The Ridge

The Ridge Overview

I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to The Ridge on Houston Street, I wasn’t expecting much from what looked like a pretty standard three-star hotel wedged between all the trendy spots in the Lower East Side. But you know what? Sometimes those assumptions bite you in the ass, because this place actually surprised me in the best way.

The location is honestly fantastic if you want to be in the thick of things without paying Soho prices. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Katz’s Delicatessen (yes, that Katz’s), and the whole Ludlow Street scene is right there – those late-night bars, vintage shops, and some seriously good ramen spots that the food bloggers haven’t totally ruined yet. I mean, you can stumble back from Beauty & Essex or catch a show at the Bowery Ballroom and actually walk home instead of dealing with surge pricing on your Uber. The hotel sits on a pretty busy stretch of Houston, so there’s definitely street noise – I’d recommend asking for a room facing away from the main drag if you’re a light sleeper.

What really got me was how the staff seemed to genuinely know the neighborhood. The guy at the front desk (Miguel, I think?) didn’t just hand me a generic tourist map – he marked up spots where locals actually hang out and warned me about the construction mess on Delancey that would’ve screwed up my morning coffee run. The rooms themselves are clean and functional, nothing fancy but everything works. The shower pressure is actually decent, which honestly matters more than thread count when you’re walking around New York all day. I stayed on the fourth floor and could see slivers of the city between buildings – not exactly a skyline view, but it felt authentically New York in that cramped, energetic way. The WiFi held up fine for work calls, and there’s a little coffee setup that’s better than the usual hotel swill. Sure, you’re not getting a marble bathroom or a concierge who can score you impossible reservations, but for the price point and the location, it’s honestly a solid choice. If you’re the type who spends most of your time exploring rather than lounging in your room, The Ridge gives you a comfortable base in one of the city’s most interesting neighborhoods without breaking the bank.

The Ridge Accommodations

Reviews of The Ridge

• Cheap and cheerful, good location, comfortable beds and clean room – Victoria from United Kingdom – August 31, 2025 (7/10)

  Cheap and cheerful
  
  What could be improved: Stayed on a Friday night and the noise from the street below and other guests closing doors at 2am wasn’t great.

• Pleasant stay in the heart of NYC – Katarzyna from Poland – July 2, 2025 (8/10)

  It has a great location, very accessibile (metro, bus stop nearby) with adorable rooftop, nice staff and comfortable self check in.
  
  What could be improved: The walls in the hotel are quite thin which can be problematic sometimes

• Very Good – Trevor from Ireland – June 29, 2025 (8/10)

  I choose this hotel because of the street art. Mainly the Bonk Art pieces.
  
  What could be improved: Locks on doors feel a bit flimsy / safe didn’t work

• Great location and keeps it simple – Burbo from United States – May 19, 2025 (8/10)

  Rooftop was cool. Room was good for price i thought. Staff very helpful. Location was perfect for what we wanted. Met a couple of the street artist that painted exterior. I didn’t hear any neighbors really even though the hotel was fully booked.
  We were were in 602 and the street sounds were intense for my little. I’d stay again. Only spent 1 night, good view.
  
  What could be improved: Window bathroom wall was hilarious for my daughter

• Would stay again – Kimberly from United States – May 5, 2025 (8/10)

  Easy access
  
  What could be improved: Bed was squeaky, but comfortable

• Very pleasant – Cynthia from United States – April 12, 2025 (8/10)

  Location was great room very comfortable
  
  What could be improved: Wifi wasn’t good

• Great location, very clean, great price! – Elizabeth from United States – April 12, 2025 (8/10)

  Exactly what we are looking for when we’re in the city. Clean, comfortable, ideal location.

• Very Good – Susan from United Kingdom – April 8, 2025 (8/10)

  Hotel was good location for price. Roof Terrace was an unexpected but welcome facility. I was uncertain on arrival regarding codes for access to main building and my room, but got used to it and it worked well.

• Great value near F line in Downtown Manhattan – Alex from United States – March 26, 2025 (8/10)

  The staffing is minimalist which is probably a big contributor to the lower room rates than comparable hotels in the same area.
  If you need a lot of amenities or help from hotel staff, this is the wrong hotel for you.
  PIN code entry at the door.
  Pin code entry into rooms.
  Essentially, AirBNB interface with hotel during your stay.
  If you’re ok with that, this place is great.

• Fantastic! Can’t wait to return for another stay. – Kingston from United States – March 19, 2025 (7/10)

  We enjoyed the location, the staff, the decor. This remains our favorite place to stay in or around Manhattan.

Surroundings