Brian enjoys exploring major cities along public transit lines and writing about it on his blog, imayroam.com, which he started in 2016. He also writes about topics like food tours, how to get the most out of a layover, and exploring movie and musical landmarks. Brian has traveled to 58 countries as well as every state, and contributes to outlets such as Fodor's, InsideHook, Travel + Leisure and USA Today.

On weekends, he leads music and film-focused walking tours of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. His five-star rated Goodfellas Tour of NYC was featured in Airbnb Magazine. Always happy to offer tips to aspiring travel writers and tour guides, Brian has been featured multiple times at the New York Times Travel Show as part of their Meet the Experts panel and has spoken at events like TBEX and the Travel & Adventure Show.

Brian Cicioni

Brian Cicioni

Contributing writer

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The 17 coolest hotels in New York City for 2025

The 17 coolest hotels in New York City for 2025

New York City is iconic (there’s no arguing with that) and while there’s an abundance of luxury spaces, stays with knockout views or spots with incredible pools which would really make your trip, you can’t beat finding a hotel which embodies everything that makes this city so effortlessly, timelessly cool.  After all, a hotel might just be a place you’re planning to rest your weary, tired head after a long day of shopping, eating and sightseeing, but when you think about it, they’re basically your gateway into the city. From oh-so-authentic downtown spots to swish FiDi skyrises and boutique Brooklyn outposts, there’s plenty to choose from. New additions to Time Out’s list for 2025 include The William Vale, The Hoxton, Williamsburg, and The Standard, High Line, but scroll on for an expertly-curated list of the coolest hotels on the block when it comes to where to stay in NYC. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more in

Listings and reviews (1)

The William Vale

The William Vale

5 out of 5 stars
The William Vale is effortlessly cool. Nestled on the border between the ultra-hip Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods of northwest Brooklyn, the five-star stay opened back in 2016, has 183 guestrooms over 23-floors and resembles something you’d see in an up-and-coming neighborhood in Tokyo or Seoul.  With a gym, pool, rooftop bar(s), and three dining spots that get many of their fresh herbs from the on-property Vale Garden, there’s enough here to enjoy The William Vale as an urban resort, all with the perk of being nestled in a lively, walkable part of New York area that’s not overcrowded like much of Manhattan. Why stay at The William Vale? First up, while in Manhattan hotels can feel pretty cramped, visitors to the William Vale will instead enjoy spacious, modern rooms (which each have their own balcony), plus access to the gym, pool, and three different drinking and dining options—you don’t need to leave the hotel if you don’t want to.  But, as it’s close to some of the museums, restaurants, bridges, and public spaces that make New York America’s top tourist destination, William Vale allows you to enjoy the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods as a proper, temporary local What are the rooms like at The William Vale? There are 15 different room types, from the Queen rooms to the Vale Garden Residence, which has a large deck with a hot tub. And in case you don’t have the energy to make it down to the gym, the Vale Garden Residence has its own Freemotion Coach bik