This NYC hotel is in full bloom all year long with roots in the LGBTQ+ community

Moxy Chelsea reveals a botanical wonderland for a unique stay with a prime location in the heart of New York City.

Mark

Sep 28, 2024 - 20:00

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This NYC hotel is in full bloom all year long with roots in the LGBTQ+ community

One of the most fantastic aspects of visiting New York City is that the neighborhood in which you choose to stay can color your entire visit. And when it comes to location, there’s no better location than Moxy Chelsea, perfectly poised in the heart of the Flower District.

It’s been a decade since LGBTQ+-friendly Marriott (earn those Bonvoy points!) launched Moxy Hotels, the millennial brand that debuted with the opening of Moxy Milan. The affordable price point doesn’t skimp on style, and while rooms may be on the cozy side, they’re elevated with thoughtful design and tech elements, and who’s spending much time in their room anyway when you’re in the city that never sleeps?

Location, location, location

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Moxy Chelsea’s botanical design takes inspiration from its Flower District location, a bustling cacophony of wholesale and retail locations that spills into the streets as some of the city’s most notable designers descend to grab their gardenias and procure their pansies. Guests can get in on the action with Starbright Floral Design Residency, which also serves as the property’s entrance.

Like many Manhattan hotels, Moxy Chelsea’s public spaces are meant to be discovered. After check-in, ascend the brutalist concrete stairs to reveal the second-floor lobby, the ideal spot to enjoy an afternoon cocktail overlooking the street action below with a glass-enclosed conservatory, three-story living wall, and greenhouse-style windows. If that Insta moment wasn’t enough, be sure to snap a selfie with a barely clad Roman statue.

The second floor lobby bar at Moxy Chelsea.

The design — a collaboration between Yabu Pushelberg and Rockwell Group (helmed by David Rockwell, who also designs theater, including the hit Broadway revival of Take Me Out and Kinky Boots) — offers a playful intersection of maximalist color, texture, and pattern in public spaces juxtaposed with serene rooms that allow the city’s skyline to deliver the visual impact.

When booking, it’s worth the extra effort to call the property to request a room with a view to take advantage of the floor-to-ceiling windows. For those with deep pockets and a penchant for entertaining, the Mondo Suite, located on the 32nd floor, features a customizable configuration and 18-foot ceilings from which hangs Japanese artist Sawada’s cluster of shimmering bunnies and flower bouquets. Let’s just say it’s a moment.

On top of the world at the Fleur Room

Head to the 35th floor to discover the Fleur Room, a glass-enclosed lounge with 360-degree views. A saturated color palette, rich textures, floral prints, and hand-blown glass pendants adorn the space, but it’s the nearly touchable view that delivers the major wow factor (along with an oversized vintage disco ball that once spun at LA’s Club Vertigo in the late 80s). Weather permitting, the retractable glass walls turn the venue into an open-air oasis where guests can catch views of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building while sipping on signature drinks like mezcal-forward Fleur Bloom.

And a good time doesn’t have to break the bank. Happy hour, Tuesday through Friday ( 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.), offers affordable bites, beer, wine, and cocktails and is the best time to catch an unforgettable New York City sunset.

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Luxury lives in the little things

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Beyond the high-impact floral inspiration and design details, Moxy Chelsea stays true to the brand with functional and high-tech touches that bring a sense of modernity to the property.

An LED digital art installation (a Moxy go-to) at check-in telegraphs phrases like “Good Morning, Stranger” for a nod of optimism before braving the crowded city streets.

After a day and night on the town, guests can unwind with A.S.M.R. bedtime stories. The first hotel to incorporate such technology, the trippy videos (co-created with A.S.M.R. Spa Whisperlodge) offer a unique way to unplug. If breaking a sweat is on the agenda, a 24/7 fitness center includes Peletons, along with #SWEATatMoxy programming.

Whether you’re traveling solo or with companions, Moxy Chelsea boats ongoing unique programming that celebrates the neighborhood, from drag bingo to pop-ups, DJs, and Pride events.

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And if your social skills are limited, you can check in (and out—yes, you eventually have to leave) through the Marriott Mobile app.

Moxy’s footprint has expanded throughout New York City, with locations in Times Square, the East Village, the Lower East Side, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. For those with plans to travel internationally, the brand expects to reach 100 hotels throughout Europe by the end of 2025, including prime locations for LGBTQ+ travelers in Barcelona, Nice, and Dublin.

Discover the neighborhood

The Flatiron Building, New York City. Photo: Shutterstock.

Located in the heart of the Flower District and on the cusp of Chelsea, the hotel positions LGBTQ+ travelers for a walkable good time to some of the city’s most iconic queer spots.

Head west for a bar crawl to some legendary gay bars, including Barracuda and sports bars Boxers and Gym Bar. Before there was And Just Like That, our favorite female fab four dined at Cafeteria, which is still running strong, or head to Eataly, across the street from the famous Flatiron Building, for a selection of imported goods for a grab-and-go to nearby Madison Park or sit down at one of seven on-site restaurants.