- Best for: Solo travel, couples, and creatives visiting the city for work
- Location: SoHo, New York
- Can’t-miss feature: The guest-only lobby library, which was created to feel like the hotel’s “living room.”
- In a nutshell: SoHo’s first luxury hotel was originally a magnet for A-listers; now, it's a timeless New York institution with an unmistakably home-away-from-home ease. Set within a historic six-story, Romanesque Revival brick building on Mercer Street, the hotel pairs airy, loft-like suites with a dimly lit, buzzy restaurant, all delivered with an understated downtown sensibility.
Rooms
The hotel’s 73 loft-like rooms and suites are a masterclass in quiet luxury. High ceilings, expansive windows, and a restrained neutral palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly and effortlessly calm. Modern and understated, the design is deliberately pared back—a welcome antidote to the constant hum of New York City. And if the calm of the room interior hasn’t quite washed away the busy day, the indulgently oversized marble bathtubs certainly will. (Although they are found in most bathrooms in the hotel, big bath enthusiasts should be sure to request a room with one.)
Food and drink
Tucked beneath a flight of stairs and removed from the hotel’s main thoroughfare, Sartiano’s is an intimate, dimly lit enclave humming with low-key energy. The Italian-forward menu is matched by impeccably crafted cocktails, and the room carries an air of downtown exclusivity that feels organic rather than showy. Conceived by Scott Sartiano, founder of Manhattan’s private members’ club Zero Bond, the restaurant naturally inherits that sense of insider allure.
But atmosphere can only go so far, and here, the food more than delivers. Chef Alfred Portale leads the kitchen, executing a menu packed with unforgettable dishes. Weeks later, I’m still thinking about the fusilli with wagyu beef ragù pasta dish, followed by the glistening chocolate-glazed tiramisu layered with espresso-Kahlúa and mascarpone with a slightly salty crunch. Even a spontaneous side order of roasted carrots with pomegranate yogurt is haunting me, in a wonderful way.
What to do nearby
In its amazingly central SoHo location at the corner of Mercer and Prince Street, it’s more a question of what not to do nearby. Downtown New York is at your fingertips, with Wall Street, Tribeca, Greenwich Village, Little Italy and Chelsea nearby, and galleries, museums, and world-class restaurants all within walking distance.
For shoppers, the location is a dream. Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Chloé, and Alaïa surround the hotel, with Prada directly across the street. But for all the gloss and glitz, what best captures the spirit of The Mercer is its other neighbor: Fanelli Café, the city’s second-oldest bar. Dating back to 1847 and once a Prohibition-era artists’ hangout, it holds a charming, unvarnished New York character. Which sums up what Mercer is all about—modern luxury with a storied history.
Insider tip
For visitors looking to escape the city’s hubbub: Book a corner loft suite with a private terrace facing the hotel’s courtyard.
For visitors wanting to join the city’s hubbub: Go to the aforementioned Zero Bond members-only club. All hotel guests are granted complimentary access.
Final considerations:
- Family friendly: Children are welcome, but this is more of a fun, adult-friendly hotel
- Accessibility: Yes; more information available here
- Loyalty group/hotel brand: The Mercer is independently owned
147 Mercer St, New York, New York 10012
United States
https://www.vintryandmercer.com/access/
(212) 966-6060