Da House

Da House Review

You won't know whether you're checking in to a hotel or an art gallery when you stay at this popular spot, which is in the same building as the fabled Nuyorican Café, a concert hall that many patrons simply refer to as Da House. But if you're expecting this hangout for musicians, artists, and writers to be dark and smoky, think again. Sunlight pours in through the front windows of the bright and airy hotel centered on a skylit atrium. Most rooms are bigger than you'd expect in a former convent, especially those with small sitting areas at the front of the building. The original tile floors have been preserved, and many of the furnishings are antiques, contrasting with pop-art chairs and lively contemporary art. During the 1970s the building housed an artist collective, the Centro Nacional de las Artes, and continues in this vein by naming each of the 27 rooms for a different local artist. The paintings hanging in your room are all for sale. If you're an early-to-bed person, you'll probably want to request an interior room. If you plan on staying downstairs until the last encore, it won't matter which room you take. The enthusiastic staff is eager-to-please with advice on sight-seeing, restaurants, and nightlife.