiral staircase takes center stage in the lobby and is punctuated by a sculpture of obsidian rock boulders wrapped in hand-dyed rope by Rachel Weiss.

• The hotel has 194 guest rooms, including 29 multi-bedroom suites and a Presidential Suite. During my visit, I stayed in the hotel’s entry room category, a Dumbo king, which was still spacious by New York standards. The room featured a kingsize bed, a cozy sitting area and a floor-to-ceiling sliding window that opened to a tiny terrace (unfortunately, no view to speak of). Furnishings included a porous stone-looking table of composite wood, leather chair and pendant lampshades, creating a mountain cabin feel. The open-plan bathroom (with shower, toilet, & one sink) was separated from the room by an iron partition and moss-covered cupboard.

• The hotel is housed in a 10-story building, and the upper floors offer breathtaking views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge. The view is at its most spectacular from the hotel’s stunning rooftop terrace, an unique urban which has quickly become Brooklyn’s newest day life hotspot since the hotel’s opening in 2017. The terrace features a small and heated lounge pool (open in summer only), full-service bar, fire pits and seating spaces made from reclaimed railroad ties where hotel guests and visitors can relax and sip craft cocktails. The rooftop is also available for private events and small weddings.

• Committed to sustainability and preserving the environment, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge lives up to its eco-conscious reputation. For example, the property operates entirely on wind power and manages a rain-water reclamation system that irrigates neighboring Brooklyn Park. More than half of the hotel was constructed with reclaimed materials, including original heart pine beams from the former Domino Sugar Factory, walnut from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and pine flooring from the Old Crow Distillery in Kentucky. The property also features low-energy light bulbs, a Triple Clear water purification system, and in-room recycling bins.

• Anchored in the vital necessity of connection to nature, human interaction, mindfulness and movement, the property offers wellness amenities, culling from experienced leaders in healing, mediation, nutrition, astrology and more. Guests can opt for experiences, including POE Yoga, a yoga and barre studio with infrared heat. There’s also a small spa in the cellar, called the Bamford Haybarn Spa. Created by Carole Bamford in the English countryside, individually crafted treatments use specially formulated products from the Bamford body and skincare ranges made from natural and organic ingredients organically certified to the highest standard.

• The hotel features several dining options, all of them serving tasteful farm-to-table cuisine:
  • The hotel’s main restaurant is The Osprey, located on the lobby level. During the warmer seasons, the space opens to Brooklyn Bridge Park with outdoor seating. The venue’s market-driven, New American kitchen serves approachable dining, influenced by the global diversity of New York’s neighborhoods.
  • Also located on the ground level is Neighbors, a picnic-fare café, offering seasonal, fresh items from local Brooklyn purveyors. The menu includes fresh fruit smoothies and super food salads. The café is open from 6am to 10pm each day.
  • One floor below the rooftop, is a dark, ashy wood lounge, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows. Serving cocktails and light snacks, the lounge features a fireplace and black silica furniture created by Brooklyn artist Fernando Mastrangelo.

• The hotel houses a 50-seat screening room on its cellar level. The space features an 84″x140″ screen with full HD-digital projection. Available for private film or television viewing events, the screening room is the ideal venue for a private gathering. The property also has flexible meeting, social and event space with high-tech audio/visual equipment, featuring sliding floor-to-ceiling windows and tree-line or Skyline views. The Meadow Rue event space, located on the ground floor, opens onto the park, designed with a full wall of collapsible doors. All spaces are named after native plants, grasses, trees and shrubbery found in the park.

• As a luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature, 1 Hotels cultivates the best of eco-conscious design and sustainable architecture, together with luxurious comfort and impeccable service. 1 Hotels launched in 2015 with the opening of properties in Miami’s South Beach and Manhattan’s Central Park. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in February 2017, is the first ground-up build, flagship property for 1 Hotels. All 1 Hotels properties are inspired by a simple idea: those that travel the world also care about it. 1 Hotels upholds this vision by channeling nature through design and culinary partnerships, while connecting with the local community and taking sustainable steps to make a big difference.

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CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

• 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge charges a stiff resort charge of $ 29 USD per night (not included in the daily rate). IMHO, it’s ridiculous and pretentious for a city hotel to charge this fee, which is supposed to support “hotel offerings and amenities” like the fitness center, in-room coffee pods and WiFi. The hotel has been charging this fee since its opening, so apparently they get away with it (maybe the guests forget about it once they get to see the Manhattan views).

• Not all rooms come with a view. The higher located rooms boast phenomenal views of the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City skyline, but the lower category rooms – which are located on the lower floors – don’t have any view to speak off. So, if you want a room with a view, you’ll have to pay for an upgrade (which might be worth the splurge, since the view is why you want to stay here in the first place).

• Most rooms feature open plan bathrooms: the sink area is part of the room but partially partitioned off; the toilet is enclosed in frosted glass; and the shower cabin has a clear glass door. So, there’s zero privacy, which might be a problem when you are not traveling with your partner.

• The rooms facing the Brooklyn Bridge enjoy sublime views but guests here might be bothered by some street noise (ferries, cars, people from the local bars and restaurants). The rooms facing the Brooklyn Bridge Park are better as they are quieter, enhacing a good night’s rest.

• The seasonal pool is only open from May to September. The pool itself is very small (it’s more of a decorative element and you cannot really swim in it) and there’s only a dozen of sun loungers on the pool deck. It’s almost mission impossible to score one of the loungers in the summer season, unless you get up extremely early in the morning.

• The hotel’s rooftop is the place to be in Brooklyn (with cocktail prices that match the spectacular views). The place is also open to non-guests and is popular among local party goers and tourists (many people come here just to take some photos of the fabulous panoramas). Consequently, the rooftop can feel crowded and saturated, especially during the weekend when it is highly unlikely that seating is available. On some days, the rooftop is sectioned off for private events.

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MY VERDICT

• Location: 9/10
• Design: 9/10
• Pool: 8/10
• Rooms: 7/10
• Food: 8/10
• Breakfast: 8/10
• Spa: 8/10
• Service: 8/10
• Value for money: 8/10
• Overall experience: very good – 8.4/10

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TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

• Save money: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Classic Travel. This comprises an upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, and late check-out). Bookings of Bridge Studio Suites, Skyline 1 Bedroom Suites and Riverhouse Suite also include a $50 USD food & beverage credit.

• Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge (and/or receive many free perks).

• Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

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BEST TIME TO VISIT

Anytime! Each season in Gotham offers visitors plenty of reasons to visit. Early fall offers crisp breezes, bright sun and comfortable temperatures (indian summer), and may the best time for a visit.  Winter can be cold, but that also means better hotel rates. Spring is glorious and New Yorkers celebrate the thaw by taking to the streets, shopping at outdoor markets, frolicking in Central Park and dining outside. Summer can be unbearable hot, so try to avoid July and August.

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HOW TO GET THERE

For those traveling by plane, New York City is served by 3 airports:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the primary international airport serving the greater New York City area. Check the Wikipedia page of JFK Airport for an updated list of airlines that have direct flights to this airport.

• Newark International Airport (EWR), located in the state of New Jersey, is about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Manhattan. Check the Wikipedia page of Newark Airport for tan updated list of airlines that have direct flights to this airport.

• LaGuardia Airport (LGA), located in the borough Queens, is the busiest airport in the United States without any non-stop service to Europe. Check the Wikipedia page of LaGuardia Airport for an updated list of on airlines that have direct flights to this airport.

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PHOTOS

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