The bottom-line on my Hotel 50 Bowery review is that this is a stylish hotel with friendly staff and very nice small rooms that was perfect for my brief solo stay, but wouldn’t be ideal for a family stay or trip where I was spending most of my time in the room.

After arriving into Manhattan by BLADE helicopter I caught a Lyft over to Hyatt’s Hotel 50 Bowery in Chinatown.

This was actually my first JdV property. I was a little bit excited over it because this is one of the brands that Hyatt acquired as part of its Two Roads Hospitality purchase seven years ago – news that I broke several days before it was announced.

Staff were very friendly at check-in. The hotel G.M. was in the lobby chatting with guests. It was just a happy vibe when I arrived. I handed over my ID and credit card, had my keys handed right over, and I was asked proactively if I wanted late check-out. The Globalist breakfast benefit was explained as buffet in the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.

I headed up to my room on the 16th floor (1622). It was… small. That’s fine, I was alone on this trip, but I don’t think I’ve been in a room quite as small since the last time I stayed at Hyatt Herald Square.

Still, the room was attractively designed and functional, it had a desk of sorts, the bed was comfortable. There was a closet, you could move around in the bathroom, and there were power outlets. I was only going to be sleeping there.

For some time the hotel offered breakfast via delivery, but they now have the restaurant open for breakfast. The rooftop is more bar and lounge than restaurant.

There are high top tables and couches, and they set up a buffet which is pretty de minimis – eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes, that sort of thing. They take your name and room number on arrival. There is no check to sign.

Location of the hotel is great in many ways, if you need to be on the Lower East Side. You’ll be near some good restaurants and easy transit, though Chinatown doesn’t appeal to everyone. The hotel has amazing unobstructed views from the rooftop lounge which as both indoor and outdoor spaces (definitely too cold for outdoor while I was there).

The rooftop space was striking to me in that it was quite empty while I was there. Granted my stay was on a Wednesday night, but here’s a nice-looking bar with fantastic views and nobody came. This is prime real estate that should be producing lots of activity. If I were in the area I would see it as a great secret for bringing groups of people – easy to get drink service, easy to find seating, something that can be a challenge in the city.

They’re even set up with two banks of elevators, one that takes you to guest rooms and another that opens on the other side and is perfect for heading straight to and from the rooftop from the outside. You bypass the lobby completely. This space was designed to be premium entertaining space, and just doesn’t seem to be maximized for it.

During non-peak times you’ll find rates like $207.42 plus $35 destination fee (waived for globalists and those redeeming points) and tax. This is a category 5 hotel (17,000 / 20,000, 23,000 points per night) though it would be amazing as a category 4 for free night certificate redemption. Peak of peak, of course, and rates skyrocket as they do elsewhere.

Bottom-line on the Hotel 50 Bowery review is that I would definitely return for a solo stay. The standard rooms here aren’t what I’d pick when traveling with my wife and two kids.