"Travelers at the Bowery Hotel feel like insiders the moment they slip through the door, thanks to superb service and a lobby design that recalls salon parties of bygone eras. Upon check-in, guests receive metal room keys with oversize red tassels. Each of the 135 guest rooms offers visitors a mix of lived-in comfort and luxurious detail, with everything from mohair-upholstered chairs, Turkish Oushak rugs, and hardwood floors to iPod stereos, hi-def televisions, and marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. When hunger hits, head downstairs to Gemma for such Italian dishes as artichokes with polenta, gnocchi with black truffle, and a variety of pizzas. Nightcaps happen at the Lobby Bar, a lower Manhattan staple known for its timeless ambience and clever riffs on classic cocktails." - Jennifer Flowers