Brooklyn is an unpredictable cultural force — a borough where New York’s industrial past sits alongside a restless, ever-present creative energy.
At the intersection of Boerum Hill’s tree-lined residential streets and the expanding skyline of Downtown Brooklyn stands the Ace Hotel Brooklyn.
This is not a conventional hotel. The 13-story building was conceived as a natural extension of the neighborhood itself: a raw, brutalist structure that celebrates design, craft, and community.
Built from the ground up by architecture firm Stonehill Taylor in collaboration with celebrated interior designers Roman and Williams, the hotel evokes the rough-edged elegance of the old artist lofts that once defined Brooklyn.
A Tribute to Modernism and Brooklyn Craft
What sets the Ace Hotel Brooklyn apart is how it finds luxury in something raw and organic — making exposed concrete feel genuinely welcoming.
The imposing facade of poured concrete, glass, and metal gives way to an interior where richer, warmer materials take over: Douglas fir, white oak, cork, and leather. The contrast is deliberate, and it works.
Craft drives the whole project. The 287 rooms and common areas feature one-of-a-kind textile works commissioned from more than two dozen artists in Brooklyn’s creative scene.
The lobby takes its cue from The Stoop — those iconic New York front steps that have always served as informal gathering places. Its vast open space, with exposed wood beams and communal tables, shifts with the day: a workspace for digital nomads in the morning, a lively social hub at night.
Rooms Inspired by Le Cabanon
In designing the rooms and suites, the Roman and Williams team looked to the functional minimalism of Le Cabanon — Le Corbusier’s legendary retreat on the south coast of France.
The result is a series of what you might call urban cabins, each designed to feel warm and welcoming.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the rooms with natural light and frame sweeping views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. Inside, olive, burgundy, and earthy tones are layered against cork floors, custom-built wooden furniture, handcrafted textiles, SMEG minibars, and record players stocked with a curated selection of vinyl.
The rooms come in a wide range of categories, all sharing the same design philosophy but adapted to different sizes and travel styles.
At one end are rooms designed for the dynamic traveler or digital nomad, where every inch is put to use without sacrificing character. At the other are suites with separate living areas, vintage-inspired sofas, freestanding soaking tubs, and sweeping 180-degree panoramas taking in the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the East River.
Food, Drink, and Urban Life
The hotel’s connection to its surroundings carries over to the table.
Lele’s Roman, the main dining concept, draws its atmosphere from Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood. Under the direction of chef Francesco Battisti, the restaurant pays homage to Roman cuisine with handcrafted classics, shareable pinsas, and a carefully chosen list of wines and Italian amari.
For those after something more unusual, Koju offers an immersive omakase experience that reimagines Japanese cuisine with precision and purpose, guided by the philosophy of ichigo ichie — treating every moment as a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
In the lobby, craft cocktails share space with an indoor garden that offers a quiet counterpoint to the relentless energy of the city outside.
Even the fitness area breaks with convention. Designed in collaboration with the brand Yeah, I Work Out, the gym pairs state-of-the-art equipment with vintage cast-iron weights.
Connected to the City
The hotel’s address on Schermerhorn Street puts guests within walking distance of Boerum Hill’s landmark, brownstone-lined blocks, and just minutes from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the historic New York Transit Museum.
More than a place to sleep, Ace Hotel Brooklyn is a true gathering spot that captures something essential about New York.
With its brutalist architecture, interiors warmed by thoughtful design, and a lineup of events rooted in the local community, the hotel has become a place where creativity, food, and rest sit in near-perfect balance.
For anyone who wants to see Brooklyn at its most authentic, Boerum Hill now has a destination worth the trip.