When you're looking to book a luxury hotel in NYC, Harlem doesn't exactly top your list—no offense Harlemites. Well, all that's changing with the launch of Aloft Harlem, the first hotel to open in the area in over 40 years. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from local attractions like the Apollo Theater, Sylvia's restaurant, and the Studio Museum, this high-tech hospice should help dispel the notion that cool doesn't exist above 100th Street. The 124 loft-like rooms will be accessible by an RIFD-powered Smart check-in system, which allows guests to skip the front-desk and head straight upstairs. Inspired by W hotels, we think you'll feel the the Rockwell Group designed space, with the buzzy wxyz bar in the open looby, a sleek grab-and-go café, and an atmosphere that's pure Jetsons meets Design Within Reach. So, even if you're not from out of town, take a trip on the 1 all the way up—no plane ticket necessary—it opens October 7.
2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard (at 124th Street); 212-749-4000
