Billing itself as Brooklyn’s first “full-service urban resort boutique hotel,” the just-opened Hotel Williamsburg (160 North 12th St.; 1-718/218-7500; hwbrooklyn.com; doubles from US$300) has all the makings of a hipster magnet. Sixty-four simple, retro-accented rooms, many with views of the Manhattan skyline, come equipped with Crosely record players, while a snazzy rooftop bar and pool, a farm-to-table restaurant, and a bi-level art gallery cater to the borough’s scenesters. Adding to the cool quotient, Brooklyn Brewery has been recruited to craft a signature beer for the place. –Andrew Thomas

Originally appeared in the December 2011/Januarty 2012 print issue of
DestinAsian magazine (“Brooklyn’s Finest”)