Claire Carusillo

Staying in the best hotels near the Bowery means positioning yourself on New York’s own Skid Row—aka a thoroughfare that has gracefully transitioned from gritty into Manhattan’s premier destination for top art shows, shopping in NYC, and concerts in NYC. Perched in a prime location bordering Chinatown, Little Italy, and SoHo, the Bowery mutates and changes daily; you never know what you may find while exploring or out for a drink at one of the best Lower East Side bars. Just make sure you’re returning to one of these haute hotels at the end of the night. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best hotels in NYC

A wacky former lodging house for WWII veterans, this affordable hotel is imbued with old Bowery history. But don’t worry, thanks to a major restoration, everything else is new. Communal bathrooms are lined with Italian marble sinks and showers as well as heated floors, and complimentary toiletries. This kooky hotel has a haunting vibe, but prime for the budget traveler. Pearl & Ash, a popular oyster spot, lives in the kitchen space downstairs.

In the past decade, Bliss has cemented itself as one of the premier, design-specific venues for wellness. Bliss 49 at the W’s Lexington Avenue location spans over two floors (22,000 square feet!) with a massive selection of signature treatments ranging from the dark-spot diminishing Transluminous Facial to the acne-scar erasing Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial. And of course, the entire range of culty products are available for guests to maintain their Bliss-ful glow long after the vacation ends.