The Ludlow Hotel - hotel review

You can see The Ludlow as soon as you exit Delancey Street Station, near the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City.

Towering above eateries and boutiques that have now infiltrated the former tenement district, The Ludlow is a hip new hotel offering stunning views of the city from both its rooms and it’s must-visit rooftop (honestly, head to the roof for sunset and watch the city flick on its sparkling lights).

The Ludlow is a dream hotel for any discerning traveller, it caters to everyone. People travelling with pets can book a room and a doggy bowl will be provided (but BYO food and doggy bed), in-room treatments can be arranged for a massage with a view and the mini-bars are stocked with gluten-free snacks for the intolerant among us.

What’s more is the bar is a local favourite and the perfect place for a just touched-down drink before exploring the area. We stayed at the Ludlow during a recent visit to the Empire State and discovered why it’s one of New York City’s most exciting new hotels.

Where is it?

Located in the heart of the Lower East Side, across the road from Katz Deli and a 10-minute walk from Chinatown, The Ludlow is in an ideal position for exploring downtown New York City. Tompkins Square Park and Washington Square Park are both just a short walk away as is Greenwich Village and SoHo for a spot of shopping. It is also close to subway stations that will take you both uptown, downtown and over to Brooklyn.

Style

The dimly-lit, dark decor of The Ludlow’s lobby instantly sets the vibe for the rest of the hotel: cool, moody and mysterious. If you’re checking in at night, it’s likely the lobby will be buzzing with locals having drinks at the Lobby Bar and the restaurant, Dirty French, will be packed with diners.

Once you take one of the lifts up to your room, the first thing you’ll notice when you open your room door is the factory-style casement windows. These are used in each of the rooms of The Ludlow and give the building its lived-in, renovated feel. The rooms have exposed wooden beams, blackout curtains, marble fixtures in the bathroom and extensive tiling. Mirrors are surrounded by exposed lights, heavy stools are in place of bedside tables and there are sheepskins thrown over the sitting chairs. All in all it’s an instagrammers dream, the result being edgy and hip with a chic, luxe touch.

Food & Drink

Dirty French is the bistro located on the ground floor of The Ludlow and was created by Mario Cabone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick - the power-trio behind Major Food Group. It serves up dishes like Duck à l’Orange with ras el hanout and preserved oranges and Trout Amandine with sesame and apricots which help them remain true to their French routes while mixing in culinary tastes from different cultures. It can get busy at night so make sure you call the hotel to book ahead.

Their is also a lobby lounge and garden bar which are the perfect spots to while away the afternoon - or to take a break after a busy day of sightseeing. We recommend ordering a dirty peach and sitting under the whimsical lights in the glass-roofed garden.

Outside of the hotel, you will find the iconic Katz Delicatessen just across the road - famously featured in the film When Harry Met Sally. Grab a pastrami sandwich and stock up on the energy you’ll need to walk around this electric and vibrant city. Close by you’ll also find Russ & Daughters - known to serve up the best bagels in town.

As the sun sets over the skyline, head to La Esquina and visit their secret subterranean Mexican joint for some quality food and people-watching - when I was there a couple of years ago I saw Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato and my friend has seen Beyonce and Jay Z there. Afterwards, head back to the hotel’s rooftop to take in the downtown city lights.

Which room?

While each of the rooms have stunning views across the city, opt for one of their Loft Queen rooms for city views mixed with stunning decor. At night, have a bath in the deep soaking tub looking out over the twinkling lights of the LES and in the morning wake up to the sunrise over Manhattan. The interiors modernise the LES grit while retaining its charm.

Details

Loft Queen’s start from £370 per night. ludlowhotel.com/

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