When it comes to a staycation in New York City, not many hotels are doing it quite like The Manner.
Tucked onto Thompson Street in Soho, the hotel sits in one of the most culturally rich corners of Manhattan, a place where old industrial buildings have become fashion headquarters and where immigrant history sits alongside contemporary creativity, the city’s most exciting food, world-class shopping and the best nightlife in the world.
One thing I love about the location? The fact you stand at the crossroads of three neighbourhoods that have shaped how New York looks and feels today. To the west is Soho, once a manufacturing district filled with textile warehouses and cast-iron buildings. By the 1970s, artists began moving into the abandoned lofts, before transforming the neighbourhood into one of the world’s most influential hubs.
Walk east and the energy shifts as you enter Chinatown. It’s one of New York’s most vibrant immigrant neighbourhoods, where family-run businesses, food culture and community traditions sit front and centre. Just beyond lies the Lower East Side, historically one of America’s most important immigrant gateways, where generations of newcomers arrived seeking opportunity and help build the city we know and love today.
When staying at The Manner, I found that all of this is on its doorstep. And from my time there, I started my day with coffee and a wander towards Fugazi. Founded by designer Trevor Gorji, the label had developed a core following by blending luxury references, streetwear and internet-era irreverence. Its Canal Street flagship feels like a downtown clubhouse, complete with Le Gaz café and a steady rotation of creatives, photographers and fashion insiders.
From there, I headed toward Dusted Vintage, a Lower East Side institution packed with racks that are dense, while the selection of garments on show is unpredictable, with the rewards of finding a hidden gem being one of the best feelings money can buy.
And for lunch? Scarr’s Pizza, arguably one of the most sought-after food destinations in downtown Manhattan. Off the bat, Scarr’s looks like a classic New York slice shop, and I guess that’s exactly the point. The restaurant's founder, Scarr Pimental grew up working in pizzeria before opening his own place with a mission to create the best pizza in New York. And behind the wood-panelled interior lies an obsessive commitment to quality, including in-house flour milling.
In the afternoon, when your legs begin to remind you that Manhattan is best explored on foot, an Equinox session offers a different vibe for downtown culture. I guess New York is changing… The city has been best known for its nightlife for some time now, but NYC's relationship with wellness is becoming increasingly clear. Equinox has moved to the forefront of this, attracting everyone from finance professionals, to fashion editors and creatives.
Equinox is just a stone’s throw from The Dutch, the restaurant that opened in 2011 by chef Andrew Carmellini. Still to this day, it remains a huge part of New York dining, with it offering everything from oysters and fried chicken to old-school hospitality.
As evening arrived, I returned to The Manner. My home for my stay wasn’t the most extravagant, and that’s what I loved about it. While my bed was more than comfortable, my stay at The Manner reminded me about everything that makes New York City the best city in the world. I mean, everything is within a few blocks… Fashion, food, history. I guess that’s the real luxury.
