TL;DR What makes this NYC boutique hotel special? Why should I stay here?

Style: Post-industrial meets sophisticated with sultry, geode-like interiors.
Size: Smaller than most Williamsburg boutique hotels, offering more personalized service.
Atmosphere: Dark/light interplay, mood lighting, and charming painted murals.
Extras: Attentive staff, easy navigation, intimate and stylish common areas.
Check prices here

Pretty nondescript from the outside, 42 Hotel Williamsburg is kind of a big brown box with windows.

We obviously didn’t just lift that line from the hotel website. Post-industrial, or something, they’d more encourage us to say.

Once inside though, the geode-like quality of the space makes itself clear.

Interiors are filled with small lights that create a sultry atmosphere. Some touches add a bit of innocent charm, like painted murals nearer the windows.

There’s a nice interplay between light and dark that repeats throughout the space.

All in all, there’s nothing truly mind-blowing here. But it’s significantly smaller than Williamsburg’s other boxy boutiques.

This makes for a little more attention from the staff, a little more ease getting around, and less time taken just to get the lay of the land.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 60
Design: Industrial chic, with black, white, and gold accents; brass furnishings.
Size: Standard 250 sq ft, Superior Rooms slightly larger with better views.
Bed options: King Singles and Full Doubles.
Amenities: Robes and slippers, large TVs, mini fridges, Bluetooth speakers, Keurig machines.
See each room in detail here

Rooms at 42 Hotel definitely take on the sultry industrial rather than the cute sunny mural vibe. We think it works quite well.

A room with concrete walls and flooring needs some deft touches to feel welcoming, and 42 does a solid job.

The linens are luxurious and pristine, peppered with black and gold accents.

Furnishings are primarily brass, giving the room a warm glow at night.

Large windows make for bright mornings that feel a bit cold with all the black and white.

It’s stylish, but you’ll probably want to get up and start your day.

King Singles and Full Doubles come in two types. Standard rooms are what you’d expect.

We’re talking 250 square feet, 75% bed, everything comfy and carefully arranged.

Superior Rooms give a little extra space for your lounge chair and the views are generally grander.

Whatever you choose at 42 Hotel you’ll have sleek seating, large TVs, mini fridges, robes and slippies, Bluetooth speakers, and Keurig machines.

What are prices like?

> Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Onsite Black Bird restaurant with contemporary American cuisine; brunch highlights include shrimp & grits, challah French toast, breakfast tacos.
Facilities: Event space for group dining, small fitness center.

The onsite restaurant at 42 Hotel is called Black Bird, offering contemporary takes on all-American cuisine.

The brunch menu is especially exciting, with everything from shrimp and grits to challah French toast to breakfast tacos.

The space is quite sprawling, with enough TVs to ruin the sophistication just a bit.

It’s not bad if you’re having a drink while you wait for your friends to get ready, but on the whole we don’t love it.

Besides this, there’s some event space and options for group dining. A small fitness center will keep you active, but it’s nothing to write home about.

For sleeping, eating and drinking, you’ll be fine, but if you like a lot of extra amenities, this might not be The One.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Location: Central-South Williamsburg; equidistant between North and East Williamsburg.
Access: Easy walking to restaurants, bars, and riverside spots; nearby subway stations for Manhattan access.
Nearby streets: Hewes Street, Union Ave, Broadway, Montrose Ave.

Williamsburg is a big place, and being in the middle of it has pros and cons.

There’s not as much near 42 Hotel as in, say, North Williamsburg, but you’re basically equidistant between there and East Williamsburg.

Therefore, you’ll just bop up to check out the cool restaurants, venues, and riverside gems. Or, bop to the side for nightlife, bars, more cool restaurants, and everything in between.

Unlike spots on either end of the borough, you can theoretically do this on foot. It’s a bit of a trek, but not significantly over a half-hour walk to get to either side. Or, grab the subway.

You’re a seriously easy walk from Hewes Street, Union Ave, Broadway, and even Montrose Ave isn’t that far.

This will also get you onto Manhattan without too much trouble. There you can fulfill all your classic NYC; Times Square, Central Park, et al., photo opportunities.

The more human-centric neighborhoods of Brooklyn will be waiting for your return.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

”Pleasant staff throughout our stay. Wonderful, warm greeting. Server at the complimentary Continental Breakfast was also very sweet and efficient. Arrival wine was a welcome surprise!…”

”This is the second time I’ve stayed at 42 Hotel as a solo traveller and it was just as perfect as the first time. Comfortable and clean room, great facilities and shower, perfect location to take in Brooklyn and the subway to Manhattan is maybe a 60 second walk. All of the staff I encountered were lovely and welcoming. I assume I’ll be back for a third time because it just perfectly matches what I need….”