Ace Hotel | NYC — The Humble Pineapple Club

“The only free will you have is how well you respond to fate, so steel yourself and smile. Work can be a beautiful thing when done beautifully, and it’s a lot more fun done together than apart. This, more than anything else, is why people want to sleep with us.”

— from Ace's splash page

When I first moved to NYC (about a year and a half ago now), I had some time to kill in between desperately trying to find a job and desperately trying to not act like I was an idiot for moving here in the first place. Ah, hindsight. My point is, during those odd times of near-despair, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to some of my favorite spots where I could just mentally check-out. This is New York City, so there's obviously no shortage of beautiful parks and amazing museums to walk, or historic neighborhoods to wander, or cool bars to sit and people-watch. And of course, there was the Ace Hotel, right off of Broadway.

Ace can be put in a category of places much cooler than I even understand, and as such, I always feel a little guilty hanging out and taking up chair space that otherwise could be used by a much more successful blogger or photographer or fashion designer (or really anyone I guess.) It’s constantly filled to the brim with beautiful, hip, well-dressed people, and they’re always playing a balancing act of looking cool and looking busy. Luckily, this doesn’t stop me from checking in every now and again, usually when I need to clear my head and avoid any real responsibility. In a word, this place is kind of magical.

Its tucked away on a little side street, 29th between 5th and Broadway, across from some Korean food shops and a few burned-out looking apartments. We’re down the street from the Empire State, so there’s a nice mix of business and tourist that make up the sidewalk goers. The entrance is subtle and not too imposing – simple doors that sometimes have a bearded man in a faded blue denim shirt to open them (I assume this is the doorman, but I’ve never asked), and the inside greets you immediately with a blast of great music and cool air. Reception is off to your right, and the desk has a huge lit-up sign that reads “EXCELSIOR” in little yellowish lightbulbs. There’s a fantastic coffee shop to the left, and the restaurant beyond. It’s always dark, and I feel like as the day gets later, they actually make it darker, which is odd, but fits. It’s like a cavern inside, which may be what I love most about it: a huge, expansive space, high ceilings, big white pillars, and lots of places to sit. The old crown molding is up above, along with dark glass skylights (don’t worry – they don’t let any actual light in). What may be best though are the amble offerings of comfortable seats, almost like they want you to come in and sit down. There’s a photo booth. There’s a huge old faded and torn American flag hung on the back wall. There’s an elk head, and a stuffed opossum inside a fish tank. Old scientific posters showing various animal anatomy are placed around the lobby, along with a healthy dose of graffiti and wood paneling.

It’s a weird place, honestly. Even the bathrooms are strange – the men’s room is almost like a steam punk dream. You have to walk to the basement to find them, and as you walk back up to the lobby, the words “EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT” are fixed permanently to the face of one of the stairs. It wouldn’t surprise me if they occasionally came around and reminded all the guests if they had their towels, and to not panic.

It’s little touches like this that made me love this place right from the start.

The Ace Hotel company has some pretty interesting beginnings, starting out in Seattle, where in 1999 an old halfway house was transformed into what friends Alex, Wade and Doug hoped would be an affordable hotel for the growing “creative class.” Soon thereafter, another was opened in Portland, and now there are Ace hotels all over the country – from NYC to NoLa. They really champion this notion of affordable, interesting hotels placed in the hearts of big cities. Their NYC property offers guests rooms that start with bunk bed options, and go all the way to suites that come complete with an in-room guitar amenity. Their lobby bar has awesome cocktails. Their restaurant is Michelin-rated. All the while seeming to have a personal affection for taxidermy.

Ace NYC occupies what was formally the Breslin Hotel, which opened back in 1904 and hosted some truly interesting company – from gangsters to filmmakers. This sort of history apparently helps drive them to make what I think may be one of the best hotel lobbies in New York – ambiance that is simultaneously edgy and accessible. Right in the center of the lobby is a long table that always glows with the screens of laptops and old brass lamps. The creative class truly does thrive here. More often than not, business people will be typing away next to someone wearing studio headphones and editing their latest track – and what’s best, they don’t seem to mind. I think the people like it that way.

Ace NYC lobby - courtesy of MeltingButter

The thing about a hotel like this is that, behind all the weird art and ambiance, Ace is one of many brands that are helping to redefine what our concept of modern luxury hospitality is. Hotels are not just filled with businesspeople or families on vacation anymore. There is a middle ground, and it is being occupied with a group of people that need space not just to sleep, but also to live. Look at Starwood's W. Look at Marriot’s EDITION line. Even the large companies are realizing that this younger generation – no matter how much they are disavowed or put down – are travelling in greater numbers. And these are the people blogging, or using TripAdvisor, or tweeting out their issues instead of just stopping by the front desk. These are the new, modern guests. And these are the issues and challenges people in the business are facing, as well. We are having to adapt and respond to a world of luxury that is more relaxed and aloof than it has ever been before.

And Ace, well, they kill it. They make so many things go right here. They have developed a form of hospitality that could be described as “easy on the eyes.” They aren’t trying too hard, because they don’t really need to. Don’t believe me? Come in and grab a seat, if you can score one, and take it all in for yourself. Even if you leave a little confused, I’m pretty confident you won’t leave disappointed.