Chelsea Pines Inn

Profile

In 1983, Jay Lesiger and his (since-deceased) partner Sheldon Post bought a brownstone rooming house and transformed it into this quaint, 23-room inn on the edge of the meatpacking district. A top-to-bottom renovation in 2009 brought modern conveniences and fresh bursts of color to the property. Accommodations range from cozy singles to two-room suites, and all have queen beds with down pillows, flat-screen TVs with satellite, and iPod docking stations; some even have white-noise machines to block out street sounds. With bright-blue walls and carpeting, each room is dedicated to a screen star of Hollywood’s golden age (Sophia Loren, Paul Newman, Doris Day, etc.) and features large, lively movie posters from Lesiger’s personal collection. The small staff is eager to provide maps, theater discounts, and plenty of personal recommendations to guests, many of whom are first-time New York visitors. And though the second floor has two computer stations, they’re meant for business travelers and not plugged-in kids, as the owners don’t encourage stays by anyone under 16. — Julie Mehta

Old movie posters, a breakfast garden, and warm service give this centrally located inn a quaint charm.

Cons
The lack of an elevator makes higher rooms a tiring climb, and the busy location means street noise is loud in front-facing rooms.