Made Hotel
There are so many choices for accommodations in NYC it's hard to know where to start looking for the best place, but if you're looking for a chic, boutique hotel, Made Hotel is a great option. Located in NoMad on W. 29th Street between 6th Ave. and Broadway, it's very low-key, yet trendy (4-stars). I like that it lacks pretension, but don't come here expecting it to be the Ritz. The service is good, but I come here because of the location, comfort, and style.
Location, location, location
NoMad is very close to where I need to be when I'm in the City. My company has offices within walking distance, and I can walk to visit many of my customers, so I'm always happy to stay here. Most of my friends live within a few blocks. For anything else, the central location makes it easy to head uptown or downtown.
It's vibey
I love the vibes in this place. It's hard to describe, but I'd say it's Brazilian midcentury meets jungalow. The website calls it "urban-bohemian," and I agree. There's a warm, inviting feeling emanating from the use of materials like carved stone sinks, natural wood cladding, leather accent furniture, hand-woven textiles, brass fixture, plants galore, hanging pendant lights, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The lobby is not traditional; it feels more like walking into a café. There's a coffee bar, Paper, and the coffee and pastries here are excellent. It's a perfect pick-me-up to start your day. At the back of the lobby is a full-service bar where you can order breakfast, drinks, and bar bites. If the lobby bar gets too crowded, the second-floor patio is reserved strictly for guests.
A great place to get your Zzz's
The rooms all have Leesa hybrid mattresses which sit on an elevated platform. I find this mattress to be incredibly comfortable – to the extent that I just ordered one for my apartment! I've had some of my best night's sleep at this Hotel.
Bathing and storage may require some concessions
The bathroom, while stylish, is not the most functional. The sink is not very conducive to shaving your face – water goes everywhere. Same thing with the shower. It only features a half-wall of glass, which leaves plenty of room for the water to splash out while you wash up. One downfall is that there's not a lot of storage. I keep everything in my suitcase, so the lack of a closet in the room isn't an issue. My colleagues, however, have complained that there is no closet. There are brass hanger and an open shelving system if you must unpack. Pro tip: if you need to iron your clothes, you need to call the front desk and have them deliver an iron. And don't expect to get comfortable hanging out "sitting" in your room. The space is small, and there's a lack of seating, but that's not why you come to NYC.
Bring earplugs?
The soundproofing in this Hotel could be better. I've stayed over 30 nights, and twice I found it wasn't as quiet as I would have liked. The first time, I was in a room above the lobby — easy fix: switch rooms. The second time, I had a loud neighbor…which made the walls seem really thin. I'm not sure if they had their speakers on the maximum volume or what, but I could literally sing along to the music they were playing. Overall, with less than a 6% incidence rate, it's not bad in my book.
Happy Birthday to me?
I'm DYING to book the Master Suite or Penthouse Suite sometime for my birthday or a nice vacation. Private balconies, leather sofas, and a GIANT soaker tub - what’s not to love? I'm confident that the space in the rooms would make for a great stay, and I'd top it off with a visit to the 18th floor, where "Good Behavior," a rooftop bar and lounge, offers some of the best views of the Empire State Building in the City. (I'm not just saying this – the view is actually incredible). It has a tiki-inspired cocktail menu, it's affordable, and the small space means the guest count is kept low. DJs spin tracks late into the night…
Who else is in?
