"Harlem’s first new full-service hotel in 100 years, the Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel is inside the old Victoria Building, once home to the Victoria Theater. The stunning facade and its original landmark marquee and gold ticket booth, as well as the lobby’s marble staircase, have all been preserved. The new art deco–inspired design pays homage to musicians and artists of the Harlem Renaissance. The 211 guest rooms feature mirrors embellished with quotes from a Langston Hughes poem and bedside speakers shaped like gramophones. In the lobby, pillows feature images from the neighborhood’s Apollo Theater, while next to the restaurant’s marble bar are wooden stairs adorned with the first names of Harlem Renaissance legends. Head up the stairs to the cozy mezzanine’s bright-blue leather banquettes, and select a record to play on one of the built-in record players. The Victoria Restaurant & Bar’s menu references Harlem’s culinary past with such soul food-inspired dishes as shrimp and grits, jambalaya, and fried chicken. Work it all off at the 24-hour gym, or ask a Renaissance Navigator (the brand’s version of a concierge) to craft a walking tour of Harlem that stops at the nearby National Jazz Museum of Harlem, the Schomburg Center for Black Culture, and Central Park." - Jennifer Flowers
