Room Mate Grace

Funky ‘70s-inspired no-frills boutique off Times Square, with film-set pool, late-night bar and fun-loving crowd

If you’re the sort who finds hotel life stuffy, Room Mate Grace will be a breath of fresh air. Fun before formality is the motto here, and an easy-going hostel ethos blends with slick surrounds. This is no-frills-meets-boutique - expect to carry your own bags, serve your own breakfast - but to do so in some style.

One block from Times Square, guests check in at a kiosk packed with drinks, mags and sundries. Reflective 70s wallpaper catches your eye; then the colourfully illuminated pool, glimmering though the Perspex beyond. Design here is paramount. You can take a dip, then order drinks in the swim-up bar, but remember you're on view from reception, so prepare to be part of the show. If you don't mind cocktails served in plastic cups (for poolside drinking), the Boogie Nights meets Ikea decor is undeniably groovy. In the retro-styled rooms - some of which are bunk-bedded - you get comfy platform mattresses, flash fabrics and iPod docks. On balance, RMG feels a tad more EasyJet than British Airways, and attracts a like-minded crowd.

Highs

• Great central location 1 block from Times Square and 3 from Grand Central Station
• Funky pool with swim-up bar (open till 2-3am) and underwater music
• Sauna, steam and fitness room (quiet during the day)
• Fun, whimsical ‘70s design and regular evening DJs by the pool
• Rooms have Egyptian cotton bedding, flat-screen TVs, iPod and DVD players, WiFi, two-line phones and walk-in rainwater showers
• Family rooms are available, and under 12's go free

Lows

• There's no restaurant, only a self-service breakfast cafe
• Like those no-frills airlines, the dynamic pricing can inflate room rates to over-the-odds altitudes at busy times of year
• While the staff are very friendly, there’s still a large element of self-service