When it comes to staying at a hotel in New York City, then run the muck in terms of location, offerings and so much more. However, there is nothing wrong with hopping on the subway to head downtown and experience what Brooklyn has to offer when it comes to all things hospitality. Let me introduce to you of BKLYN House, a boutique hotel located in and inspired by Brooklyn’s diverse and creative Bushwick neighborhood. Located minutes from the J and M trains which offer easy access into downtown Manhattan, and steps from Bushwick’s myriad of galleries, cafes and world-renowned restaurants, the loft-style hotel has 113 guestrooms, a public gallery and commissioned works by local artists.
“We are thrilled to join the vibrant creative culture here in Bushwick,” said Ben Seidel, President and CEO of Real Hospitality Group. “The neighborhood, and in particular the community’s ties to art, inspires every aspect of BKLYN House, from the industrial interiors, to the locally made snacks in the lobby and the artwork on the walls throughout the space.”
The 113 guestrooms at BKLYN House, which range from 175 to 220 square-feet, have complimentary WiFi, pillow-top bedding, flat screen televisions, and raw wood and iron desks. Each external door is tagged with barcode-style numerals. Bright pops of color, such as industrial orange cage light fixtures and sleek turquoise chairs, complement slate grey walls and dark hardwood floors in all accommodations. Bathrooms are stocked with eco-friendly Paul Mitchell products.
BKLYN House’s commitment to local art and artisans is on display in its airy lobby, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and a retail counter stocked with Brooklyn Brewery beers, chocolate bars from local confectioners Tumbador and Fine & Row, and snacks from Cobble Hill’s cult Stinky Bklyn cheese shop. Street artist DINKC created an oversized Brooklyn map graphic for the lobby, and the adjoining gallery will host group shows of 10-12 local artists on a quarterly basis. The first exhibition is set to debut in January 2016. The hotel’s art program is part an ongoing collaboration between BKLYN House and IMAGE Gallery, a contemporary exhibition space and printing studio in Bushwick.
Furthering its commitment to art and the local community, BKLYN House commissioned independent Brooklyn-based artists with Renaissance Collective and IMAGE Gallery to tag the lobby and each of the eight guestroom floors with street art-inspired depictions of different Brooklyn neighborhoods, such as the lobby’s mural depicting a location map encompassing all the neighborhoods of Brooklyn with a “You are Here” marker in Bushwick by DINKC, an ornate Coney Island mural replete with mermaid by OVRLND Collective and a gritty Flatbush piece by New York graffiti legend Yes One.
“There is such a strong sense of artistic community in Bushwick,” says Steven Gonzalez Marin, Creative Director of Bushwick’s Renaissance Collective organization and director of the hotel’s murals project. “We are excited that BKLYN House has already become an important part of it, bringing like-minded, creative people together under one roof.”
In the meantime, BKLYN House serves complimentary continental deluxe breakfast with Brooklyn bagels, juices and coffee in a modern, all-white breakfast area.
BKLYN House also has a 24-hour concierge service, fully stocked business center, complimentary WiFi, limited onsite parking and workout passes to nearby fitness centers Crunch and Planet Fitness. Rates start at $179 and range to $499.