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With a population of 8.3 million and a landmass slightly smaller than Calgary, there’s only one way to effectively see New York – have a good base.
Boasting five operations, Moxy hotels might be the answer. You can take in top theatre while staying in Times Square, peruse hundreds of art galleries in Chelsea, or wander the eclectic streets in Lower East Side. Add in hotels in East Village and in Brooklyn’s hot Williamsburg neighbourhood, and you’re set no matter what’s on your itinerary.
The five New York Moxys were developed independently of the larger Moxy chain as Mitchell Hochberg, president of Lightstone Group, wanted to do something different and unique in a city that stands out for being different and unique.
“Part of the development plan for us is to embrace the neighbourhood they’re in. Each hotel reflects something, whether the history or culture. It was important to us to add to the neighbourhood and become a part of it.”
The two mainstays in all the New York Moxys are a bed and a shower “that’s better than anything you have at home,” says Hochberg. After that, he shook up the concept of what a hotel could be, focusing on creating fun, hip, even trendy, outlets for travellers.
Compact at an average of 155 square feet, a Moxy standard room is creatively designed, almost like a Tetris puzzle. Forgoing dressers, pegs fold down from the wall on which to hang clothes. There’s an under-bed drawer as well as a cubbyhole for your suitcase. A small table folds down from the wall with a stool that fits underneath. The bathroom has been deconstructed with the sink placed outside in the room. No ordinary vanity, the sinks are works of art made from lava stone from the French Alps. The piece de resistance are nine-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views over the city that never sleeps.
While the Moxy name may be a bit unknown in these parts (one just opened in Banff), it’s part of the well-established Marriott International portfolio. It’s the young, hip wing of the hotel chain and it “celebrates nonconformity, open-mindedness, and originality above all.” The Moxys developed by the real estate Lightstone Group, both in New York and also in Miami and Los Angeles, continue that style.
The five New York Moxys have vibrant social spaces and events that keep them humming. Recently, the Williamsburg hotel hosted a ticketed DJ party on the LilliStar rooftop patio. Hundreds of revellers danced, conversed and soaked up the groovy vibes with inventive cocktails. Over at Moxy Times Square, Sunday brunch was packed in the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge where people come for the theatrical experience which includes a revolving booth carousel and giant pink food.
Each of the five hotels has a buzzy lobby bar as a focal point instead of the usual reception desk. There are daytime co-working spaces for guests and locals alike with free WiFi which become social spaces at night.
“There’s a paradigm in New York; if you’re not a hotel guest, you’re not allowed in the space. We’ve broken down that wall. You can hear, see, smell New York. Now you really know where you are,” says Moxy Williamsburg general manager Mike Hoover.
“Important to us is the appeal, the blurring of lines: Where does the hotel end and the community begin?”
Everything flows from Hochberg’s concept of pulling creative elements from the neighbourhood. Each hotel is an homage to what the borough is now or what came before. From flowers and gardens to theatre and music, there’s a Moxy for all ages, interests – and budgets – in New York.
Times Square (485 7th Ave.)
Nobody goes to New York City without at least one visit to Times Square. Yes, it’s a bit seedy these days but the barrage of neon glows as bright as ever. You’ll find plenty of hucksters here but it’s also the centre of the city’s brilliant theatre scene. Booths in the square sell discounted tickets to all of the hot plays, both on Broadway and off. Sports fans will also know the neighbourhood is home to Madison Square Garden where both the Rangers and Knicks play.
Chelsea (105 W 28th St.)
Surrounded by famous areas like the Meatpacking District, Hell’s Kitchen, the Garment District and Greenwich Village, Chelsea is art central with over 200 galleries. There’s a plethora of things to explore like the innovative High Line, a 2.4-km-long park built on a historic elevated freight line. You can shop til you drop at Hudson Yards and Chelsea Market, do a walking food tour of the Flatiron District or test your mettle on the glass-encased observation deck that is 100 storeys up at The Edge.
East Village (112 East 11th St.)
Sandwiched between Greenwich Village, Soho and the East River, this was the heart of counterculture with underground art and gay activism. The 1950s Beatniks gave way to raging rock ‘n’ roll and then punk. Now more residential, it still has a youthful vibrancy, perhaps due to the proximity of New York University. It’s also home to the famous Webster Hall concert venue which hosted Bohemian masquerade balls in the 1920s, according to the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project.
Lower East Side (145 Bowery)
A melting pot, the Bowery has seen waves of immigrants since the 1800s, including Polish, Russian, German, Jewish and Puerto Rican. To the south lies one of the largest Chinatowns in the U.S. You’ll find traces of all these cultures in the shops and restaurants that line the streets. See this rich history come alive at the Tenement Museum which details daily life between the 1860s and 1980s. Explore the vibrant Hester Street Fair at Pier 17, satisfy your sweet tooth at the Museum of Ice Cream or lace up your walking shoes for a trek over the nearby Brooklyn Bridge.
Williamsburg (353 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn)
The Brooklyn neighbourhood was very industrial in the early 2000s but then artists and other creatives came over from Manhattan. Now the area has a comfortable residential feel along with a street buzz. It’s chock-a-block with restaurants, bars, cafes, bakeries, and clothing shops. Sip a cold brew and learn more about the Brooklyn Brewery or check out the many vintage and thrift shops. Take a fascinating walking tour of street art (highly recommend the Brooklyn Unplugged graffiti tour in nearby Bushwick).
This Moxy just opened in 2023 and, true to form, its lobby is welcoming day or night. There’s a diverse range of dining and drinking venues, including the gorgeous Tel Aviv-inspired Mesiba with Levantine cuisine (think hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, bread); retro basement nightclub Jolene Sound Room; and the popular rooftop cocktail bar LilliStar with views of the Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan skyline.
New York guests qualify for discounts on some tours, entry fees and food through the Moxy Hotels’ Key to the City program. The hotels also participate in the Marriott Bonvoy global travel program.