My love affair with New York began on a summer vacation during my 16th year. I was now old enough to venture out on my own and was headed to Greece. As most Greek-Americans do, I too had relatives in New York. I remember being in awe of the views from the top of the Empire State Building and the sheer volumes of people on the streets; smitten, I fell hard. My love affair with the “City that never sleeps,” lingers on this very day.
On a recent visit, my home for the week would be Hotel Hugo, nestled on a nondescript SoHo street. The property is a relative newbie on trendy NYC hotel scene. Conjuring up the area's historic past of cast iron buildings, mostly built between 1870-1890, the Hugo maintains the area's industrial vibe while adding the contemporary luxury furnishings that one expects to find in swanky, yet bohemian, SoHo. Particularly impressive is the high-gloss, imported walnut wood paneling. Chrome fixtures and exposed concrete lend to an inviting, modern stylized design. Just the right blend of edgy, state-of-the-art, shabby-chic.
The design is the creation of esteemed Beverly Hills fashioner Marcello Pozzi. The master couturier along with his team of Italian craftsmen, flown in from Italy, perfected the woodwork for the hotel, including walnut paneling and also Italian furnishings.
As you enter the 20-storey hotel. You’ll admire a 17-foot glass façade leading to the stretched walkway to the main lobby, where you will find floor-to-ceiling travertine walls mixing with blue marble floors. The urban retreat is accented with dramatic horticultural garden walls behind the lobby check-in desk.
If faddish rooftop bars whet your appetite, new on the New York’s elevated scene is Bar Hugo and the relaxing Azul Bar. Guests can enjoy awe-inspiring Manhattan views, with the new One World Trade Center and the Empire State building setting the background, and on weekdays from 5:00-8:00 P.M., a palate of burnt orange and purple grape sunsets greet you for happy hour.
The feeling of “flow” begins on the ground floor at the farm-to-table-themed Café Hugo, where a verdant foliage backdrop and curved lines are incorporated throughout the property and continue to the hotel’s rooftop lounge. The inviting scheme of the restaurant includes a glass partition separating the lobby from the dining area, with tall windows opening to the sidewalk, allowing for outdoor gatherings on warm summer nights.
I remember my first impressions of SoHo. Like the hipster sister that I never had, I fell head over heels right away. It was was urban chic, ultra-cool, yet still freely-spirited. Today it is the New York capital of design, food, fashion, and entertainment. The best and brightest curious minds come here to accomplish greatness, seeking to create legendary achievements and shining moments.
If you are looking for a property that is undeniably SoHo while on a trip the NYC, Hotel Hugo certainly fits the bill. Artsy and full of personality, the property is youthful, yet sophisticated with a polished and artsy vibe that couldn't feel any more appropriate.
