1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge review

When you think of New York City hotels, you might picture cold, stark and impersonal towers filled with strangers and a prioritization of function over form … at least at any hotel that approaches affordability these days. If that’s been your New York City hotel experience, then I bet you haven’t stayed at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

This charming property sits adjacent to a Brooklyn green space and the borough’s eponymous bridge. Here, guests will find a cute, strollable pier, plenty of lively venues — from its happening rooftop to the greenery-filled lobby — and million-dollar views of the Manhattan skyline. All that has made the hotel a hot destination for both visitors and locals alike.

Its pared-down but welcoming design is an intentional nod to both the area’s industrial history and its modern-day style and warmth. I’ve stayed in some nice New York City hotels before, but none took my breath away from the moment we stepped inside quite like this one did. The impressive, plant-laden lobby was just the beginning.

Here’s what it’s like to stay at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

What is 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge?

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge opened in early 2017 and was the first ground-up build for the swanky 1 Hotel brand, which had launched just two years earlier.

The 195-key hotel is tucked close to both the waterfront and the 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park in the trendy Dumbo district (which stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”). This happening neighborhood has a gritty past but is quickly becoming one of the city’s most sought-after areas. It’s just a five-minute ferry ride from Manhattan or a quick subway ride away if you hop on the 2 or 3 at Clark Street, the A or C from High Street or the F from York Street.

Of course, you could always walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, too, or maybe get lucky enough to snag a complimentary ride in the hotel’s house electric Audi Q8 E-Tron vehicle, both of which would be in line with the brand’s sustainability-forward approach to lodging.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, much like 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Hawaii, has a welcoming but high-end ambience, an enviable design you might wish you could copy at home and outstanding food and drinks. It hints at the brand’s sustainable ethos through the use of native greenery and has absolutely epic views of the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan and even the Statue of Liberty.

One thing I appreciate at 1 Hotels is that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it is an approach that actually enhances your stay. For example, each room at this hotel has a water filtration faucet and drinking glasses fashioned from recycled wine bottles, not to mention hangers made from recycled paper.

Over half of the hotel was constructed with a mix of regional and reclaimed materials, such as original beams from the nearby Domino Sugar Factory that you can spot in some of the hotel’s tables and benches.

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Standout features of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

From lobby to rooftop, there’s plenty to love about the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

• The rooftop pool at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is breathtaking on its own — but it’s especially impressive as you turn around and take in the views of Manhattan right across the river.
• Many of the rooms have spectacular views of the namesake Brooklyn Bridge as well.
• The design and decor of the 1 Hotel are breathtaking. The mix of industrial materials, cozy natural throws and greenery makes me wish I could redo my own home’s decoration just like this hotel.
• Last but not least, the food and beverage options at 1 Hotel — especially in The Osprey restaurant and Harriet’s rooftop lounge and bar — are popular with a mix of tourists and locals.

Related: Best NYC hotels for families

Drawbacks of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

• If you want to be in the heart of Manhattan or close to the Broadway theaters, this hotel isn’t ideal.
• Although my family loved staying here, the hotel definitely has more of an adult vibe.
• Although not over-the-top expensive, stays here will still cost a pretty penny.

How to book 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

New York City hotels can be pricey to the point that I’ve seen some very mediocre Midtown properties going for $400-$600 per night. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised to see that 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge has rates that start around $400 per night. For New York City, that’s really not that bad, and I’d say at anything close to that rate, it is absolutely worth it to stay here. This is especially true if you are going to have time to enjoy the pool, the amenities and the views.

The hotel is a part of the Mr & Mrs Smith collection, so there are some inclusions in various packages if you book that way (such as ferry tickets into Manhattan). Some Mr & Mrs Smith hotels are bookable using World of Hyatt points, but unfortunately, this is not currently one of those properties.

However, you can sometimes find 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in The Edit by Chase Travel. You can reserve these hotels with perks such as daily breakfast for two and a $100 on-property credit by having cards such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and United Club℠ Infinite Card.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge rooms

The 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge’s 195 rooms and suites are accessed via elevators that take you into winding hallways with modern, moody lighting and a mix of industrial and natural materials.

Once inside the room, it’s all about the natural light. In our case, the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a stunning Brooklyn Bridge view.

This 325-square-foot room had two double beds along with a couch and small table, which made the space quite functional for my family.

While I found the room to be lovely, if I were to nitpick, I’d say that double beds are tough to share when you’re used to more sleeping space.

However, doubles instead of queens aren’t uncommon for standard rooms with two beds in cities like New York City … and the perks of staying here certainly outweighed the more cozy sleeping quarters for a few nights.

The room made smart use of space for its footprint, and the small table between the bed and the couch was actually very handy for staying organized and eating.

Speaking of eating, 1 Hotels are known for some fun, high-quality and locally sourced goodies in the minibar, and this was no exception. While we didn’t indulge, it was fun to see options like beer from Brooklyn Brewery and chips from the North Fork of Long Island. There was also a Nespresso coffee machine, while in the closet area, we found a yoga mat and cotton knit robes.

The bathroom situation was pretty interesting for a family trip, as the half-wall that separated it from the sleeping area was a little bit of a challenge with a teenager until they truly trusted the wall was doing its privacy job despite its not going all the way to the ceiling. But that detail aside, the bathroom worked out great and the high-end Bamford products were a much-appreciated touch.

Included activities and amenities

There is a $45 nightly amenity fee at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, but it does come with some fun inclusions, such as fresh, local fruit in the lobby’s Farm Stand.

Depending on the day of the week, you’ll also have access to some included activities, such as sunrise yoga or yoga flow classes, to name a few. There’s also the aforementioned Audi Q8 E‑Tron house car available upon request (subject to availability).

And while it never worked out for our schedule, there’s also an included wine hour from 4-5 p.m. daily.

The Field House gym is open 24/7 and has some top-notch machines and weights, not to mention ample natural light.

Bamford Wellness Spa at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

1 Hotels are known for their spas, and the Bamford Wellness Spa at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge was excellent.

I was able to try the Hammam Recovery Massage with zero-gravity flotation, and — after ensuring the flotation part wasn’t the same thing as the zero-gravity flotation tank I had wussed out of after just four minutes at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay’s spa due to some claustrophobia on my part — I started counting down the days and hours until the treatment. Luckily for me, I was assured this is actually a 50-minute massage and a flotation experience where you stay absolutely dry.

This package included a 50-minute aroma-customized massage and 25 minutes of flotation therapy in what I could best describe as a warm, cozy, relaxing, waterbed-style device where I indeed stayed totally dry. It put a huge smile on my face, with just how unique and relaxing it was.

And the massage was top-notch, too. This particular package is priced at $320, but you can get a $25 discount on any 50- or 80-minute service Monday through Thursday if you mention “midday” when booking.

What to eat and drink at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge has some can’t-miss food and beverage options — especially in its lounge and restaurant.

The Osprey

The Osprey is a sit-down restaurant at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On Monday through Friday, this is where you’ll find $2 sustainably harvested oysters and $10 glasses of organic wine from 5-7 p.m.

Here, you can expect to find fresh, plant-forward and locally-inspired cuisine … often with an Australian twist.

We tried the East Coast oysters ($24 per half-dozen), the beets and baba dish ($16) that came with some delicious local Angel’s Bakery pita, and Nunna’s gnocchi with pesto and toasted pine nuts ($24), all of which were eaten clean down to the plate. Reservations are a good idea for dinner as the restaurant was hopping on the Friday night that we went.

Harriet’s Lounge and Harriet’s Rooftop

On the 10th floor of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, guests will find both Harriet’s Lounge and Harriet’s Rooftop. These are right next to each other, but also are distinct in what they offer. Harriet’s Rooftop is the slightly more casual spot that’s open from 11 a.m. to midnight, where you order at the bar, and it’s on you to find a good place to stand or sit.

There is food service available here until 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Then there’s Harriet’s Lounge, which is open from 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on the weekends. Food service here is done at your table via a server and runs until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

I met up with some friends here on a gorgeous, warm evening, and we very much enjoyed the frozen watermelon margaritas ($30), two orders of crispy rice and spicy tuna ($27), chicken bao ($24) and mushroom bao ($22), and a baby gem lettuce salad ($23).

Our group also enjoyed the Goose in the River ($25) cocktail, which was made with Grey Goose, watermelon basil, Italicus, peach liquor, prosecco and agave lime, and the Ryu-Jin ($25), which was made with sake, shochu lemongrass, yuzu lemon and dragon-fruit cordial.

As you probably noticed, cocktails here aren’t cheap, but go on a pretty evening, drink slowly, share a few appetizers for dinner and the odds are high that you’ll probably think it’s worth it in the end.

Neighbors

Open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and good for a quick bite or cup of coffee is Neighbors. The selection here leans heavily into local offerings such as Bushwick Tea, Brooklyn Best Lemonade, Grady’s Cold Brew, Baked in Brooklyn and many other New York City-area brands.

It is very handy to have this option right there off the lobby, but know that if you (or, more likely, your kids) want a regular Coke or Mott’s apple juice sort of options they are familiar with back home, you might not find it here. But if you want a fantastic, warm breakfast sandwich and a cup of hot coffee (that you can order online in advance or in the store), then this is your place.

There’s seating inside Neighbors, or on a pretty day, you might want to pop out back and enjoy your croissant on the adorable patio.

Room service

Last but not least on the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge food and beverage menu is room service.

On our first night in town, all my kids wanted was some chicken fingers and fries in the room. It might not have been my first choice for a night in New York City, but the view kept me happy and sometimes, having happy, full kids is indeed the best order you can place. The food arrived within 25 minutes of ordering it online and hit the spot for what we needed at that moment.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge rooftop pool

The crown jewel of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is the rooftop pool that is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Guests are entitled to two chairs per room for two hours per day. I recommend going early in the day if you can, as it got busy by 9 a.m. on one of the days I was there. The next day, I went around 7:30 a.m., and it turned out to be sunny, warm and perfect for a swim.

Kids are allowed until 5 p.m., and don’t be surprised if the vibe changes a bit to become more scene-y as the day turns into early dusk.

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What to do near 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

The Dumbo area where the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is located is an energetic, youthful neighborhood with parks, boutiques and a remnant of industrial edge. In the image below, you’ll see the 1 Hotel on the right, sitting next to a mix of other buildings and spaces.

A few steps away from the 1 Hotel, you’ll also find the Brooklyn Bridge, a ferry across the East River and plenty of fun areas of Dumbo to explore.

I highly recommend spending some time in the neighborhood during your stay. Don’t miss grabbing a scoop — or two — of ice cream at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, which first opened in 2001. It’s located catty-corner to the hotel and serves a rotating menu of decadent, handcrafted ice cream made from all-natural ingredients.

Within that same block, I also recommend getting a lobster roll from Luke’s for lunch, and if you’ve got a tough crowd to please where everyone likes something different, then you can’t beat the Time Out Market that is just another block or two away. Inside it has 24,000 square feet of dining options ranging from a pasta bar to sushi and a whole lot in between.

If you’re traveling to the area with kids like I was, a stroll over to Jane’s Carousel is a must. It’s over 100 years old, has 48 individually carved horses and costs just $3 per ride.

Accessibility

While there are a number of interior levels at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, they are all accessible by elevator. The hotel has an entire page devoted to some pretty detailed accessibility information, including the fact that the public areas and conveyances, including elevators, are accessible to wheelchair users and feature Braille signage. There are a variety of accessible room types available, ranging from more standard rooms with one or two beds to suites with features such as bathtubs (complete with grab bars and seats), toilets with grab bars, low-level hooks and racks, hearing-impaired light alerts, visual sensors available upon request, and more.

However, it is absolutely worth mentioning that the rooftop pool does not have a wheelchair lift, and in order to access it, you must go up a flight of six stairs.

As always, if you require certain accommodations or accessibility features, we recommend contacting the hotel directly to ensure that its facilities will meet your needs and to reserve a specific room.

Checking out

Over the course of our three-night stay, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge took our breath away time and time again.

The warmth and beauty when you first walk into the lobby, the view from the room, the high-quality food and drinks, the vibrant rooftop, the pool, and the look of the Manhattan skyline as day turned to night made everything feel fresh and new all over again.

1 Hotels has gone two for two for my family, both in Hawaii and now Brooklyn. The brand has figured out how to blend modern styling, local offerings, sustainability and amenities that are worth traveling to experience, and now I just can’t wait to figure out which of the chain’s properties to experience next.

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