Flatiron Hotels

Tucked away on an unassuming side street in the Flatiron district, Made is right in the thick of Manhattan’s gorgeous sprawl, showcased beautifully via floor-to-ceiling windows in all 108 rooms. Inside, exposed bronze-shelving with a sleek, industrial-ish vibe plays off the beds’ colorful, hand-woven headboards; the bathrooms have hand-painted Japanese tiles and deep limestone sinks. Good Behavior, the hot-house rooftop bar, is filled with plants, many hanging whimsically from the ceiling. Sipping on a Toki Toddy (Japanese whisky mixed with turmeric tea and pressed ginger) and lounging on one of the sofas (indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather) surrounded by the hazy glow of towering buildings is as New York as it gets: the view is epic. Paper, the coffee bar in the lobby serves dynamite coffee, lattes, and tea, pastries, and come dusk, excellent cocktails; the Lobby Bar specializes in small plates, and Debajo is the hotel’s new sleek, delight of a tapas restaurant.

Just over a year old, the James’s second location in the city (the first opened in SoHo in 2010) is a Beaux Arts building from 1904. It’s got a hip, modern vibe, which is a great juxtaposition in such an historic building. Rooms are bright and cheerful (if a bit on the small side—this is New York, after all) and have a residential feel thanks to little touches like built-in wooden nightstands, Art Deco–style minibars, and works from local artists on the walls. It’s also home to Scarpetta, a popular high-end Italian restaurant that moved from its Meatpacking location to the hotel last year. The central location—in a rapidly changing, ever-cooler neighborhood—is a big bonus: NoMad is convenient to most parts of the city.