This New York hotel may be only three years old, but it has already made a name for itself as the hipster haven of the Lower East Side. It’s a celebrity favourite and after spending two nights there, I can see exactly why.
While girls’ trips are all about fun activities, chaotic nights out and days lounging on the beach, topping up your tan, or browsing shopping streets across the world, having a good base to rest your head after a long day of gallivanting has never been more important.
That’s why, on my most recent trip to New York, I made sure my best friend and I treated ourselves to a luxurious stay at the Nine Orchard hotel in Chinatown, just one subway stop away from Brooklyn, for a stay that will keep us rejuvenated between each busy day.
Online, the Nine Orchard hotel looks like an upgraded home away from home, with cosy furnishings, speakers in rooms, Brooklyn style windows perfect for people watching and tiled bathrooms you would only see on a Pinterest board. In person, it gave no less.
Upon checking in, my friend and I counted our lucky stars. We were warmly greeted in true New York fashion (no matter what people say, in my experience, the New Yorkers are far friendlier than your average Londoner, sorry!) and told us our stay included a £115 room tab to spend on the goodies left in our minibar, and a free breakfast at the connected Corner Bar restaurant which served a plate of the best French Toast I’ve ever had.
Every detail, from the speakers in the room which play a selection of calm and soothing jazz to your own music via Bluetooth, to the three showers to choose from in the bathroom that’s bigger than my UK bedroom.
Choice was the luxury we were awarded at Nine Orchard, and it’s no wonder celebrities enjoy the hotel too, having stayed during the CFDA Fashion Awards, we saw our fair share of stars ducking out of the hotel reception and bundled into Black SUVs one evening.
We also had our choice of lounge areas to relax in come evening, one room which had a grand fireplace, ideal for a late night reading session or the Swan room, an elegant space for a cocktail with a vaulted ceiling, luxurious booths, and pink Tennessee marble walls.
The Swan Room, with its vaulted ceiling, is a nod to the hotel building’s former use.
The Nine Orchard hotel was once a bank, which in some way adds to the opulent, old-world setting of the place. It’s a landmark of the iconic Lower East Side, having been awarded its status in 2009, and offered a view of the downtown skyline that would make any traveller want to emigrate in a heartbeat.
Nine Orchard may have opened its doors only in 2022, but it has quickly become Downtown New York’s go-to hipster hideaway, so much so that it earned a spot on Expedia’s 2026 Hotels of the Year list for its character and cultural edge.
Whether you’re planning a stylish weekend with friends or a romantic escape, this is a stay I’d recommend without hesitation.
Prices start from from £594.
