The Out NYC Hotel

New York 

As a symbol of an America open onto the world and facing Europe across the Atlantic Ocean, New York owes its cultural vitality to its “melting pot” character. Successively a Dutch and an English colony, during the 20^th century it became the destination of European immigrants, who sailed into New York Harbor, and the legendary Ellis Island.

This hyperactive and excessive metropolis is familiar to all new arrivals thanks to having seen it in films, on television and in the media. Who nowadays has never seen images of Times Square and its gigantic neon signs, or Broadway, or the huge green expanse of Central Park, the setting for so many motion pictures and television series. And yet, the fascinating “Big Apple” is so much more than these post card visions.

To understand the true essence of New York, visitors must explore the boroughs and neighborhoods, from the very “arty” quarters in the borough of Brooklyn to the very chic 5^th Avenue quarter, and admire the unique works of art of the Frick Collection, or spend time going through the avant garde Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

Gay friendly, chic and trendy

Located in the neighborhood known as “Hell’s Kitchen”, a few hundred meters from the Chelsea quarter and Times Square, we find the Out NYC Hotel, sprung from the imagination of architect Paul Dominguez. The building, originally a two story motel, overlooks a garage surrounded by an interior courtyard.

Built in the 1960s for the World’s Fair, it was destined to be torn down and replaced by a 60 story skyscraper, but was saved as a result of the financial problems encountered by the building promoters at that time. Like its neighbor, Times Square, the Out NYC Hotel is at its best at night. The rectangular shape of the façade is a patchwork of mirrors, balconies and neon lights, creating an outer space aspect.

The interior was designed in the same minimalist spirit with furniture reminiscent of the design style of the 1960s. The dark brown walls and white floors invoke a sort of space ribbon, inviting visitors on a galactic voyage and a dream fantasy.

The filtered atmosphere of the rooms cuts off the bustling activity of the street, thanks to the discreet lighting provided by two cube lamps. The room size is accentuated by a mirror at the top of the bed. All the rooms face one of the building’s interior courtyards, creating a convivial open sky feeling.

The « bamboo garden » is a vast natural space with green and black bamboo walls surrounding a teak platform. Elegant tables and comfortable sofas form a design patio in an ideal spot to contemplate the sun setting over New York.

A huge spa made of boxwood and stucco and a glass roof, surrounded by vegetal walls and a waterfall, proposes massages, a hammam, a sauna and a whirlpool bath for total relaxation after a busy, tiring day in the “Big Apple”, and just before sampling the American cuisine of Chef Dale Shnellin the trendy“KTCHN” restaurant. And to prolong the evening, the ideal spot is the OUT’s night club, the XL, run by the inveterate New York clubber, John Blair. Its 1500 square meters contains 3 giant bars and a dance floor, making the XL disco, “the place to be” and the place to stay far into the night.

In the words of its owner, Ian Reisner, « The Out is a hotel made by gays for gays, although open to all communities.  People come here for the culture, the music, the design and the fun.”