"Can you start us off with an overview of this place?Apartments, SRO accommodations, the hip NYLO hotel—the nearly-century-old building on the corner of Broadway and 77th has housed them all. In early 2019, it was reborn again as Arthouse Hotel, an attitude-free boutique property that aims to celebrate the history and arts-and-culture traditions of the Upper West Side. Those elements are well-represented in the lobby, where an original fireplace, custom contemporary artwork, and a 1920s-era French elevator system all seem perfectly at home. A planned renovation will further celebrate the arts by bringing in works by Basquiat, de Kooning, and other well-known names.
Who else is staying here?Family members of UWS residents, tourists who want to stay in a residential neighborhood or be close to sites like Central Park and Lincoln Center, and business travelers who like the proximity to Midtown can all be found checking in to Arthouse, while a steady stream of locals come for the restaurants.
How did you find the service? The check-in process?“Friendly” and “helpful” are words frequently used to describe the staff, and that vibe starts with check-in, and continues with their eagerness to offer area recommendations and tips.
Tell us all about the digs: What do they look like? Any notable features?Given the layout (and previous uses) of the historic building, the 291 rooms tend to be on the smaller size, with most of the rooms spanning less than 300 square feet, and the multi-room suites and penthouse coming in at the 450- to 500-square-foot range. Several of the rooms offset the tight size with Juliet balconies or furnished terraces (with views of Central Park or the Hudson), though, while an overall bright, unfussy design of pale woods, streamlined modular furnishings, and tall windows also helps keep things from getting claustrophobic. Amenities are limited but useful, and include laptop-sized safes, HDTVs, Keurig coffee makers, Pure bath products, and 100-percent cotton, feather-free bedding custom made for the hotel. Note that there are no mini-bars (fridges are available upon request), and that street-side rooms can get noisy.
Let's talk about the small stuff. Were there in-room amenities or little touches that you'd rave about? How about the Wi-Fi—was it free?Wi-Fi is included with the $39-a-night "Urban Fee," which also gets unlimited domestic calls, daily bottled water, and access to the 24-hour gym and the business center.
Talk to us about the F&B.You don’t have to leave the hotel to enjoy diverse drinking and dining options. The lobby Arthouse Bar transitions from a causal indoor and sidewalk spot for coffee during the day to a speakeasy-inspired lounge for cocktails, a great wine list, and (on some nights) live piano music around the fireplace or zinc bar (or in the cozy library) at night. An outpost of Italian chain Serafina serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner (the latter two featuring their signature pizzas and pastas), while RedFarm serves modern twists on Dim Sum and other Chinese favorites in a farmhouse-inspired space.
Tell us what we missed! Any services you'd like to shout out?Serafina offers delivery to the rooms, but as it's technically not part of the hotel (but an outside operator); orders need to be placed directly with the restaurant.
Bottom line: Worth it, and why?A good pick for those wanting a more neighborhood feel—along with easy access to several subway lines. We don't love that getting Wi-Fi requires paying a $39 "Urban Fee," though." - Sandra Ramani
