If you are fed up with bland and soulless accommodation we have done the leg work and picked out ten very cool and unusual hotels in NYC. All the hotels on our list put an extra effort into making your hotel experience far more interesting, whatever your budget. New York is a popular and incredible city where if you look hard enough you can find some very unique places to stay.

Themed Hotels

The Library Hotel: A hotel that would suit both bookworms and style aficionados alike

The Library Hotel is a frequently praised and perfectly located 60 room boutique hotel. Each of the ten floors have themes dedicated to the major categories of the Dewey Decimal System; Literature, Languages, History, Math & Science etc. The 1900 brick building hotel wasn’t previously a library itself (although it now could probably pass as one!) but it’s location is a clue to it’s theme-it’s only a block away from New York Public Library in Madison Ave also known as ‘Library Way’. Other personal touches include free wine and cheese reception evenings and a collection of art and books in every room. Average nightly price $361.

Night Hotel: For those who like their hotels dark, glamorous and with an edge

If you’ve had your fill of minimalism and prefer your hotels to be dramatic and glamourous then try Night – a gothic themed boutique hotel located in Times Square. The unusual and stylish noir-inspired monochrome decor sets this hotel apart from the rest and is a great choice for those wishing to visit the Theatre District’s fashionable restaurants and attractions. Each of the 72 sleek, sexy and imitate rooms has a plasma TV, iPod stereo system and top-end bathroom products. Average nightly price $376.

Marrakech Hotel: Brings an North African style to Upper West Side Village

This is a reasonably priced themed hotel in a very good location. The newly renovated Marrakech Hotel based in the trendy upper west side neighbourhood promises to bring a touch of Morocco to Manhattan. The colourful decor includes authentic Moroccan lamps, ceramic tiles and rich fabrics and the location is perfect for access to great Jazz bars, restaurants and shops. Average nightly price $232.

Trendy yet affordable

The Pod: Join the Pod culture revolution

Many hotels try and fail to fit the stylish and trendy but budget niche. The Pod located in the heart of Midtown East neighbourhood is the exception. Clean and modern with funky murals, but with shared bathrooms and an option of staying in a bunk bed room, this hotel would be a good choice for someone who doesn’t fancy re-mortgaging their house for a trip to NYC (or didn’t fancy chancing a down-town Manhattan hostel). The friendly staff will even help you with finding tickets to your favourite concerts/gigs and city tourist information. Average nightly price $211.

MAve: Kitsch Retro Chic

The newly opened MAve is a 1970’s retro inspired hotel and would probably remind you more than a little of the film Boogie Nights. There is an emphasis on fun, colour, perspex, funky art, leather sofas and zebra prints. Taking a dip in the colourfully illuminated pool is an experience in itself. Here you can order drinks in a swim-up bar and be on full view by everyone in reception (courtesy of a large glass window). Whether you want to stay in a private room or in a dorm style room with bunk beds here you will get comfy mattresses, ipod docks and cool interiors all for a price that won’t break the bank. Average nightly price $260.

The Ace Hotel: Urban Basement style

This quirky boutique hotel aims to cater to a young, creative and bohemian crowd. Ace has been built around collaborations with local designers, artists, and independent businesses and the style has often been likened to a cool friend’s town house basement. Many of the rooms have turntables, guitars, scrawl-able chalkboard walls and Smeg mini-bars. Some rooms are smaller and more basic and there is also a budget bunk bed room option. If it’s stylish but reasonably priced accommodation you’re after the Ace shouldn’t disappoint. Average nightly price $249.

The Gershwin Hotel: Arty Shabby Chic

You don’t have to love pop art to stay at the trendy Gershwin Hotel but it might help! Each floor is decorated with prints from a different artist and there is even two original Liechtensteins and a Warhol soup can in the eccentrically styled and colourful lobby. Dormitories where beds go for $49 a night are located on the lower floor and on some evenings you can head down to the Gershwin’s “Living Room” and catch random music, comedy, and theatre performances. Average nigthly price $177.

Luxurious but still a bit different

The Bowery: Authentic Classic elegance
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The Bowery is gorgeous boutique hotel with a difference, the homely wood-panelled elegant hotel has a classic old-school feel. The bright spacious rooms are decorated with rich velvet drapes and fringed lampshades and the hardwood floors are covered with Oushak rugs. Head down to the art-deco bar and relax by the carved sandstone fireplace on worn leather club chairs and salvaged church pews. Attracts a hip and wealthy crowd. Average nightly price $400.

The Mercer: Classy laid-back style and perfect for celeb-watching
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If you prefer a more contemporary accommodation The Mercer, a favourite haunt of celebrities, would make an excellent choice. This light and modern boutique hotel pays homage to loft living. The modern interior comes with oversized marble bath tubs, (which could easily fit two or more people), high ceilings, neutral decor with brick walls. The lobby has huge white sofas and a wall of colourfully bound art and fashion books. Average nightly price $485.

And for a very unusual experience try…

The Jane: Bellhops and stuffed monkeys

Staying at the Jane Hotel is an experience in itself, it has a time-warpish, quirky feel with rooms inspired by vintage train cabins. In 1912 the hotel sheltered survivors of the Titanic, in the 1920s it became a haven for sailors and then it was lovingly restored on it’s centennial in 2008. The rooms/cabins are very compact and there’s an emphasis on conserving energy although in every room there is a flat-screen tvs and ipod dock/clock. The decor is also pretty unusual with authentic old-school bellhops, maids in black and white uniforms and stuffed monkeys with fez hats! All of this probably makes it one of the most intriguing budget hotels in New York. Average nightly price $109.

Other popular trendy/unusual/cool hotels in New York

• Gramercy Park: A luxury glamourous and arty design hotel
• 6 Columbus: trendy design hotel 1960s modernist-feel
• Hotel 99: A good value trendy boutique hotel aimed at the budget traveller
• Thompson LES: a sleek design hotel with a definite wow factor
• Kitano: A luxury Japanese hotel with a distinctive Asian feel
• Rivington Hotel: 21-story glass tower trendy boutique hotel
• The Mansfield: a classically beautiful and romantic hotel

Tags: chic, New York, NYC, quirky, retro, stylish
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