The Mercer

One of the first places to put hip into hotel: slick design and a centre-stage location keep The Mercer buzzing

As New York’s first trendy ‘loft-style’ hotel, The Mercer’s winning formula has been reproduced by many hopeful copycats. And while some have successfully replicated its open brickwork and industrial, creative-studio feel, nowhere can compete with its setting.

Loft living was born here in Soho, an area that's epitomised decadent artsy-cool since the ‘60s and is never short on crowds looking for a slice of it. With the neighbourhood now home to Prada, Chanel, Miu Miu and all other labels that matter, it’s no surprise that the 75 rooms are a favourite pied-à-terre for celebrities, models, movie stars and designer-clad wannabees. What is surprising is that there’s nothing particularly outstanding about the place - no breathtaking spa or swanky roof terrace, no palatial chandeliers or epic fireplaces. And that’s exactly the appeal. Never over the top, intimidating or grandiose, hotelier André Balazs understands how creating a comfortable, understated backdrop within the hyperactive city it inhabits leaves you to make your NY experience whatever you want it to be.

Highs

• Unrivalled location in the heart of bustling downtown Soho, minutes from Broadway, subways and the best of NY shopping
• Excellent food and guaranteed reservations at the Mercer Kitchen (non-guests can wait weeks); entry to the exclusive subMercer nightclub
• Huge two-person bathtubs in the lion’s share of rooms and suites
• Large lobby with extensive designer-bound library, 24-hour dining booth tables and lounge area; concierge services
• Fascinating people-watching (and often celeb-spotting) opportunities

Lows

• There’s no quiet communal space in which to get away from it all – a retreat can be a godsend in NY
• No onsite spa or gym facilities - complimentary day passes for a nearby gym is never the same
• Minimal business facilities (a tiny cupboard with a laptop serves as the token business centre); in-room coffee table/work areas are too low to work at comfortably
• Previous reports of patchy service seem to have been rectified; we found staff welcoming and helpful
• Outdoor courtyard space is exclusive to just two of the suites