The Greenwich Hotel

Constructed and decorated with materials recovered from all over Manhattan and from as far as Japan, the Greenwich Hotel, Robert DeNiro's passion project, will bring any aesthetically savvy guest to tears.

• Guest-only drawing room and courtyard eating areas serving Locanda Verde’s rustic Italian menu
• The Shibui Japanese spa that is an underground sanctuary
• One- and two-bedroom suites and penthouses that feel like dream New York apartments rather than hotel rooms
• The smoky-piney smell that pervades the hotel makes it seem like the reclaimed wood that lines the hallways was felled yesterday

Well situated near downtown’s hot spots, the 88-room property provides a home base for visitors who want big hotel amenities such as a gym and spa on a smaller scale. Thoughtful details—mirrors made with silvered glass from the Flatiron building and antique wood floors—give the interiors an established look, and the pretty interior courtyard, inspired by the Place de Vosges, feels classically Parisian.

The fact that it has a pool certainly sets the Greenwich apart, especially as a downtown hotel in a neighborhood of high-value real estate. The Shibui Spa is an underground sanctuary; its pool resting under a wood and bamboo structure that was originally a Japanese farmhouse. The water is perpetually set to a temperature of 83 degrees, and is constantly lit by candles. The gym's hemlock wood–panels specially designed for private sessions with a personal trainer and the spa's traditional bathing shiatsu space and treatment room inspire a sense of awe; it is almost unbelievable that this world exists underneath a hotel in New York City.

The guests at the Greenwich could be compared to those at Soho’s Mercer Hotel, with an initial influx coming from the entertainment and fashion worlds—no surprise given its owner. But it is equally appealing to families, thanks to its spacious rooms and proximity to the neighborhood’s family-friendly eateries and parks. Another plus is its location in the heart of Tribeca, where hip restaurants and bars abound but loud street noise does not.

All travelers will appreciate the thoughtful extras, such as complimentary mini-bars, free wireless internet throughout the building and complimentary local, long distance and international phone calls. Another big plus guests will enjoy is their automatic insider status. Only those staying in the hotel will have access to the comfortable library, courtyard and gym, while both guests and non-guests can book treatments at the spa and gain pool access. To have dinner in the garden or take a dip underground, regular New Yorkers need an invite from a guest or a reservation of their own.

Locanda Verde, the Greenwich Hotel’s restaurant has a reputation in its own right as Andrew Carmellini’s canvas for creating variations of traditional Italian dishes with quality ingredients and a casual vibe. Normally, that would mean guests of the hotel would potentially feel pressured to throw on more than a pair of jeans to go to dinner there, considering the star-studded crowd clientele at the restaurant. However, guests at the Greenwich have access to a cozy fire-lit drawing room / den and outdoor courtyard dining space that serves Locanda Verde food for hotel guests. The drawing room and indoor and outdoor sitting areas are filled with one-of-a-kind pieces from all over the world, including back-lit cartoons and unique paintings by DeNiro’s father, a respected contemporary artist.

Whereas the common areas and restaurant exude an atmosphere of curated calm and exquisite taste, it’s the details in the rooms that make them special. Each room is different in size and layout and décor is eclectic, drawing from different eras and styles. The overall look feels so right, however, that it takes a moment to realize elements are technically mismatched. Two-bedroom suites are a favorite with families, especially guests staying for an extended period of time, as they are actually two lower room categories connected by a foyer.

All of the Greenwich Hotel’s pros are staggering and come from the no-expenses spared attitude that went into dreaming up the place. Tribeca is an easy walk or short taxi ride to Soho, Nolita, Greenwich Villa and the World Trade Center. However, guests who have business, theatre or activities mid- or up-town should prepare for lengthy taxi rides as Tribeca is more removed from Manhattan’s uptown neighborhoods.

Guests who have experienced midtown and uptown and are ready to discover a different side of downtown Manhattan, or for those seeking a more relaxed and quieter neighborhood. Families adore the hotel because of its great connecting room options, and couples enjoy checking in for romantic get-aways.