New York City

From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

Located in one of the few ungentrified stretches of a transitional downtown neighborhood that's at the center of nothing but close to everything (Chelsea, Midtown), the 260-room Ace has a bona fide cool vibe—best personified by its buzzy lobby, a public living room that has the look of a '50s-era boarding school common room and is filled at all hours with muss-haired hipsters. The prep school aesthetic extends to the cozy rooms, which are stocked with retro details like Pendleton blankets, coarse carpets, and pencil sharpeners (some come with turntables and full-size Smeg refrigerators). Despite the flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi access, the hotel's ethos is happily analog: Instead of dimmer lights, there are gooseneck lamps, and in place of digital do-not-disturb buttons there are black magnets reading not now. The Ace isn't for guests who need a lot of attention or amenities—the hotel assumes a certain familiarity with the city, and the staff, while sweet, can be a little hapless. But the rates are reasonable, the restaurant—April Bloomfield's gastropub The Breslin—is a hot spot, the two in-house lifestyle boutiques are smartly curated, and the place is already beloved by Manhattanites.—2010 Hot List

Which room to book: Rooms facing the air shaft are quieter but have little natural light; opt for one facing the street. Also, get nothing cheaper than the "Small" category—go more budget than that and you really are staying in a dorm room.

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