Hotel Check: Moxy East Village

WHERE IS IT? In the East Village, this hotel is a short walk from great dining and nightlife. It is also close to Union Square and New York University.

PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS: The rebellious design reflects this important NYC neighborhood’s history of music, art, and activism. A smart use of space in guest rooms delivers just what travelers want without the fuss. Marriott’s take on millennial travel is in full force here.

HOW MANY ROOMS? 286 rooms and suites

WHAT’S IT LIKE? This is the fourth Moxy to open in New York City, and it comes with all the bells and whistles one might expect: great dining, a hard-to-get-into nightclub, and a new rooftop bar and patio. The edgy and playful design sparks conversation, and the bar and living room is designed as a place for co-working and hanging out. There’s even a Skee-Ball game that has many fans. The vintage books, videos, and cassettes lining the walls were all hand selected for the hotel and reflect the youthful image of typical Moxy guests. The sofas and chairs are designed so that they can be moved around for different social purposes. There are games in the lounge plus a book cart featuring great reads from a local bookshop that guests can take home with them for free. Vintage materials were used to craft the individual check-in kiosks, and graffiti art is visible throughout the common spaces adding plenty of urbane flair. If you like, call reception to have a retro turntable delivered to the room with your choice of vinyl records to enjoy. The hotel also hosts numerous social events including Talk@Moxy panel discussions on a variety of themes as well as occasional DJs and live music performances.

ROOM FACILITIES: Mirrored elevators with humorous emojis printed on the walls lead to the compact, but expertly designed rooms. Beds feature canopy frames, cushioned headboards, thick duvets, and pillows with great East Village views from windows that open (electronic controls lower the blackout shades). Several rooms feature day beds tucked into the corner, which are great for parents traveling with a child. There’s also the option for a quadruple bunk room. Volcanic stone vanities are in the room in most cases leaving bathroom space for a shower stall, MUK toiletries dispensed from large bottles, and stacks of towels behind a translucent glass wall. All rooms come with steamers and hairdryers plus super-fast wireless Internet. Bedside power and USB outlets are easy to find (as are plenty of other places to charge up around the room). A small closet complements an entire wall of hooks to hang clothes. In fact, there are far more hooks framing the enormous flat-screen TV than you could ever use. There are plenty of drawers for storage including some cleverly placed under the bed to save space. Side tables are great for working or dining, and lap trays are another option for those that want to work in bed. Each floor’s design is modeled after different eras of East Village history.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS: Alphabet Bar & Café serves fresh pastries and light meals throughout the day as well as barista-prepared coffee. Guests can enjoy cocktails and mocktails at the bar or on the al fresco terrace, which features a retractable roof. Complimentary coffee is always available in the lounge. TAO Group’s Cathedrale is one floor below the lobby and features a dramatic dining room with high ceilings modeled after Fillmore East theater from the neighborhood. The menu, prepared from an open kitchen, is a mix of French and Mediterranean flavors. There’s also an outdoor dining area with retractable roof and a private dining room for small functions. The rooftop bar had not opened during our visit, but it is sure to impress with its contemporary décor and unending city views. Little Sister is the hotel’s basement nightclub, which features DJ tunes and a bar crafted from copper beneath an illuminated parade of empty whiskey bottles hanging overhead. This is the kind of place where you dress to impress just to join the queue, whether or not you are allowed the chance to go inside.

LEISURE FACILITIES: A fitness center features modern equipment, and guests can also borrow bikes with helmets and locks to use around town.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES: Wireless Internet is free everywhere in the hotel, and two co-working spaces in the lounge can be curtained off for small meeting areas.

VERDICT: From the welcome glass of Prosecco when you check-in to the long roster of playful amenities, this hotel delivers energetic, young spirit as well as those ever-popular Marriott Bonvoy points.

PRICE: Internet rates for a traditional room start at $179 on the random dates we checked.

CONTACT: Moxy East Village 112 E. 11 St., New York, NY 10003. Phone 212-288-6699. www.moxyeastvillage.com