A Stay at the Distrikt Hotel - Manhattan, NY
by Lauren
Hauptman
Distrikt Hotel stands
out in a row of several tourist-class hotels.
Compared with its neighbors, it has more personality
and a sense of place, with numerous design elements
reflecting the city’s grid of neighborhoods — or
districts. The small lobby manages to be inviting
primarily due to its living-wall garden in the shape
of Central Park (OK, a rectangle) and friendly
staff, as well as several iMacs for guests’ use and,
best of all, complimentary hot cider for winter
afternoons, iced tea for summer, and coffee each
morning.
Inside Scoop - Accommodations &
Appointments
Every floor is “zoned” into one of 10 Manhattan
neighborhoods, and photo collages created for the
hotel by New York artist Chris Rubino welcome you to
yours as you exit the elevator on your floor. A
smaller version of the collage also decorates each
of 155 guest rooms, which are simple and efficient.
Room highlights include quilted leather headboards, large
flat-screen TVs, safes that are big enough for
laptops, and excellent water pressure in the glass
showers. Those facing the front of the hotel (north)
are treated to a pretty great view over Port
Authority up the west side of Manhattan (worth
paying a bit more for). And thanks to airport-grade
windows, noise is not a problem. Service throughout
the property is earnest, and includes
turndown service, complete with chocolates (wrappers
feature your district’s collage) and a weather
report for the next day.
Collage of Lower East Side
Home Away From Home - an International Flavor
A majority of Distrikt guests are international
visitors, and you’ll hear a multitude of languages
being spoken in common areas, including the adjacent
restaurant, Collage Bistro and Bar, which has a very
reasonably priced breakfast menu and a nice cocktail
list. Employees seem to speak every possible
language, making non-American visitors feel very
comfortable.
Tech & Eco-Friendly
In addition to being very tech-forward, with iHome
docking stations in every room and free WiFi
throughout, Distrikt is a leader in eco-friendly
design. The hotel sources its energy from solar and
wind power, participating in city programs to
curtail energy use during peak hours. It chooses
highly biodegradable materials in amenities such as
toiletry containers, and adjusts some of its
housekeeping services based on need to save natural
resources.
Neighborhood Elevator Etchings
Location, Location, Location
Perhaps the best part of Distrikt is its
location. In the Fashion District — better known to
locals as the Garment, or Schmata (Yiddish for rag),
District — it’s only two blocks away from prime
real estate. But, sharing its street with Port Authority,
the New York State Division of Parole, a liquor
store, and an adult video store or two, you must pay
attention to your surroundings as you walk to and
from the hotel, as this block is a bit sketchy.
As the several hotels
on the street surely realized when choosing to perch
here, it would be hard to find a place more
convenient to so many tourist destinations. Broadway and
Times Square are steps away to the west, as are the
New York Public Library and Bryant Park; Parsons The
New School for Design’s David M. Schwartz Fashion
Education Center, the original home of Project
Runway, is just down the street. And the upside to
facing Port Authority (aside from the view over the
short building) is you have a public-transit hub
literally on your doorstep. It is within easy
walking distance of Herald Square (home of Macy’s, Penn Station
and Madison Square Garden (home of the Knicks and
the Rangers). And it’s within walking distance of
the High Line and Chelsea.
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