"Richard Branson’s quirky-cool take on urban hotels arrived in New York City in February 2023, adding another hotel to the NoMad neighborhood that’s already packed with options (the Ned, Ritz-Carlton, and the original Ace Hotel are all around the corner). But what sets the Virgin Hotels New York apart is what has always set the Virgin brand apart, ever since its origin as an upstart record label in the 1970s: attitude. Playful and edgy from top to bottom, the hotel is all bright red accents, big windows, and a spacious bar-restaurant with a sprawling outdoor patio and DJs or live music nearly every night. The hotel’s 460 “chambers” (as the rooms are called here) are cleverly efficient, ranging from 277 to 770 square feet. For example, in a compact standard chamber, a rolling barn-style door separates the sleeping section from the entryway, which itself doubles as the vanity-and-sink area, while the bed’s headboard extends a couple feet beyond the mattress, curving into a couch. The one-bedroom suites let you spread out a bit with an extra living-room space. The bar-restaurant Everdene is the centerpiece here, set up to be a destination not only for hotel guests but also for locals in search of a cool night out soundtracked by smooth DJs and a monthly concert series. The crimson-covered venue stretches across the entire third floor and acts as breakfast spot, after-work drinks hangout, clubby nightlife hub, and dinner spot. The menu centers on elevated bistro cuisine (think seared scallops, kale-and-cabbage salad, and a $25 burger), but one of the best features of Everdene is the large outdoor space, filled with couches perfect for sipping cocktails." - Jennifer Flowers
