Hotel Review: NobleDen in New York City’s Little Italy

Situated right at the heart of Little Italy and with no less than 7 subway stations within walking distance, NobleDen makes for a less frenetic but highly convenient place to stay in New York City. The 54-room property is new in the Big Apple’s hospitality scene but has quickly gone up the ranks in the span of a year by offering more affordable accommodations with little touches such as enhanced toiletries and free pastries and coffee to guests.

During a late summer visit to New York City, I stayed at NobleDen for a couple of nights. The hotel is positioned as no-frills with no bells and whistles such as a gym or pool and this is reflected in the more affordable price point considering where it’s located.

Breakfast

A small communal area is found at the ground floor. There is a modest but attractive lobby with 24-hour reception.  Behind it, there is a water dispensing machine and coffee / tea maker as well as a small PC station which are free for guests to use.

In the mornings at 7:30am sharp, a basket of fresh pastries is delivered and laid out in the pantry. This is consumed on a first-come-first-served basis so it’s better to come early. The pan au chocolat was especially delicious!

Room

For a relatively modest property, NobleDen has no less than six room types. During my stay, I was lodged in one of the hotel’s King Juliette rooms. It differs from the other rooms in the sense that the windows double as doors which can be opened and transformed into a balconet.

My room had a clean contemporary vibe thanks to the snazzy décor, beige tone and hardwood floors. At approximately 20 square meters, the room size is maximized by placing the sink in the same space as the bedroom, leaving only the toilet and shower in separate enclosures. The safe is placed on a drawer under the bed to help free up space in the cabinet.

Two bottles of Evian mineral water come free with the stay and these are provided on a one-time basis. That being said, it’s possible to request for replenishment at about $3 per bottle. If you do not mind the walk down, you can always get some free filtered water from the dispenser in the pantry downstairs.

Toiletries come from Pure. I thought the rain shower was a refreshing amenity. Water pressure was wonderful as well. I was also amazed to find a full set of bathroom amenities including toothbrush. My general experience with hotels in the United States, even with luxury properties, is that dental kits and even razors need to be requested. Ladies will also be pleased to find make-up remover readily available.

While here at NobleDen, do take the time to head up to their rooftop. As the hotel is less than 2 kilometers away from the Financial District, you can get sweeping views of the downtown skyline contrasting against the relatively low-rise Little Italy and Chinatown.

Verdict

My stay at NobleDen was a departure from my usual chain hotels but I must say that I did enjoy my time here. For a property that is new to the scene, I was quite amazed by the expertise the team displayed – from the warm service received at the front desk down to the thoughtful and functional room design. For its overall proposition and considering the location, the hotel is pricing nicely. You do get to save a bit as compared to staying in a chain hotel of a similar class elsewhere in New York.

NobleDen
196 Grand Street
New York
New York 10013
United States
+1 212 390 8988

Reservations: Compare for best prices HERE

You can read more of my hotel reviews here.