Hotel Indigo Top of the Block

By Daniel J. Bollinger

Last month saw the grand opening of the only duplex hotel room in the Hotel Indigo. Hotel Indigo is located at Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side. The Lower East Side is roughly located between the Bowery and the East River, and Canal Street and Houston Street and is a great neighborhood with its artsy scene, plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and unique shopping experiences.

For someone staying in NYC, the Hotel Indigo location is prime if you want to experience life in the Big Apple as a native “New Yawkur.” This hotel is Intercontinental Hotel Groups’ Flagship hotel. The hotel combines great rooms, the Mr. Purple rooftop bar and restaurant and their only duplex penthouse suite has some great features.

Their two bedroom/three bath duplex penthouse suite is certainly designed well for the uses they are suggesting it for. Photo shoots, movie scenes, and bridal suite packages will all enjoy what is offered. For photo shoots and movie scenes you will be getting some of the best views of the surrounding skyline including Brooklyn and the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges. These views are protected by Hotel Indigo since the owners purchased all air rights surrounding their building. The bridal suite package obviously includes these views but also offers champagne, make up chairs, rolling racks and more amenities specifically designed for your needs on that special day.

Hotel Indigo’s design motif is an embodiment of the LES which is in effect an “artist theme” since the LES has been in its most recent history the place for artists, musicians, etc. They successfully achieved their goal with many design accents and artwork. They have Mr. Brainwash artwork located throughout the suite (who my sources and I personally are convinced is Banksy). You really should check out the phonograph and bicycle wheel chandelier in the living room. Other cute accents continue the theme: The cocktail shaker in the mini bar is a replica of a graffiti spray paint can, the do not disturb sign says “Open Gallery” on one side and “Work in Progress” for do not disturb, and my personal favorite is the dripping paint splash on the mirrors in the hallway.

The duplex penthouse living room has a double high ceiling with a curved stair leading to the open master bedroom on the second floor. The other rooms in the hotel have high ceilings and are larger than the average hotel room in NYC being 330 sf as opposed to the average 200 sf NYC hotel room. The other rooms have big balconies which are great for enjoying the views, people watching, and relaxing with a bunch of your friends. What is impressive are the luxury finishes in all the bathrooms. All of the bathrooms have cascading shower heads with handhelds. What sets the duplex penthouse bathroom apart is the deep soaking tub with tiled top and shelf for you to put your music player, handbills from the theatre, or any personal items you enjoy while bathing. The floor tiles also make the duplex bathroom unique. The funky/artsy floor tiles really blend artsy and luxury nicely. I would call it ‘funky luxury’ which is appropriate for the new LES evolving now. There are mirrors galore in all the bathrooms and eastern sunlight reflects on the vanity in the master bathroom in the duplex suite so you will have plenty of light for shaving, applying makeup, etc.

There are East and West facing viewing balconies in the duplex penthouse. The unit is on the South side of the building so all the bridges are viewable. I have never been closer to the Williamsburg Bridge. There are many iconic photo ops available so you and your bridesmaids, or crew, or photo team will surely have some great pictures to remember your time spent at the Hotel Indigo.

The lobby is also very impressive. You are never too far from an outlet for charging your electronics. I like the one sofa where they have installed outlets right at the base of the couch. Along the columns you will find outlets right on the floor next to your chair. There is plenty of seating and every seat is comfortable. If you have some time to kill, or like to work around people then visit the lobby of the hotel and sit anywhere you like. The lobby also has a Bar & Café which sells some locally sourced products including: Irving Farm Coffee, Liquiteria Juices, and Russ & Daughters bagels. Once again you can enjoy all the views with huge windows throughout.

Intercontinental Hotel Groups’ Flagship hotel the Hotel Indigo really is “Top of the Block.” Not only is their only duplex penthouse suite a great stay, it is available for movie scenes, photography sessions, and they offer a special Bridal Suite Package. All of their rooms contain luxury amenities. The lobby is impressive and above the lobby make sure you enjoy at least one meal at Mr. Purple. You have all of this wrapped nicely in the heart of New Yorks’ Lower East Side (LES) which is a trendy,chic and very cool neighborhood.

Would you like to experience how a native New Yorker enjoys this city? Stay at the Hotel Indigo and you will have a great New York experience.

Hotel Indigo
171 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
(212)237-1776
www.hotelindigolowereastside.com