Lower Manhattan Is the Hotel Capital of NYC

Not to brag, but new data shows that Lower Manhattan is statistically the best — at least when it comes to hotel occupancy rates. A new real estate report from the Downtown Alliance found that Lower Manhattan’s second quarter hotel occupancy rate was 89 percent, the highest rate on record. This rate also outpaced the Midtown and citywide hotel occupancy rates for this time period. In other words, Lower Manhattan really is the place to base your stay, whether you’re coming from out of town or just need a staycation. 

The good news is that you’ll pretty much always be able to find a room, given that there are 8,498 hotel rooms across 43 hotels in the area. (Plus, there are four other hotels in the pipeline, so you’ll have even more places to stay in a year or two). 

Our report also found that the average daily room rate for a Lower Manhattan hotel is $317.06. Wanna splash out on something more luxe? Head to the Wall Street Hotel (88 Wall St.), a timeless spot with an elegant rooftop bar and plenty of nods to the neighborhood’s rich history, or the Warren Street Hotel (86 Warren St.), a trendy maximalist dreamscape of a hotel that opened earlier this year. You could also snag a room at the Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt (123 Nassau St.), which is famous for its onsite restaurant overseen by Tom Colicchio as well as the ‘gram-worthy nine-story atrium lined with wrought iron balustrades. 

There are also plenty of gorgeous hotels at a mid-range price point. Take for instance Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel (15 Gold St.), which has thoughtfully designed rooms with a mid-century feel and some of the neighborhood’s best Italian food. There’s also Mint House (70 Pine St.), a high-tech hotel in an old Art Deco building with all the amenities you can imagine. Some of the accommodations even have kitchens. Then you have Moxy NYC Downtown (26 Ann St.), a stylish spot with an onsite basketball court, movie nights, live music, arcade games and even more entertainment.   

And if you’re looking to save your money for Lower Manhattan’s many restaurants, bars, and activities, there are plenty of budget-friendly places to wind down. The FIDI Hotel (11 Stone St.) has sleek rooms with plenty of natural light and a stylish lounge. It’s pet-friendly, so Fido can join you. Or you could check out Hotel Indigo NYC Downtown — Wall Street (120-122 Water St.), which has comfortable rooms for lounging and an indoor-outdoor bar on the 25th and 26th floors. Another affordable option is the Artezen (24 John St.), which has plush linens, in-room Nespresso coffee makers and even private terraces attached to some of the rooms. It’s also about as centrally located as you can get within the neighborhood. 

All of these hotels will place you within reach of 13 subway lines, six local and 24 express bus routes, multiple ferry routes and PATH train service to/from New Jersey, as well as landmarks like the New York Stock Exchange and One World Trade Center, with access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Plus, Lower Manhattan is just a fun place to visit (or work or live), and we’ve got the hotel accommodations to prove it. 

main photo: courtesy Warren Street Hotel