The Soho Grand Hotel isn’t your ordinary hotel. When it swung open its doors in 1996, it made history as the first luxury boutique hotel in downtown Manhattan. Nearly thirty years later, the Soho Grand still hasn’t lost its cool, regularly welcoming artists, musicians, writers, fashion designers, celebrities, and those who want to be surrounded by them. As you might expect from its name, this 347-room urban retreat is conveniently located in the illustrious neighborhood of Soho, filled with cast-iron architecture and cobblestone streets. Designed by David Helpern of Helpern Architects and set in an intentionally unassuming brick building on West Broadway between Grand and Canal Streets, the stylish hideaway is just a stroll away from cutting-edge shops, acclaimed art galleries, trendy cafés, and the hottest restaurants in town. An integral part of Soho’s fabric, the trendsetting and timeless boutique property brings the electrifying neighborhood inside. The Soho Grand remains one of Manhattan’s most coveted stays because of it.
The Design Approach
Step inside the eternally buzzy home-away-from-home and you might never want to leave. Steel sculptures of canines stand guard at the atmospheric ground-floor entrance. A mesmeric glass-bottle staircase leads to the gorgeous lobby and reception area on the second level, offering guests the opportunity to make a grand entrance. Prepare to be left endlessly captivated by the sprawling space whose interiors were dreamt up by lauded interior designer Bill Sofield of Studio Sofield. Complete with majestic masonry columns, cathedral-high ceilings, dramatic greenery, bold artwork, cast iron molding, and authentic Edison bulbs from Paris, it’s a world of sophistication peppered with a downtown edge. Its head-turning aesthetic pays homage to the iconic neighborhood circa the glitzy 1870s Gilded Age and the lively 1970s, at a time when struggling artists moved into massive lofts that once were factories and warehouses in 19th-century cast-iron buildings.
Newly-Renovated Guest Rooms, Terrace Suites, and Penthouse Lofts
The Soho Grand Hotel’s newly renovated 347 guest rooms include ten terrace suites and two penthouse lofts. The industrial-glam stunners reflect the neighborhood’s rich history and creative spirit, with design elements from the Gilded Age and the art-forward late seventies harmoniously intermixing. These hibernation-friendly accommodations feature an elegantly neutral color palette, cloudlike beds with distressed leather headboards, patterned vintage rugs over European oak wide-plank flooring, copper penny tables, wire-glass mirrors, industrial marble desks with cast iron legs, original black and white photographs from the 1940s and 1950s provided by the Howard Greenberg Gallery, industrial track lighting, weave-textured wall coverings, and bucket list-worthy views of downtown Manhattan via expansive windows.
Bedside charge ports, electronic blackout shades, and a Samsung Smart TV with streaming capabilities epitomize modern convenience. The spa-like bathrooms have marble-clad vanities, bronze-illuminated mirrors, subway tiles, and walk-in rain showers. Additional offerings include Tivoli clock radios, Egyptian cotton bedding, Fretté bathrobes, C.O. Bigelow bath products, a local gourmet minibar, and Nespresso machines. For a splurge, go grand or go home by booking a palatial penthouse or a soul-soothing terrace suite. They feature a slew of jaw-dropping extras like deep soaking tubs and full personal bars. No matter the room type, you’ll dream of making the Soho Grand your permanent residence.
Dining & Nightlife
The Soho Grand is home to multiple dining and nightlife venues that hum with energy at any time of day. Follow a fashionable clientele into the strikingly Art Deco-bedecked Grand Bar & Salon. Located off the lobby, the Gatsby-esque space is as glamorous as it comes—think a hand-painted silver leaf ceiling, chandeliers inspired by the New York Public Library, and artfully draped fabrics hanging high. By day, it’s a sun-soaked, high-style hangout where designer-clad patrons sink into a sea of sumptuous, jewel-toned armchairs and plush banquettes or perch at the gold-polished, marble-topped oak bar. This beloved New York institution offers an all-day menu of excellently executed, locally sourced fare, such as avocado toasts, omelets, burgers, and grilled sea bass. By night, the devilishly good-looking hotspot evokes a dimly lit drinking den. Boasting a selection of fifty rare American whiskeys, there’s no better place for a classic Old-Fashioned or inventive cocktail beautifully crafted by mixologists Natasha David and Jeremy Oertel. In short, it’s the hotel bar to end all hotel bars.
Hidden away by velvet curtains is the speakeasy-inspired The Club Room, a stomping ground for Below 14th Street’s best-dressed denizens. Expect to be transported into a bygone era of glamour: Terry O’Neill’s oversized portraits and hand-painted peacocks dot the walls, and feel-fabulous vibes adorn this swanky haunt. Here, patrons enjoy caviar and beautifully crafted cocktails served in exquisite glassware while regaling in live music from New York’s finest jazz performers and pianists. Later in the evening, top-notch downtown DJs provide lively soundtracks that make this gilded boîte’s dancefloor come alive until the wee hours.
Located on the ground floor is Soho Diner, a modern and elevated take on a classic NY diner, open daily from seven in the morning until late. Outfitted with roomy, salmon-colored booths and retro light fixtures, the menu offers old-school staples like burgers, eggs, pancakes, and milkshakes. Larger entrees include everything from grilled marinated steak to rigatoni bolognese. There are plenty of vegan options, too. As for the killer cocktail menu? You can’t go wrong ordering the espresso martini made with Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee beans.
From May through September, it’s all about Gilligan’s, the hotel’s secret tropical paradise-meets-beach bar. Grab a seat under an umbrella and slurp on a frozen watermelon margarita, or crack open a bottle of chilled rosé at this greenery and fun-filled hidden gem. The seafood-centric menu includes east coast oysters, roasted branzino, and a gigantic chopped lobster cobb salad.
Additional Amenities & Experiences
- The Soho Grand offers pet-friendly accommodations at no additional charge. Four-legged friends are provided with organic treats, bedding, food/water bowls, and doggy bags. Unwind and unleash in the leafy and impossibly charming Rebecca Cole-designed Soho Grand Dog Park, open exclusively for hotel guests and members and featuring fire hydrant water stations and bespoke benches.
- During the spring, summer, and fall, hotel guests can explore the city in style by hopping on a bike from Brooklyn Bicycles Co. Complimentary for up to three hours at a time, they come with an illustrated bike map, helmet, and a lock.
- Since 1996, the Soho Grand has thrown some of the most memorable fêtes that the City that Never Sleeps has ever seen. The Truman Capote-inspired Annual Black & White Masquerade Ball is the perfect way to celebrate the New Year in grandeur style. It also happens to be one of the most coveted tickets in town. The hotel has also hosted many fashion runway shows, film screenings, concerts, and more. Be sure to check out Soho Grand’s Instagram and website to stay up-to-date on exciting upcoming events you don’t want to miss.
Book the ABC rate code with chain code GG for travel this summer and receive a free upgrade to the next room category (based on availability) and a champagne toast upon arrival. Book now and stay between June 28 to September 2, 2024.
