The Smyth Hotel, New York, review: A homely but hip vibe

THE LOCATION

Smyth (pronounced Smith) is in the beating, thumping heart of New York City's Downtown. Its corner position on West Broadway and Chambers Street has it straddling the creative hub of Tribeca and the newly revived Financial District, in Lower Manhattan. Famed Big Apple locales Soho and Greenwich Village (home of the Meatpacking District) are within walking distance. Put simply, if you're in New York for its shops, art galleries, restaurants and general cool, this is the place to be.

THE SPACE

The 14-storey hotel has undergone a marvellous makeover, transforming a once-urbane ground floor into a collection of cosy spaces – a living room, fire-lit den, library and the Evening Bar. Guests and Tribeca's creative locals alike are encouraged to inhabit the space like they would their own home. And what a lovely home it would be: filled with Scandinavian and American mid-century furniture, lit by retro lampshades and warmed by walls crowded with books, artworks and photography, much of it sourced in Tribeca. Textured rugs, magazine stands and here-and-there artefacts complete the picture without making it look contrived.

Hidden at the rear of the building, the Evening Bar is a moody little hideaway with a backlit mahogany bar that illuminates the rows of boutique spirits and liqueur. Low-slung couches and upholstered vintage settees make this the perfect spot for a late-night rendezvous. One local tells me regulars and VIPs here are rewarded with the barman's direct line so they can text ahead to reserve seats and drinks – a good look when you arrive with guests, and so very New York.

THE ROOM

Smyth's 100 rooms and suites have received the same treatment as the public spaces and were completed in August (2015). The Thompson suite is a fine example. It has the modern touches of a city loft with full-length views of Downtown, but is softened with a 1950s-style leather-armed couch and animal print cushions. The eight-seater dining table and mini-coffee-bar facilities enable guests to have in-house meetings and gatherings without having to resort to a soulless function room. This doesn't make it a business hotel. Step into the bedroom and the oversized bed pillows, cotton throw, wood bed frames and vintage walnut desk keep it warm and welcoming. In other rooms, design icons, such as Eames shell seats, effortlessly marry modern design with the retro feel.