Latest news with #FScottFitzgerald
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Prix Fitzgerald 2025 Laureate Announced at Hôtel Belles Rives
CAP D'ANTIBES, France, June 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During a celebrated ceremony at the iconic Hôtel Belles Rives in Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera, the jury of the 2025 Prix Fitzgerald announced its latest laureate: Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Ford, recognized for his poignant novel Be Mine (Le paradis des fous, published in France by Éditions de l'Olivier). A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. The Prix Fitzgerald, created in 2011 by Marianne Estène-Chauvin, President of the Francis Scott Fitzgerald Academy and owner of Belles Rives Group, annually honors a work of fiction that embodies the spirit, elegance, and art of living associated with the American literary icon F. Scott Fitzgerald. This year's edition holds resonance, marking 100 years since the publication of The Great Gatsby and Fitzgerald's first stay in Juan-les-Pins in 1925, when he and Zelda moved into Villa Saint-Louis—now Hôtel Belles Rives. It was here, overlooking the same blue expanse of Cap d'Antibes, that Fitzgerald worked on Tender Is the Night, and where the mythos of the Riviera as a playground of writers, artists, and exiles began to crystallize. Ford's Be Mine, which revisits his beloved character Frank Bascombe, was praised for its reflection on aging, caregiving, and parenting in America itself, all told with Ford's signature blend of clarity, wit, and empathy. The jury commended the novel for capturing the existential tensions of modern life with a tone and depth that echoes Fitzgerald's legacy. 'My gratitude to the Prix Fitzgerald jury for their belief not just in my book but in books in general. We all stand on the shoulders of genius—and being here today at Hôtel Belles Rives, in the year we celebrate the centennial of The Great Gatsby, makes me believe it all possible.' The Prix Fitzgerald ceremony was held on the terrace overlooking the romantic, rocky peninsula with its white pier facing the adjacent islands graced by the 'green light' that once inspired Fitzgerald's most famous novel. The celebration concluded with a Riviera-style dinner held on the legendary terraces of this historic landmark. 'Richard Ford's Be Mine is a masterful—and rare—lesson in restraint, humanity, and emotional clarity. Ford dares to do what few still allow themselves: to write quietly, without flourish, about the subtle pain of fading feelings, the dignity of ordinary lives, and fidelity as an elegant form of melancholy. No grand gestures. No theatrics. Just clean, direct, implacable—and profoundly human—prose. A clarity without drama, yet marked by a light gravity that strikes with precision. It's a novel that doesn't try to shine—and that's precisely why it does,' said Marianne Estène-Chauvin, President of the Francis Scott Fitzgerald Academy and owner of Groupe Belles Rives. 'Like Fitzgerald,' she continued, 'Ford understands that the deepest truths live in silences, in hesitations, in sideways glances. He carries the elegance of disenchantment, the rejection of sentimentality—a style that never needs to raise its voice to move us. It is an honor—and, indeed, a distinctly Fitzgeraldian kind of jubilation—to welcome him among the Prix Fitzgerald laureates.' Ford joins an esteemed list of past American laureates including Joyce Carol Oates (2024), Quentin Tarantino (2023), Jonathan Dee (2022), Jeffrey Eugenides (2019), Jay McInerney (2016), and Christopher Bollen (2015). Special distinctions have also included the Gatsby Prize to Thadée Klossowski de Rola and the Zelda Prize to Dominique Bona. Each year, a jury of writers, journalists, and cultural figures—presided over by Bertrand de Saint Vincent, Deputy Director of Le Figaro —selects the Prix Fitzgerald recipient. Nominations are revealed in March, with finalists determined by mid-May, ahead of the June ceremony. The Prix Fitzgerald remains a singular literary honor on the international scene, not only celebrating literary excellence but also perpetuating the mythos and joie de vivre of the Jazz Age on the Riviera—now more poignant than ever in this centennial year of The Great Gatsby. For more information, visit and follow on Instagram @bellesrives. ABOUT HÔTEL BELLES RIVES Hôtel Belles Rives is an Art Deco gem that stands above the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean. F. Scott Fitzgerald penned Tender is the Night here, and the property is a testament to the breezy extravagance of a bygone era yet reveals a modern design, offering 43 recently renovated rooms and suites. A gastronomic Mediterranean experience awaits at La Passagère, the onsite, one-star Michelin restaurant led by culinary maestro, Aurélien Véquaud. Classic cocktails can be found at the newly renovated Bar Fitzgerald, named for the property's original resident. The hotel's private beach features the Belles Rives Beach Restaurant, the Water Sports Club, and the jetty that's home to the hotel's private boat dock. Extend that sun kissed, blissed-out feeling with an innovative treatment by luxe Swiss skincare house, Valmont onsite at its namesake beauty corner. The property—with an ownership bloodline dating back to the 1930s—is now helmed by the fourth generation, the 43-year-old, Antoine Chauvin-Estène who is imparting an egalitarian and refreshing approach to this emblematic riviera classic. MEDIA CONTACTS: Nadeige Martelly, AMPR Global [email protected] +1 786 863 1363 Andria Mitsakos, AMPR Global [email protected] +1 954 294 4710
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prix Fitzgerald 2025 Laureate Announced at Hôtel Belles Rives
Renowned American Author Richard Ford Receives 14th Annual Literary Award for Be Mine CAP D'ANTIBES, France, June 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During a celebrated ceremony at the iconic Hôtel Belles Rives in Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera, the jury of the 2025 Prix Fitzgerald announced its latest laureate: Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Ford, recognized for his poignant novel Be Mine (Le paradis des fous, published in France by Éditions de l'Olivier). A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. The Prix Fitzgerald, created in 2011 by Marianne Estène-Chauvin, President of the Francis Scott Fitzgerald Academy and owner of Belles Rives Group, annually honors a work of fiction that embodies the spirit, elegance, and art of living associated with the American literary icon F. Scott Fitzgerald. This year's edition holds resonance, marking 100 years since the publication of The Great Gatsby and Fitzgerald's first stay in Juan-les-Pins in 1925, when he and Zelda moved into Villa Saint-Louis—now Hôtel Belles Rives. It was here, overlooking the same blue expanse of Cap d'Antibes, that Fitzgerald worked on Tender Is the Night, and where the mythos of the Riviera as a playground of writers, artists, and exiles began to crystallize. Ford's Be Mine, which revisits his beloved character Frank Bascombe, was praised for its reflection on aging, caregiving, and parenting in America itself, all told with Ford's signature blend of clarity, wit, and empathy. The jury commended the novel for capturing the existential tensions of modern life with a tone and depth that echoes Fitzgerald's legacy. 'My gratitude to the Prix Fitzgerald jury for their belief not just in my book but in books in general. We all stand on the shoulders of genius—and being here today at Hôtel Belles Rives, in the year we celebrate the centennial of The Great Gatsby, makes me believe it all possible.' The Prix Fitzgerald ceremony was held on the terrace overlooking the romantic, rocky peninsula with its white pier facing the adjacent islands graced by the 'green light' that once inspired Fitzgerald's most famous novel. The celebration concluded with a Riviera-style dinner held on the legendary terraces of this historic landmark. 'Richard Ford's Be Mine is a masterful—and rare—lesson in restraint, humanity, and emotional clarity. Ford dares to do what few still allow themselves: to write quietly, without flourish, about the subtle pain of fading feelings, the dignity of ordinary lives, and fidelity as an elegant form of melancholy. No grand gestures. No theatrics. Just clean, direct, implacable—and profoundly human—prose. A clarity without drama, yet marked by a light gravity that strikes with precision. It's a novel that doesn't try to shine—and that's precisely why it does,' said Marianne Estène-Chauvin, President of the Francis Scott Fitzgerald Academy and owner of Groupe Belles Rives. 'Like Fitzgerald,' she continued, 'Ford understands that the deepest truths live in silences, in hesitations, in sideways glances. He carries the elegance of disenchantment, the rejection of sentimentality—a style that never needs to raise its voice to move us. It is an honor—and, indeed, a distinctly Fitzgeraldian kind of jubilation—to welcome him among the Prix Fitzgerald laureates.' Ford joins an esteemed list of past American laureates including Joyce Carol Oates (2024), Quentin Tarantino (2023), Jonathan Dee (2022), Jeffrey Eugenides (2019), Jay McInerney (2016), and Christopher Bollen (2015). Special distinctions have also included the Gatsby Prize to Thadée Klossowski de Rola and the Zelda Prize to Dominique Bona. Each year, a jury of writers, journalists, and cultural figures—presided over by Bertrand de Saint Vincent, Deputy Director of Le Figaro—selects the Prix Fitzgerald recipient. Nominations are revealed in March, with finalists determined by mid-May, ahead of the June ceremony. The Prix Fitzgerald remains a singular literary honor on the international scene, not only celebrating literary excellence but also perpetuating the mythos and joie de vivre of the Jazz Age on the Riviera—now more poignant than ever in this centennial year of The Great Gatsby. For more information, visit and follow on Instagram @bellesrives. ABOUT HÔTEL BELLES RIVESHôtel Belles Rives is an Art Deco gem that stands above the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean. F. Scott Fitzgerald penned Tender is the Night here, and the property is a testament to the breezy extravagance of a bygone era yet reveals a modern design, offering 43 recently renovated rooms and suites. A gastronomic Mediterranean experience awaits at La Passagère, the onsite, one-star Michelin restaurant led by culinary maestro, Aurélien Véquaud. Classic cocktails can be found at the newly renovated Bar Fitzgerald, named for the property's original resident. The hotel's private beach features the Belles Rives Beach Restaurant, the Water Sports Club, and the jetty that's home to the hotel's private boat dock. Extend that sun kissed, blissed-out feeling with an innovative treatment by luxe Swiss skincare house, Valmont onsite at its namesake beauty corner. The property—with an ownership bloodline dating back to the 1930s—is now helmed by the fourth generation, the 43-year-old, Antoine Chauvin-Estène who is imparting an egalitarian and refreshing approach to this emblematic riviera classic. MEDIA CONTACTS:Nadeige Martelly, AMPR Globalnadeige@ +1 786 863 1363 Andria Mitsakos, AMPR Globalandria@ 954 294 4710Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Aidan Jones: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)
The internet gets a lot of bad press, most of which is itself published on the internet, which does seem hypocritical. The complaints usually mourn a loss of innocence and freedom. They remember the way things used to be, before the digital world was conquered by a handful of infinitely powerful tech oligarchs. I remember when we first got broadband in 2005. I felt like one of F Scott Fitzgerald's Dutch sailors at the end of The Great Gatsby, 'face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder'. It's scary to think that this beautiful thing has been stolen and turned against us. Used to extract the very minutes of our lives, which are then sold for profit. Some think that we should switch it off, shut the whole thing down before we lose touch with what's real, and who we are. But is it really so wrong to stay just a little bit longer? These are the 10 funniest things I have ever seen on the internet. This is the first standup special I ever remember watching. I always loved this bit about how hangovers get worse as you get older, which is so funny to me now because I'd never been drunk when I first saw this. Now I'm in my 30s, but I've been sober for 6 years, so you could argue that I still don't really get it. But I love the bit now for the same reason I did when I was 13: the violent way he says, 'SHUT UP!' In high school I was friends with these two brothers who lived on my street. Their dad was an illustrator and loved the Beatles, and their mum would take carloads of us out to the hills to film gory slasher movies that they wrote and produced together. They introduced me to so much indie film and weird art that felt a world away from suburban Adelaide and as weird as Brad Neely's overdub of the entire first Harry Potter film is, it's also just the tip of the iceberg. As an aside, one of the brothers, Pirie Martin, is a film-maker in his own right now and his first feature Psychosis was released in 2023 and absolutely rules. This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Speaking of the Beatles! James Donald Forbes McCann, as he insists on being referred to, was one of the best comedians in Australia for years and no one cared. Then he started opening for Shane Gillis and moved to the US, and now he rightfully sells tickets everywhere he goes. I could have just as easily put his 'Fool Me Once' bit on this list, but I can't go past this poem about the Beatles. It's the age-old question: who is the best Beatle? For me, this poem settles it for good. This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Andrew Portelli is currently one of the best comedians in Australia and no one cares. But the game is long, and the world will have its justice. 5. Group X – Waffle House My friend Lucy and I still quote this video and I'd say it might even be one of the cornerstones of our 15-year friendship, along with 'Let's get some SHOES!' and a house mixtape called Midyear Mayhem that my friend Mebbo released in 2009. How about that MS Word-era gradient in the animation! Phenomenal. This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. These two hosts of Triple J breakfast – along with guest comedian Alex Ward – take turns saying nice things to each other, and then reacting with the smallest possible smile. You will not believe how much fun this is until you do it with your loved ones. After you're done laughing at that, appreciate the beautiful irony of a breakfast radio team posting an entirely visual gag to their Instagram. When I moved to Melbourne in 2012, David Quirk was the first comic I ever shared a bill with whose work I was already familiar with. I loved this set from Festival Club, and there is no better summary of what comedians do than his quip, 'All I do is participate in life, and report back.' Watching Quirk emcee the open mic at The Monastery in Richmond to four punters in 2012 was an incredible thrill, and also served as great preparation for how the next decade-plus of my life would look. This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. This account seems to have gone relatively quiet in the last few years, but in my mid-to-late 20s it was huge. It's a girl from Manchester who collects and shares screenshots of the insane things men say to women on the internet. When it blew up I was just beginning to reckon with the idea that the repeated failure of all of my romantic endeavours might partially be my fault. (SURELY NOT?!) Reading these posts always made me laugh, but contained within them was also the helpful subtext: 'Hey you! Yeah you. Don't be an asshole.' This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Blake Freeman is one of the most natural performers I've ever seen. When we met I was 21 and he was 16 and even then he had an unnatural wisdom about him, which is funny because his act is all about how he's dumb. He's not dumb, he's lying to you, don't listen to him! This bit he did for the Melbourne comedy festival gala this year is unbelievable. This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. I don't buy into the fatalist idea that the internet is this awful thing that is ruining our lives. Sure there are bad aspects, just like everything, but the internet is really just us, reflected back at ourselves. If we don't like what we see, it's up to us to change it. Train the algorithm to show you the kind of content you want to see, and reward the kind of creation you want to reward. It starts with you, right here, right now. With this video of a simple man transforming into a cat. Aidan Jones is a standup comedian. His show Chopin's Nocturne is at Summerhall for the Edinburgh fringe from 31 July to 25 August. Follow him on Instagram
The Advertiser
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Step into the real Gilded Age on a glamorous escape from New York City
It's the type of evening activity I can imagine Jay Gatsby and his pals enjoying, decked out in Flapper gear and raising a glass of bubbles to the occasion. It's 100 years since F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was published, but the characters are still talked about and portrayed on Broadway in a terrific musical with the same name as the book. Set in the opulent worlds of Long Island and the bright lights of Manhattan, the story of mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby continues to enthral.
The Age
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
The best places to stay in New York
Four Seasons Hotel New York Perfect for: Supreme luxury, Four Seasons loyalists, central midtown location Four Seasons Hotel New York is an art deco masterpiece and midtown Manhattan landmark on the stretch of East 57th Street known as Billionaire's Row. Reopened at the end of 2024 after undergoing property-wide enhancements during an almost five-year closure, the ultra-luxury hotel is designed by celebrated architect IM Pei. Soaring 52 storeys, it's the second-tallest hotel in the city, and offers spectacular park and skyline views. Just steps from Central Park, Fifth Avenue shopping and Rockefeller Plaza, there are 219 accommodations, ranging in size from 500 square feet (46 square metres) to 4,300 square feet (400 square metres). The grand lobby, popular dining venues and see-and-be-seen TY Bar are worth visiting (cameras at the ready), even if you're not checking in. From $US1795 a night (excluding taxes). 57 East 57th Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 758 5700. See Graduate by Hilton New York Perfect for: Affordable stays, curious explorers, extraordinary views A stay at Graduate by Hilton New York gives visitors a taste of locals' neighbourhood Roosevelt Island, located in the East River between Manhattan and mainland Queens. Part of a chain that offers affordable, cleverly designed accommodations in university towns (Cornell Tech is nearby), the hotel is within easy reach of Manhattan's Midtown East via the F subway, the Roosevelt Island Tramway and ferry services. There's also plenty to do on the island, with a range of dining options on Main Street and public parks that are home to beautiful cherry blossom trees. Don't miss Panorama Room, an elegant bar on the 18th floor with some of the most extraordinary sunset views in the city. The lobby-level restaurant, Anything At All, is an all-day venue serving tasty burgers, salads and breakfast classics. From $US261 a night (excluding taxes). 22 North Loop Road, Roosevelt Island, Queens. Phone: +1 929 447 4700. See The Plaza Perfect for: Bucket-list NYC stays, cinema set-seeing, history buffs Classic New York nostalgia, grand Beaux-Arts architecture and palatial digs await guests at The Plaza, a landmark hotel you might recognise from its star turn in many films. Located on the edge of Central Park, close to fashionable Fifth Avenue shopping, the hotel is as quintessentially New York City now as it was a hundred years ago when F Scott Fitzgerald made it a popular haunt of his characters in The Great Gatsby. If you're a fan of the book, ask about The Gatsby Suite Experience. Stunning floral displays in the grand lobby reflect the season, while gilded ceilings and oversized chandeliers recall a more genteel age. Spacious guestrooms are lavishly decorated with 24-carat gold-plated fixtures and premium bedding. Younger guests might like to stay in the Eloise Suite, a whimsical space dedicated to the fictional little girl who lived at The Plaza. From $US995 a night (excluding taxes). 768 Fifth Avenue, New York. Phone: +1 212 759 3000. See Baccarat Hotel New York Perfect for: Glamour and bling, sophisticated decor, upscale bar and spa Twinkle, shine and sparkle is the captivating design brief at Baccarat Hotel New York, a glamorous Midtown hotel conceptualised by the French crystal house Baccarat. From afternoon tea in the Grand Salon, blooming with red roses and crystal chandeliers, to the sexy bar and Parisian-esque accommodations, it's a dreamy homage to beauty and luxury. The signature Spa De La Mer is the first dedicated spa in the US by premium skincare brand La Mer. Treatments promise the fountain of youth, in an opulent setting. Ideally located on West 53rd Street, the hotel is mere steps from MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. Subway connections are plentiful, though you might prefer to stroll to nearby restaurants, shops and Central Park. From $US973 a night (excluding taxes).28 West 53rd Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 790 8800. See The William Vale Perfect for: Manhattan views, Brooklyn buzz, affordable stays In the heart of hip Williamsburg, The William Vale is a convenient base for exploring Brooklyn and beyond. Every room has a balcony with stellar Manhattan views, and the rooftop pool is one of the largest and most popular in the city (splash out on a summer day pass if you're not staying on-property). Decor and design is welcoming and unstuffy, creating an ambience more residential than standard hotel room. Locals, guests and tourists alike frequent the hotel's buzzy bars and restaurants, including Leuca, where James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini does wonderful things with Southern Italian dishes, and Westlight, an indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge that's perfect on a warm, spring afternoon. You won't miss the 22-storey building on approach; the concrete-and-glass structure makes a big statement in the primarily low-rise neighbourhood. From $US255 a night (excluding taxes). 111 North 12th Street, Brooklyn. Phone: +1 718 631 8400. See The Carlyle Perfect for: Celebrity spotting, luxury splurges, the spirit of old New York That a film has been made about this hotel — Always at The Carlyle — in which such luminaries such as George Clooney, Anthony Bourdain, Roger Federer and Fran Lebowitz share fond memories of martinis at Bemelmans Bar and spicy assignations, is a testament to its storied reputation. Opened in 1930, the Upper East Side landmark is a celebrity favourite, as beloved for the discretion of its staff as for the lavishness of its decor. The 35-story, 192-room hotel has glorious views of Central Park, and is within easy reach of The Met, The Frick and Guggenheim museums. At Café Carlyle, book ahead for shows by A-list singers and cabaret performers. From $US799 a night. 35 East 76th Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 744 1600. See The Ritz-Carlton, NoMad Perfect for: Modern luxury and glamour, superior service, fab bar and restaurant With all the flawless details one would expect from The Ritz-Carlton brand – and in a newly built property – this hotel is a shining example of NYC's modern luxury class, with a nightly room rate to match. An enticing food and beverage collection so far includes Zaytinya, a Mediterranean restaurant by celebrated chef José Andrés, and Nubeluz, a cocktail bar on the 50th floor with spectacular views. At The Bazaar by José André, avant-garde dining celebrates Spanish and Japanese flavours and techniques. The skyscraper hotel's 250 rooms and suites have a soft and elegant palette, and the 632-square-metre spa and fitness centre offers treatments using luxe products from Augustinus Bader. From $US900 a night. 25 West 28th Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 404 8400. See The Langham Perfect for: Couples, families, VIPs, corporate travellers With some of the most spacious suites in the city and a prime midtown location on Fifth Avenue, The Langham is a favoured address of visiting dignitaries, NBA teams (in town to play at nearby Madison Square Garden), and those who enjoy luxury paired with convenience. Many of the room configurations have features that will appeal to longer-stay guests, including furnished terraces, kitchenettes, washer/dryers and Empire State Building views. Michelin-starred Ai Fiori restaurant features chef Michael White's French and Italian cuisine, with various prix fixe menus representing good value. Just one block away you'll find Macy's and many other shops in 34th Street-Herald Square area. Also within easy walking distance: Times Square, Bryant Park, the main New York Public Library branch and Grand Central Station. From $US600 a night (excluding taxes). 400 5th Avenue, New York. Phone: +1 212 695 4005. See Park Lane Perfect for: Couples, Central Park views, nightlife Park Lane New York on Central Park South (aka Billionaires' Row) was completely reimagined during the pandemic pause, with a thoughtful renovation that respects and integrates the building's 1960s architectural heritage. Take the rooftop lounge and cocktail bar, Darling, with its 'pinch-me' views of Central Park: once the penthouse apartment of developers Harry and Leona Helmsley, it's now a luxe watering hole with weekend DJs and decor that hints at chic mid-century Miami. The 47-storey property, run by Highgate, has 610 rooms. It's across the street from Central Park and a short walk to Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center and Fifth Avenue stores. From $US450 a night (excluding taxes). 36 Central Park South, New York. Phone: +1 212 371 4000. See Moxy NYC Times Square Perfect for: Young and young at heart, mid-range budgets, central location If you're going to stay in the busy Times Square precinct, embrace the fun factor. Moxy Times Square is part of Marriott's millennial-friendly brand, with Instagram-ready neon signs, provocative sculptures and a very popular rooftop bar, Magic Hour. The 600-plus rooms are playful, colourful and cool, using clever design to maximise small spaces. Common areas include the lobby bar, co-working spaces and a brasserie, Legasea, which has good happy hour deals. Located at the southern end of Times Square, the hotel is close to Macy's on 34th Street and lots of subway connections. (There are five other Moxy hotels throughout the city.) From $US234 a night (excluding taxes). 485 7th Avenue, New York. Phone: +1 212 967 6699. See Pod Brooklyn Perfect for: Bargain hunters, singles, social types In hotel parlance the rooms are 'compact', which is to say they're small, but who goes to New York to spend time in their room anyway? Ultramodern, functional and located in trendy Williamsburg, Pod Brooklyn is also very affordable, a rarity in the city. Surrounded by cafes, bars and shops, the hotel's 249 rooms are based on Japanese pod hotel design. We suspect there was also some IKEA inspo. The lobby is playful (note the giant Jenga sculpture), while the mezzanine lounge is a comfy space to work or wait for check-in time. If there's no availability at this property, try the Pod hotels in three other NYC locations. From $US135 a night. 247 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn. Phone: +1 844 763 7666. See The Rockaway Hotel Perfect for: Beach lovers, surfers, return visitors to NYC The rumours are true: New York City has some decent beaches and an emerging surf culture. The beaches like those found in the Rockaways, Queens, can't compete with Aussie sand and surf – and they're freezing for most of the year – but can be a fun getaway from the concrete jungle. If you go, stay somewhere nice: The Rockaway Hotel is the first upscale accommodation to be built in the Rockaways in over a century. It's quickly gained traction as a stylish retro clubhouse for the community's surf, art and music scene. There's a deluxe spa, a popular rooftop bar and seaside fare in Margie's, the signature restaurant. Rooms are bright and fresh, with windows that open to let in the sea breeze. From $US290 a night. 108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Queens. Phone: +1 718 474 1216. See The Gansevoort Perfect for: LGBTQI travellers, art and design enthusiasts, party people The Gansevoort first opened in 2004, when Sex and the City was helping rebrand the formerly rough-and-tumble Meatpacking District into somewhere as cool as a Cosmopolitan, and it's recently had a multi-million-dollar renovation. The new-look 186 guestrooms are modern and stylish, with ombre wallpaper, subway tile in the bathrooms, Google Nest Hubs and Mirror gyms. Many overlook the Hudson River. The neighbourhood is now one of the most sophisticated in the city, home to drawcards like the High Line, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Little Island and Chelsea Market. Bars, restaurants and nightlife at the hotel and in the surrounding area reflect the energy of visitors and locals who know how to have fun. From $US465 a night (excluding taxes). 18 9th Avenue, New York. Phone: +1 877 426 7386. See 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge Perfect for: Eco-conscious travellers, trendsetters, Brooklyn base Sustainability meets chic design at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, where eco-conscious decor has been created by local artists with native greenery and reclaimed objects. There's not a plastic bottle in sight. Guests enjoy a prime DUMBO/Brooklyn Bridge waterfront base, with spectacular views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. (A sister hotel is located near Central Park.) With so much of New York's action now taking place in Brooklyn, it's a smart choice to stay in the borough for at least part of your visit. Make the most of the hotel's cinema room, plunge pool, rooftop bar and all-natural Bamford Spa before venturing out. From $US375 a night (excluding taxes). 60 Furman Street, Brooklyn. Phone: +1 347 696 2500. See Hotel Indigo, Lower East Side Perfect for: Hipsters, nightlife, lower Manhattan access The Lower East Side is lit, as the kids say. One of the coolest and edgiest neighbourhoods in Manhattan, it's a bustling jumble of nightlife, boutiques, restaurants, bars and century-old tenement buildings. On Ludlow Street is Hotel Indigo, an IHG property with a focus on modern design, street art and local characters. In fact, the 14th-floor lobby is decorated with outsized snapshots of LES history. The aesthetic could be described as warm industrial. Yes, there's a lot of concrete and steel, but there's also exposed red brick, reclaimed wood and premium Frette sheets. The hotel's rooftop bar and restaurant, Mr Purple, is well worth a look. A sister property in Williamsburg boasts one of the city's best rooftop pools (day passes can be purchased), and excellent modern African cuisine at Continent Brooklyn. From $US 239 a night (excluding taxes). 171 Ludlow Street, New York. Phone: +1 212 237 1776. See Ace Hotel Perfect for: Young and young-at-heart, creative types, pet-friendly At this hip midtown hotel, housed in a turn-of-the-century landmark building, the lobby is the social gathering hub. A rotating roster of events for guests and visitors are held there in the evenings – art exhibitions, DJ nights, LGBTQI mixers – while during the day, it's a productive space for working or networking. Rooms range from small bunk accommodations to spacious lofts that feel more like apartments, all decked out in signature monochrome hues with retro accessories. Call it an upscale flea-market aesthetic, courtesy of the vintage record turntables, acoustic guitars and trunks-as-coffee-tables. Boro Hotel Perfect for: Urban explorers, mid-range budgets, Manhattan views If you're a repeat visitor to NYC and feel confident navigating the subway, you might want to consider accommodation beyond Manhattan. Long Island City in Queens is just two subway stops from midtown and has one of the best views of the Manhattan skyline. It's where you'll find Boro Hotel, a stylish boutique property with 108 spacious loft-like rooms (thanks to 10-foot ceilings) featuring big bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. Most rooms have balconies or terraces, with views that usually cost a lot more than the nightly rate you'll pay here. The on-site restaurant, Beebe's, serves satisfying pizza, pasta and small plates.
