Fodor's Expert Review Wythe Hotel

A former cooperage on the Brooklyn waterfront has found new life as the Wythe Hotel, a stunner for its Manhattan-skyline views, locally sourced design touches and amenities. The factory building near the Brooklyn Brewery, built in 1901, utilized reclaimed pine from the original building to create rustic ceilings. Rooms have a Brooklyn sensibility, with polished concrete floors (plus underfloor heating), local custom-patterned wallpaper, and surround sound controlled by your iPhone. The best rooms face Manhattan's skyline, but you can also take in the views from the sixth-floor terrace, where Bar Blondeau serves inventive cocktails and light fare. The menu of the cozy ground-floor restaurant, Le Crocodile, is undeniably French-inspired. Bunk bed rooms are a good value.