Loft-Style Suites with Kosher Amenities in Hip Brooklyn Neighborhood

Old industrial warehouses and luxury high-rises mingle along the East River in Brooklyn—the site of the Williamsburg neighborhood. Once an epicenter of NYC counterculture, this waterfront area is now a trendy landing spot for wealthy Manhattan transplants as well as for young bohemians in its thriving arts scene. Despite the area's rapid evolution, various ethnic communities, including a long-standing Hasidic Jewish community, have kept their roots firmly planted in the area. Pointe Plaza Hotel speaks to Williamsburg's eclectic character; in addition to upscale accommodations, the hotel features an array of kosher amenities.

The hotel's modest four-story façade belies a contemporary interior. In standard rooms, aromatherapy candles and small plants lend to a relaxing atmosphere. Efficiency kitchen areas don granite countertops and double-burner stoves in deluxe rooms. A loft-style design scheme in suite accommodations helps to maximize the spacious layout, enough to fit in a living room, a dining area, and a local post-office branch. All guest quarters feature Shabbos hot plates, hot-water urns, candles, and tablecloths for traditional Jewish observances.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn: Culturally Diverse Neighborhood with Art Galleries and Public Parks

Williamsburg is one of the northernmost neighborhoods in Brooklyn, located directly across the river from Lower Manhattan. Once an industrial sector thanks to manufacturing moguls such as Domino Sugar and Pfizer, the neighborhood became a residential center after the construction of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903. In addition to its long-standing ethnic communities, the neighborhood features a thriving arts scene, hip boutiques, avant-garde eateries, and green space.

To the south, Prospect Park, built in 1867 by renowned Central Park architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is an oasis amid the city bustle. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch marks the main entrance to the 585-acre park dotted with marble sculptures and cascading waterfalls. On the east side, the Audubon Center at the Boathouse recalls a 16th-century Venetian library, and the nearby Prospect Park Zoo shelters sea lions and red pandas.

Two blocks east of the hotel, a more energetic scene unravels along Bedford Avenue, the longest street in Brooklyn. Here, dimly lit cafés are nestled between expensive vintage boutiques, and graffiti murals cover red brick storefronts and trendsetting Tudor doghouses.