Like Robert De Niro's previous business ventures in TriBeCa, his Greenwich Hotel is a well-timed success. Behind the unassuming brick facade is a mountain lodge meets ryokan ambience. The drawing room has a fireplace, plush mismatched couches, a wood-beamed ceiling, and knickknacks from all over the world. This rustic theme is carried out in the 88 spacious guest roomsbut don't let the distressed look fool you. All are luxuriously kitted out and have complimentary mini-bars. The large underground pool is the hotel's pièce de résistance: Set beneath a 250-year-old bamboo roof and reclaimed wood, it's a rare find in spatially limited Manhattan. The only weak point here is the restaurant, Ago, with its mediocre Italian food and spotty service.
When to go: Year-round.
Which room to book: Room 502, a Greenwich Room, has French doors that open onto a quiet courtyard