The Maritime Hotel is a luxury New York hotel located in the city’s Meatpacking District, right on the cusp of Chelsea. Once the headquarters for the National Maritime Union, The Maritime Hotel made its striking debut in June 2003 in the revamped the building, using its nautical architectural elements, most notably the 5-foot porthole windows overlooking the Hudson, and expanding on them with perfectly conceived details, such as the cabin-like teak furniture.

Among the hot spots, not to mention the cool lobby with a fireplace, are the lovely, in-demand sushi restaurant Matsuri, the Japanese-themed nightclub Hiro and the less formal bar and trattoria, La Bottega, which extends outside into 6,000 square feet of patio seating. Factor in the party cabanas on the terraces and the Maritime has the most outdoor space of any hotel in Manhattan.

Features and Amenities

Rooms here resemble luxurious ship cabins, with burnished teak paneling, sea-blue drapes and bed accents, and large porthole windows that face the Hudson River skyline. In keeping with the nautical conceit, the rooms are compact, but well-designed, with built-in furniture, so that all the necessities like storage space, work desk and TV (flat-screen) easily fit into the small space. You’ll find custom beds with Japanese fabric headboards, 20” flat-screen TVs, as well as a waterfall showerheads in the green-tiled bathrooms. Two terrace suites, which have outdoor showers, are also available. Wireless internet is available throughout the hotel. While there is no gym, guests are given passes to the nearby New York Sports Club.

The hotel is perhaps best known for its entertaining spaces, which is no mistake – the owners are nightlife impresarios Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson. There are two dining options at the Maritime: La Bottega and Matsuri. La Bottega serves the freshest rustic Italian cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant provides room service to the hotel, as well as takeout and delivery for native New Yorkers. Matsuri, however, is one of the hotel’s crown jewels, an expansive Japanese eatery that’s positioned underground at the hotel. Tadashi Ono, the hotel’s chef, offers up cuisine that’s inventive and delicious; despite the restaurant’s vast size, table spaces feel intimate and cozy. The restaurant also boasts a large bar with innovative cocktails. Matsuri also has an entire room dedicated to sake, aptly named the Sake Room.

One of the most impressive spaces at the Maritime Hotel is the Hiro Ballroom – an enormous space often used for concerts and parties. The ballroom boasts 20’ barrel vaulted ceiling, giant paper lanterns and has a large bar spanning one side of the room and beautiful banquette seating on the other side. The event possibilities are limitless, from seated dinners with dancing, to cocktail receptions, fashion shows, conferences, live music and DJ performances, product launches, and more. The Ballroom has a state-of-the-art audio and lighting system along with DJ booth, DVD player, projector and a 16’ x 16’ screen. The space also boasts a full service kitchen which can be used to cater events. Downstairs from the ballroom, you’ll find the Hiro Lounge, a more intimate version of what’s found upstairs. The two can be combined for large events.

Another impressive feature of the Maritime is the hotel’s many cabana spaces. The North Cabana, located on the rooftop of La Bottega Trattoria, is the perfect venue for indoor/outdoor events all year round.  A sun roof encloses the fully heated outside space during the winter months and has a working fireplace. Meanwhile, the South Cabana, which is located on the rooftop of La Bottega Caffe is a mirror image of the North Cabana, without the enclosure.

Location

The Maritime Hotel is located on 16th Street and Ninth Avenue in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, just two blocks away from the trendy Meatpacking District. The A/C/E line, which runs up and down the west side, as well as the L line, which runs crosstown, are just a few short blocks from the hotel, making transportation around the city a cinch. Chelsea is a neighborhood beloved for its dozens upon dozens of art galleries, but it’s also chock full of great boutiques, eateries and coffee shops, too.  It’s also a bit quieter than many of the downtown neighborhoods, and out of towners who aren’t used to the hullabaloo of New York City may find the area calming, especially to go to sleep. On the tree-lined streets of Chelsea, all of the sirens and the noise of the city seem to fade away, leaving a comforting lull. The Maritime’s proximity to the Meatpacking District, a neighborhood formerly full of butchers and now full of luxury clothing retailers and chic eateries, means that you’ll never lack for a night out on the town while you’re in the city.