Ink48 653 11th Avenue, New York, N.Y.; 1-866-843-8869; www.ink48.com. 222 rooms starting from $243.
Sitting on a sapphire velvet couch in Ink48's lobby, or sipping a drink in one of the bordello-red "dens" by the bar, you might well congratulate yourself on finding such a hip, reasonably priced hotel in the middle of Manhattan.
Look out the window, though, and you'll have to concede that this part of the island is less an It spot for New Yorkers than where they come to drive out of town - a hub for car dealerships, mechanics and a rare midtown gas station.
But then Kimpton's newly revamped property is a hybrid anyway: a boutique hotel for people who don't really stay at boutique hotels.
Yes, its boho bona fides include interior design by the company behind W New York. Ink48 is also run by the country's largest boutique hotel chain and is a 15-minute walk from Times Square and two convention centres. Call it chino-chic, perhaps - a place where suburbanites can get a safe taste of big city cool.
Design How do you infuse a 17-storey hotel with a boutique aesthetic? Hire David Rockwell's design group to funkify the lobby with massive slabs of walnut, creamy chocolate marble and lounge areas in cerulean and cherry. Swath the "loft inspired" rooms in more chocolate brown and suitably quirky accents such as mustard couches. Then take advantage of the rooftop views (which thankfully extend past humdrum 11th Avenue to the Hudson River) with a lounge that includes a reflecting pool.
The amenities Ink48 dubs itself an "urban resort." This refers in part to its "serene" location (west of anywhere you'd want to hang out) but also to perks like an ultramodern gym, a spa and a wine hour from 5 to 6 p.m. The hotel is also well equipped for both business travellers (with 5,000 square feet of meeting space and Wi-Fi in the rooms) and families (you can book accredited babysitting services and the rooms include Nintendo).
The rooms One surefire sign you're in a boutique hotel: The hallways are so badly lit you can barely read your room number. Once you've found your room, however, you will be pleasantly surprised - rooms range from 250 to 600 square feet. That's big by New York standards, and leaves plenty of space for massive beds with AWL (surely the standard-issue All White Linens at upscale hotels deserves its own acronym by now), as well as smart round night tables that emanate light, a walnut dresser/desk and a seating area. The bathroom has a rain shower, L'Occitane toiletries and a trying-to-be-hip leopard-skin robe (also available in kiddie sizes).
Service Although I stayed at the hotel in what it called a "rough draft" stage, the service seemed well oiled. I overheard efforts to check in a business traveller early so he could shower before his meeting, calm concierges explaining bus tours to German tourists, and when I asked for guidance to a local café, I was directed to a sweet tea and scones joint.
Food and drink The hotel restaurants weren't complete during my stay, though one, Print, is now open with a low-key, locally sourced menu. And in this neighbourhood you can't roll out of bed to a Dean and Deluca. Still, all that was more than made up for by cutely packaged bagels, organic yogurts and granola served in one of the big conference rooms.
The Verdict The conveniences of a big hotel minus the cookie-cutter decor. The location is great for major midtown landmarks, but plan on a bit of a walk to the subway.