The William Vale

Located in Brooklyn’s hip Williamsburg neighborhood, the William Vale offers excellent dining options and beautiful rooms, all of which have balconies.

• That every room has a furnished balcony and striking views of Manhattan
• The exclusive rooftop pool deck
• The panoramic city views from the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar, Westlight

As guests walk through the lobby, they will find themselves face-to-face with an enormous and colorful undulating art piece, created exclusively for the hotel by Brooklyn-based artist Marela Zacarias. This isn’t the only work of modern art that you can find within the hotel. In fact, a stay at the William Vale can often feel like visiting a MoMa exhibit.

The contemporary design and linear motif of the hotel are apparent everywhere, and pay homage to the artistic neighborhood that it inhabits. Each of the 158 rooms and 25 suites at The William Vale boasts a simplistic yet chic design. The whitewash walls and hardwood floors pose a stark contrast to the black moldings of the sliding glass doors and bed frames. Equally impressive are the rooms’ exterior features. Each comes with its own open-air balcony, complete with stellar views of the Manhattan skyline. The bathrooms also convey a clean and chic design, with glass-enclosed rainfall showers and two-tone fixtures. Some also include basin-bath tubs.

There are a variety of dining options at the hotel, including the rooftop restaurant and bar, Westlight. Settle yourself into one of the bar’s luxurious leather barstools and enjoy a specially-crafted cocktail. The cuisine is inspired by global street food, and the restaurant boasts unrivalled, sweeping views of Manhattan. In the summertime, guests can enjoy their drinks outside on the wraparound deck, which often features live music – but even if you’re sipping indoors, the views remain impeccable. For an equally-pleasing dining experience, head downstairs to Leuca, one of the Noho Hospitality Group’s many culinary masterpieces. The restaurant specializes in Southern Italian cuisine, offering such dishes as homemade pasta and rustic Sicilian-inspired plates. The sheep’s milk ricotta with honey and garlic is especially delicious, as are the crispy flatbread pizzas (if you’re into spicy – “The OG” is the way to go). If you’re looking for an authentic “Williamsburg” experience, stop at the hotel’s converted 1974 Airstream Trailer turned food truck, called Mister Dips, which offers a rotational menu of finger food and ice cream. The trailer is located in the hotel’s public Vale Park. Elevated from the ground level, the area spans 15,000 square feet and serves as a serene green space and urban farm for the surrounding community, as well as guests.

The hotel also offers an exclusive guests-only pool on the rooftop deck, which is the longest outdoor hotel pool in all of New York City. It seems that the only amenity the hotel is lacking is a spa, and there are no immediate plans to add one.

Travelers who appreciate contemporary art and a trendy design aesthetic will appreciate the William Vale, but those looking for a proper, five-star experience should stay elsewhere as the service here certainly leaves much to be desired.