The Ridge Hotel

The hotel has a beautiful rooftop. It’s the most fully automated check-in hotel I’ve experienced—you’re required to register online before arrival to receive your entry code and stay details. While they do have front desk staff, they don’t seem to handle check-ins directly. If you arrive late without registering online, you may run into some issues since the front desk isn’t staffed 24/7. The rooms are small but come with a fridge and microwave, facing a view of the East Village. The TV isn’t able to stream, so it’s more of a classic “movie night” experience with limited options. However, the real highlight is the rooftop, where you can get a distant view of the Empire State Building. The flooring is made of old wooden planks—somewhat decayed, creaky underfoot, and adding a unique charm. That said, be cautious with kids; my child was playing with a toy car on the floor and accidentally got scratched by an exposed nail from the old wood, leaving a mark that lasted about a week. The first floor has 24-hour K-cup coffee available, and the hotel is close to iconic spots like Katz’s Deli and Russ & Daughters. But what I enjoyed the most was the rooftop—it adds a lot of value to the overall experience, making this a very cost-effective hotel choice.

Easy faceless check-in. No large towels. Noisy location during the night and poor acustic insulation. Ok for business or frugal trips. Not for families.

Main issue was too much noise from neighbors - walls are very thin and there was an infant crying all night. Very convenient and clean, though.

Amazing time, would recommend again to friends and family

The Ridge is very conveniently located on E Houston and 2nd. If walkability and proximity to subway, restaurants, and bars is your priority, you’ll love this place. If it would bother you to sleep on a rock hard mattress next to a window with no insulation that lets out all the A/C and brings in constant loud noises from the streets, I wouldn’t recommend the Ridge. I don’t expect a quiet night in any NY hotel but having a window fan in an already thin pane guarantees you hear every car honk and engine rev at full volume, not to mention the street fights and police sirens that go off every few hours. The interior isn’t much better. Every drunk college girl who couldn’t remember her door code sounded like she was yelling directly into my room. It was also a solid 80 degrees with the fan and AC on, which didn’t help the sleeping situation. Overall, I regretted my stay here but the college kids on my floor seemed to love it.