This porthole-dotted white tower has been transformed into a high-end marine-themed inn by a hip team of architects. It feels like a plush Love Boat inside, as its 126 rooms, each with its own round window, are compact and teak paneled, with modern luxury in the form of superb beds, flat-screen TVs and rain showers in the en suites.
The low-ceilinged lobby, compartmentalized by deep couches and low bookshelves stacked with art-and-design titles, leads to a tiled bar-restaurant fronting Ninth Ave; below is Asian restaurant Tao Downtown (mains $39 to $45). Suites feature outdoor showers, access to a private terrace and sweeping Hudson views. The building was originally the site of the National Maritime Union headquarters (and then a shelter for homeless teens).