Sleep view Manhattan, the new Moxy in Brooklyn is the right solution if you want to save your wallet
This is probably the best hotel to stay at in Brooklyn, and then being Marriott it has all the benefits to stay with points and status
United States of America
Marriott
Prices at New York have exploded post covid, but the real surge came with the ruling that put the Airbnb out of the picture in the Big Apple.
In this article:
Sleeping in Manhattan has become almost impractical, hotels that would struggle to be rated 3 stars in Italy have 5-star prices, ca va sans dire that quality hotels have reached immoral figures. In these months I have really reviewed a lot of hotels in NY, the city along with Bangkok among the most beloved by Italians.
Of course Manhattan is convenient, it's the heart of NYC and you come to this corner of the world to see everything it has to offer, sleeping in Times Square in a hotel like the W Hotel, with ball drop view costs an outrageous amount, but it is not that alternative arrangements such as the brand new Motto of Hilton or the Moxy Downtown Is much cheaper, indeed.
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
For work I had to travel to NY on very short notice. on the first Christmas weekend, read tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, light show at Macy's, and everything else. Result there was not a room in a Marriott or Hilton hotel for less than 600$ per night!!!
I ended up going for sleeping in Brooklyn, partly because it was one of the facilities I definitely wanted to try and it still cost me 430$.
Moxy is evolving
Those who read TFC often will have noticed how much I like this Marriott family sign, this hotel, however, is the first of the new course, a sort of Moxy 2.0, a sign that the sign designed for the travelers of the new millennium is changing its skin, and it is not certain that everyone will like this change.
Radical change, but without losing the foundation of the brand. This is a mature, more refined hotel with several food and wine options, elegant and modern rooms, some aspects of this hotel deviate from the typical Moxy style and brand.
The atmosphere is always festive, but it's as if we went from an indie location to the center of the quadrangle. No more post-industrial and essential design, but artwork and monkeys smoking and drinking vodka in the corridors of the rooms.
These were the reasons I wanted to try this hotel, then the decidedly more humane, though unethical price all the same, gave me the final excuse to stay at the Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg.
Otherwise, there is a small gym in the basement, suitable for those who do not want to run in the NYC cold.
Location
Before even walking through the front door, You'll notice the giant graffiti-style mural decorating the outer wall. The giant artwork, depicting a woman desperately pleading, "Take me to the Moxy.", was created by British artist D*Face, well-known in the world of street art and beyond.
It's the sixth Moxy in NYC, but the first across the river; we're on the opposite side of the East River in a neighborhood (Williamsburg) that is becoming more and more of a hip place.
We are only One block away from the iconic Williamsburg Bridge., which makes it easy to explore quintessential Big Apple neighborhoods such as the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Tribeca.
It is also A 10-minute walk from the Bedford Avenue station on the L subway line, from here you can reach any point in the city.
It should not be underestimated that we are 10 miles from JFK., and this means that you will not have to enter the chaos of Manhattan when you arrive in NY.
Check-in
I arrived in a Lyft, if you're not familiar with it it's an app similar to Uber and when I'm in the U.S. I use it because I accumulate points in my Hilton Honors account with each run.
Of course, I booked through the app, because if you don't book through official channels you don't accumulate qualifying points and nights and this was night number 75 for me in Marriott hotels. this year, that is, the one that renewed my Titanium Elite status through 2024.
The real change is that the reception is not included in the bar, here is a real lobby with check-in desks as in any hotel in the world, one of the many small details that distinguish this Moxy from all others. Within minutes I was good to go.
The room
I had booked a quad bunk room, because it was on offer and cost 50$ less than the regular rooms and I was curious to try it, but when I checked in, the guy said do you want a king bed? and I obviously agreed. The double bunk bed is definitely perfect for groups of friends, group vacations. It is not easy to find such accommodation in NY and this one is really perfect (even for families) at a competitive price.
My room was an evolution of the classic Moxy room. Basic, but nicer.
Of course my city view was more of a subway view in the middle of the houses, but still better than some views of Manhattan where it's front wall view.
Exterior sink and two small doors hiding the toilet and shower area, all beautiful and design.
Very comfortable king bed and great choice of pillows.
Otherwise, nothing beyond the mega TV and the ever-present retro phone. There is no desk, but a hidden coffee table coming out of the wall, inconvenient for everything even when closed.
Singular was the decision to put hooks removable from the walls to overcome the lack of places to hang clothes.
Food & Beverage
To the left of the lobby is a waiting area, set under an eye-catching Blue resin sculpture depicting a melting popsicle, sounding out the words "The Drip". There is also the option of playing a video game or waiting at the bar located on the opposite side.
This is the Bedford Bar, the hotel's all-day bar and café, a fantastic meeting place for guests and a great place in the evening to have a drink in the midst of NYC nightlife.
Hand-woven rugs adorn the floor, and instead of traditional artwork, Moxy Williamsburg has mounted a series of whimsical skateboards hand-painted by local artists.
I had breakfast here on the morning of my stay. I usually avoid eating in Moxy's, but this hotel is different in that as well.
There is no classic minimal buffet, nor is there a wide selection on the a la carte menu, I ended up having an Italian breakfast with cappuccino and muffins only because in my rate I had 25$ credit to spend in the hotel restaurants. The offer besides some brioches and cakes was restricted to two dishes one of salmon and the other vegetarian.
Usually Moxy does not offer so much excitement when it comes to food & beverage, but this is no ordinary Moxy.
The main restaurant, Mesiba, serves contemporary Levantine cuisine in an elegant and lively space inspired by Tel Aviv. I didn't get around to trying it, but it looked inviting and then charges can be put on the room bill and thus score points.
There are also two other drinking venues: the indoor and outdoor rooftop bar Lillistar and the lounge Jolene Sound Room inspired by a retro recording studio. Unfortunately, however, I did not have access to these much touted locations on the hotel's website because they were closed on the evening of my stay and were booked for a private event the next day. One thing that bothers me a lot when I travel and find myself unable to use some spaces, especially if as in this case we are talking about the terrace overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
In conclusion
It's a Moxy unlike any other, especially, however, it can be a perfect solution for sleeping in NY without spending a fortune, accumulating points and taking advantage of Marriott status benefits. Suitable for young people (of age and spirit) less so for families with children still too young to appreciate the location.
Honestly at the right price I think I would come back at this hotel the next few times I come to NY.
Pro
- Location
- The mood
- The room
Against
- Price
- Rooftop bar closed