East Village Hotel

Overview

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much from the East Village Hotel when I first walked up to that narrow entrance on First Avenue, but this little three-star spot actually surprised me. The building itself is pretty typical for this part of New York – one of those narrow pre-war structures squeezed between a bodega and what looked like someone’s converted apartment building. But honestly, that’s part of the charm when you’re staying in the East Village.

The lobby is tiny – I mean really tiny – but they’ve done something smart with mirrors and lighting that makes it feel less claustrophobic than it could. Check-in was smooth, though you might wait a few minutes if there’s more than two people ahead of you since there’s basically nowhere to stand. The woman at the front desk actually knew the neighborhood well, which was refreshing. She pointed me toward Veselka for late-night pierogies and warned me about the construction noise that starts around 7 AM on weekdays (thanks for that heads up, seriously). My room was on the fourth floor – no elevator, just so you know – and while it wasn’t huge, it had this great exposed brick wall and a window that looked out onto First Avenue. Sure, you’ll hear some street noise, especially on weekend nights when people are bar-hopping, but that’s just East Village life.

What I really appreciated was how the hotel felt connected to the actual neighborhood instead of being some generic midtown box. You’re literally a two-minute walk from St. Marks Place, where you can grab everything from vintage band t-shirts to 3 AM ramen. Tompkins Square Park is right there too – perfect for morning coffee or people-watching. The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant, but honestly, who cares when you’ve got Katz’s Deli a short walk south and about fifty different ethnic restaurants within a three-block radius? The rooms are clean and comfortable enough, though the bathrooms are definitely on the smaller side. Water pressure was surprisingly good, and the bed was actually pretty decent – I’ve stayed in fancier places with worse mattresses. They’ve got free WiFi that works well, and there’s a small business center if you need to print boarding passes or whatever. One thing that struck me was how quiet the hallways were, even with thin walls. I think the clientele tends to be more low-key travelers than party crowds. If you’re looking for a gym or room service, this isn’t your place, but if you want to experience the East Village like someone who actually lives here rather than just passing through, this little hotel gets it right. Plus, the subway is super accessible – you’ve got the 6 at Astor Place and the L at First Avenue, so getting around the city is pretty straightforward.