Once home only to basic lodging for airport travelers, the borough of Queens has grown to include stylish, unique boutique hotels just across the river from Manhattan. Check out these seven boutique hotels for the best that Queens has to offer.
With floor-to-ceiling views of surrounding Long Island City and the New York City skyline, The Boro Hotel is best known for its polished, minimalist design, courtesy of local firm Grzywinski + Pons. The lobby features an easygoing café, serving food from 6am to 10:30pm, and a library curated by Manhattan’s famous Strand Books. Their on-premises restaurant Beebe’s, which opened in April 2018, has been called one of New York’s best pizza places by CNN Travel, and the outdoor rooftop bar serves up skyline views and Long Island City brews.
Long Island City’s premier boutique hotel, opened in 2008, is still considered one of its best. The 63 spacious rooms and suites, some of which include private balconies, offer plenty of comfort and views of Manhattan. Their glass-enclosed rooftop restaurant Penthouse 808 serves up Asian fusion and a year-round view of the skyline. If you’re planning a summer visit, check out the hotel’s outdoor pool, with plenty of comfortable poolside seating, a full bar and a disco ball.
This century-old former paper-and-radio factory embraces its industrial past in a modern way, making a point to use as many reclaimed materials as possible. The Paper Factory Hotel’s 125 rooms, each uniquely designed, feature 12-foot (3.6-meter) ceilings, rustic furnishings made from reclaimed materials, and huge warehouse windows. Hang out or get work done in the large lobby, which features a morning coffee bar and eclectic touches, such as a British phone booth bursting through the middle of the floor and a spiral staircase wrapped around a column of 4,000 books.
Z NYC Hotel | Courtesy of Z NYC Hotel / Hotels.com
Located under the Queensboro Bridge, Z NYC Hotel opened in 2011, which was, according to NYCgo, an important part of the industrial area’s transformation. With all 100 rooms facing Manhattan, the hotel has a stylish urban vibe, with funky flourishes and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stunning views of the bridge and skyscrapers. The 5,000-square-foot (464.5-square-meter) seasonal rooftop bar does one better with panoramic views. Don’t want to take the subway? The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to Midtown Manhattan and bikes.
As home to one of the largest Chinese communities outside of Asia, Flushing’s Chinatown is full of great food and culture. The Parc Hotel embraces this in its aesthetic and cuisine, with Asian artwork, red-and-gold color schemes (symbolizing good fortune and beauty in Chinese culture) and Chinese dishes in the complimentary breakfast buffet. Check out the beautiful A+ Roof Bar for sweeping views of the city, and The Naked Crab or Gourmet Spring restaurants for high-quality seafood dishes and modern Asian fusion cuisine. Close to LaGuardia Airport and multiple train lines, the location offers easy access to the city.
Also in Flushing, The One Boutique Hotel includes multiple types of affordable accommodations, including suites and extended stays. The hotel is noted for its free shuttle rides to sister company Spa Castle, just two miles (3.2 kilometers) north, and for the trendy Oo Bar & Lounge, with fire pits and a rooftop glass house looking out at the skyline. The guest rooms are contemporary and simple, with electronic shade, lighting and temperature controls, rain showerheads and imported marble tubs.
This colorful, eco-friendly hotel is noted for its affordability and proximity to the subway, plus some of the area’s best museums. The 32 minimalist modern rooms include double-paned windows for a quiet night’s rest, access to HBO and Showtime, green bath amenities and deep soaking tubs, with some including private balconies. Nesva is also a good place for business travelers, with work desks in select rooms, a meeting space and a business center.
