11 Howard – Casual Luxury in SoHo, Manhattan
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, it’s no wonder that New York City is home to an abundance of luxury hotels. Despite this, I can’t help but being overly enthusiastic every time a new design-driven hotel debuts. In April 2016, the highly-anticipated five star 11 Howard opened its doors in the heart of SoHo. With raving reviews and ranked #43 of #463 Hotels in New York City, I couldn’t wait to experience the conscious hospitality of this new downtown gem.
The 221-room property is housed in a landmark building, formerly a post office, conveniently located on Howard Street in SoHo. Finding my way to 11 Howard was easy – as I exited the Canal St. subway station I couldn’t help being wowed by the 150-foot-by-50-foot swirling blue mural that adorns the building’s south-facing wall. The design is encompassed of motifs such as Chinese dragons, a giant fork, buildings, and other elements that pay tribute the history of SoHo.
Contemporary furnishings, 15-foot high ceilings and carefully selected art all add to the sophistication of 11 Howard. The aesthetic is evident immediately as you enter the lobby, where a gorgeous spiral black staircase towers up to the hotel’s bar, The blond.
The hotel’s fashionable and contemporary style is fitting for the property’s location – set in the heart of the creative and hip Manhattan’s SoHo district. It’s prime location makes 11 Howard nicely tucked away from the mayhem of Times Square. The property is situated just down the road from Bloomingdales, Tribeca Park and Manhattan Bridge and offers an excellent vantage point for downtown exploration.
Facilities & Amenities of 11 Howard
As I made my way up this staircase leading to the second floor I entered the hotel’s bar, the Blond – one of the hottest bars in SoHo, set in a opulent and glamorous environment. The bar offerings are well curated and you will be spoiled for choice as to what to sip. As the sun sets into the landscape and the moon rises over the low slung neighbourhood, the venue transforms itself into a nightclub and welcomes guests to imbibe into the wee hours as you clink glasses with your crew. The arched windows and low lighting in combination with dark woods and heavy velvets creates a sensual and attractive space reminiscent of 1930s jazz culture of NYC.
Next to the Blond lies the Library. With its collection of beautiful furniture, quirky objets d’art, elegant Mahogany concierge desk and wide wood-board floor the venue will transport you back to the atmosphere of New York’s golden age. Providing guests with a multifunctional sophisticated and relaxed central meeting place, the Library is a place to see and be seen. The setting is elegant and modern, and the service is professional and welcoming.
The custom-made steel cylindrical staircase connects the lobby to the bar.
The hotel’s bar, the Blond, is set in an opulent and glamorous environment.
Unwinding in the Library, the public space on the second floor.
Rooms & Suites
The rooms, which range from 183 to 323 square feet, are modest in size, but thoughtfully appointed and with plenty of space to manoeuvre around. The 11-foot-high ceilings added a sense of space and air. The oversized windows, overlooking the low-slung area of SoHo, provide generous of natural light, further amplifying the size of the room.
11 Howard’s interior design is classy and sophisticated, with a Scandinavian minimalist vibe. A colour palette of beige, gray and muted pastels dominate the room, with accents in oak, brass and wool delivering a finish touch. The handcrafted furniture, exclusively designed for the hotel by Danish studio Space Copenhagen, feature natural materials such as stone, bleached woods and leathers.
The light hues of the walls and flooring are offset by an elegant black headboard and a modern ceramic wall sculpture hanging above the bed. Soft natural bamboo area rugs partially covered the elegant light oak wood floor. My room was outfitted with credenza, desk, armoires and the plush king sized bed was adorned with a double-weaved wool bed throw from French design house Society.
The spacious luxe bathroom was my favourite feature. The bathroom was outfitted with porcelain tiles, with brass trimmings nicely contrasting against the light marble countertops. An assortment of bath amenities from organic Grown Alchemist was beautifully presented on a ceramic plate.
Every room is equipped with a tablet, which you can use to request and schedule services, such as room-service & housekeeping.
The tablet also offers city guides, third-party apps and displays all your reservation details.
Casual Luxury
With just over 200 rooms and suites, 11 Howard’s offers an intimacy that is rarely seen in larger hotels. The property and its interiors exudes a feeling of a timeless elegance, and the hotel’s public spaces are gorgeously inviting. 11 Howard is the ideal choice for travelers in search of casual luxury who also wish to escape the Midtown mayhem for the soothing and calm vibe of SoHo and neighbouring areas.
11 Howard at a Glance
| Facilities | Complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel. 606-square-foot event space is equally suited to a board meeting and a private meal. A fitness center is available for all guests. |
| Food + Drink | Room service is available 24 hours a day, for breakfast, all-day dining, and late-night noshing. In-room private dining can be ordered by the in-room tablet. The on-site restaurant Le Coucou entices hungry guests with its menu of simple yet refined classic French dishes. The blond, the hotel’s bar, welcomes guests to work, mingle, and relax. |
| Neighbourhood | Located in the creative and hip Manhattan’s SoHo district, nicely tucked away from the mayhem of Times Square. Down the road is Bloomingdales, Tribeca Park and Manhattan Bridge. The nearest subway station, Canal St. Station, is only a 2-minute walk. Neighboring areas include Chinatown, Little Italy, Tribeca & Greenwich Village. |
| Contact | +1 212 235 1111 11 Howard St, New York, NY 10013-3111 (view location). 11 Howard Website | Instagram | Twitter. |
Have you ever been to New York City? In which part of town do you prefer to stay, and why? Please feel free to let us know in the comments below!
20 Comments
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julie porter
I’ve only been to NYC once, many years ago, but I loved it and have always wanted to go back. This hotel is absolutely gorgeous, and it would be nice to stay in a smaller, quiet hotel away from the frenzy of Times Square, which is where I stayed when I was there.
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Elizabeth
What a gorgeous looking hotel! Your photographs and descriptions make me want to hop on the next trans Atlantic flight and visit New York! 🙂
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Emily Davis
Wow, I live 45 minutes away from NYC and love going in to spend the night. This is beautiful!
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Sandra Crespo
I grew up in NYC so this article is very dear to my heart! I love everything about SOHO and the city! It is a world of its own and I can’t wait to have my children experience a month where I grew up! Ty for sharing!
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robin masshole mommy
That sounds so nice. I have family in Queens, so that is where I usually stay when I go down there, but I might have to make an exception next time and stay here.
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Fatima Torres
I’m loving the spiral staircase and how they have the bathroom sinks set up. It looks like a dream in there. I’d like to visit one day.
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Joyce
Oooh this looks lush! I love lush design hotels! I stayed fairly close to Howard St. when I went last summer but I have no memory of this hotel. Need to check it out on my next trip to the apple´.
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Katja
This hotel look stunning. I’m planning an excursion to NYC in the fall so will definitely put this one on my list.
Katja xxx -
Krysten
This place looks absolutely amazing. I really like the fact that they have 11 ft ceilings, that would make me feel less like I am in a hotel and more in a loft or something. I would definitely stay here when I am in New York City.
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Steven Goodwin
Wow, that place looks awesome! I especially love that staircase, not to mention those luxurious suites! Very nice review!
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JoAnn
Will have to squeeze in a weekend this spring. Have been in constant search of a fancy hotel in Downtown. You’ve got some fab recommendations here! Nice photos too, good job! The colours here are fantastic!
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Divya @ Eat. Teach. Blog.
I absolutely adore NYC! I never had the chance to stay in a hotel there because I have family in Queens and friends scattered all throughout Manhattan. But it’s definitely one of my favorite cities to visit <3
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Christina
I have never been to NYC. I can only dream about going to places like these! Beautiful post and the pictures are amazing. Would love to go into a place like this and just be me!
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Author Brandi Kennedy
My god, that staircase is utterly stunning. 11 Howard seems like a beautiful place to spend some time!
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Carol Cassara
I like the modern contemporary feel of the decor. The room looks comfortable and posh! It’s definitely a stylish hotel! I’ve never been here before but it would be nice to see it personally.
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Alexandra Moresco
Wow that space looks beautiful!! I would love to check it out!!
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Ana Rose | Roads and Pages
I haven’t experienced to stay in a five-star luxury hotel, yet I already visited the Venetian Hotel in Macau which is considered as the Las Vegas in the East. New York is something I am not sure if I can visit in the future because of money matters. But I am hoping someday, I can visit it.
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GiGi Eats
I was recently in NYC… And I stayed at a hotel that I wasn’t overly impressed with. It’s funny though because my father used to stay at this hotel ALL the time, and he is a LUXURY/FANCY PANTS HOTEL “who**” – haha! That being said, he did stop staying at the hotel I decided to stay at a while back… And I see why now! I wish I knew about 11 Howard, I would have checked it out!!
amanda
Another great looking hotel – you have some lovely shots. I think the spiral staircase has the most appeal to me.