Hotel East Houston

The three-star Ridge Hotel is a smart (and sometimes budget-friendly) boutique hotel at the intersection of the Lower East Side and East Village. Rooms are tastefully designed with high-end simplicity, and the roof garden is a lofty common space boasting views of the midtown skyline.

The Ridge's 42 rooms are very well appointed. All are equipped with flat-panel televisions, iPod docks, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

Bathrooms are standout smart, with walls tiled in beautiful little green squares of stone or white subway tile, sheer glass shower doors and little towel toiletry bags.

We loved the corner rooms, especially those on the northwest corner, with their views down Houston Street. Light sleepers should request a room on the third floor or higher as street-facing rooms on the second floor may be a bit loud.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

Location

East Houston Street is the dividing line between the East Village to the north and Lower East Side to the south. The Ridge Hotel is within walking distance to shopping in SoHo and Nolita and affordable restaurants and bars on the Lower East Side, Little Italy, Chinatown and East Village.

Katz’s Deli is the city’s oldest and perhaps best deli, while Russ & Daughters and Yonah Schimmel Knishery offer other Old World breakfast experiences almost next door to the hotel. A block-wide Whole Foods Market is a budget traveler’s best friend for restaurant quality food at (organic) supermarket prices.