The Hoxton Williamsburg

The food is AMAZING, and the staff were solid. The location is nice too. But the rooms are ridiculously small, even for Brooklyn, and the bathrooms badly need work. Tiles were coming loose on the shower floor, and showering left the bathroom flooded. Housekeeping didn’t arrive until nearly 6:30 PM while my wife and I were getting ready to go out, so we turned down a full cleaning and settled for a quick bathroom refresh. We basically went the whole stay without full housekeeping. They’re going for a Bohemian chic feel, which might not be for me. Best advice: come for dinner, sleep somewhere else.

The location, beds, and Manhattan side view were all great, and I liked the cool design. But a couple of basic things made the stay frustrating. The TV only had basic cable, and its guide showed channel names without saying what was on. You can’t stream or cast to it. Also, the shower enclosure leaked across the bathroom floor. I reported the bad seal after our first night, but it never got fixed, so we had to mop up with towels after every shower.

I was lucky to get a Manhattan-facing room, and the views were unforgettable both day and night. There’s a park by the East River within a couple of blocks, and the neighborhood felt walkable and family-friendly. I stayed four nights, and it was quiet every night. The bed was wonderfully plush, room service was prompt and friendly, and the front desk staff were efficient and courteous. When I couldn’t get cell service, I asked the desk to call a taxi, and the car arrived within five minutes as promised. I’d stay again.

Lily helped us pick a room and gave us great tips for the area when we stayed in November. The location is ideal if you want that classic Brooklyn feel. We also enjoyed the lobby bar, especially the bartenders. Shoutout to Joe, who makes a fabulous gin martini!