Arlo Nomad, New York City - hotel review

Stellar views and stylish seventies throwbacks are the order of play at Arlo Nomad, says Luke Abrahams
1/4
Luke Abrahams27 December 2018

Fabulous things can come in small packages - or rather, small things can come in fabulous packages. And Arlo NoMad is no exception.

With an emphasis on style, making friends and the Instagram posse, this is one Manhattan hotel that doesn't fail to serve its purpose.

Where is it?

Smack bang in the middle of NoMad, Manhattan's former Garment District. Locked in between 5th and Madison Avenue, the location of this hotel is nigh-on perfect and close to all of the city's main attractions in Midtown and Downtown. Ideal for New York City first timers, The Empire State Building is just two blocks north; Madison Square Garden, Penn Station (for Long Island, New Jersey and Upstate escapes) and Korea Town are conveniently three blocks west; and the Flatiron District, famous for its namesake skyscraper, shops and eateries is an easy breeze of a walk seven blocks south.

Style

Arlo NoMad has been designed for the Instagram generation. It's slick, minimalist, light, airy and ever so arty. The overall feel of the space is communal and has been purposely designed to encourage interaction between guests. There's a studio space on the second floor, complete with desks, as well as a collection of Scandi-style couches littered throughout reception.

The waiting area at Arlo Nomad

Venture further up and there's Barlo, the lobby-esque bar, where you'll find an outdoor terrace kitted out with flagstone floors, fur throws, gritty bench tables and a chest full of goodies.

Other stylish hotspots include the postcard pinboard where travellers leave their tips and advice (where to shop, eat and drink) for newbies to the building. It's all very Instagrammable.

Facilities

Very few, but that's no surprise considering the hotel's small size and location. There's no room service. Instead, the hotel has a 24-hour 'bodega' that serves coffee, juices and deli sandwiches to take away. Price wise, it's a little extortionate, so you're better off going round the block to grab a dollar slice before heading back up to your room for that pizza with a view shot.

A Scandi 70s Industrial throwback: The lobby area at Arlo Nomad

Gym types will be happy with complimentary passes to Tonehouse, the group fitness class next door, as well as to the New York Sports club, a swift jog five blocks north. Business travellers can also take advantage of overnight laundry services and millennials will find Empire State selfie galore at The Heights, Arlo Nomad's 31st-floor rooftop bar.

Food & drink

Celebrity chef Dale Talde's Massoni is well worth a visit during your stay. The Italian/Asian fusion menu serves a vast array of the classics with a twist: think golden snapper crudo with Japanese grapefruit and biryani rice balls. More traditional offerings include meatballs and garlic knots (so good) and Detroit-style deep-dish pizza (again, so good).

Breakfast and brunch, also served at Massoni, is an à la carte affair with dishes ranging from polenta pancakes to a breakfast pizza served with bacon, a sunny-side up egg and lots of cheese.

Which room?

There are 250 rooms spread over 29 floors. Each are the same size at 150 to 155 square feet, and depending on where you are in the building, have a different set-up: queen rooms complete with cityscape are stylised according to view (Sky, City or Urban) and Queen Terrace's have a private balcony that stretches parallel to your suite.

The best of the bunch? Go for a Sky View King which dons super-large floor-to-ceiling windows and a king size bed overlooking the Manhattan skyline - it really is the ultimate hotel Insta shot.

Insta-Ready: A Sky View King at Arlo Nomad

Be warned, the standard rooms are micro but not an inch of the space has been wasted. A small closet dominates, along with several charging points and plenty of underneath storage for shoes and bags. A large, firm bed awaits by the window next to a small recliner opposite the well-stocked mini bar. The bathroom is tubless, but comes with a powerful shower in its place. These rooms are not designed to be lingered in, especially if you're tall. Advice: sleep, freshen up and then get out and explore.

What to Instagram

Hands down the Empire State Building from the rooftop bar. The little igloos are also #cute too.

Best for:

First timers to the city.

Details:

Rooms from 150 USD per night. 11 E 31st Street, New York, NY 10016, United States. 00 1 212 806 7000

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