Thompson LES

Thompson LES Review

With its smoked glass tower and central location, the Thompson LES is a great embodiment of the neighborhood inhabitants: hip, but friendly when you get to know it. The two-story lobby, dominated by a hanging black-and-white curtain made of glass, bustles with Europeans, musicians, and others with carefully crafted hair (that includes the too-cool-for-school staff). Rooms are stark, black-and-white affairs, with low platform beds whose headboards are light boxes displaying works by the photographer Lee Friedlander. The desk space can be cramped, and although the windows are big, come nighttime rooms can feel oppressively dark. Bathrooms are brighter, and have rainfall showerheads. Suites, on the building's corners, have balconies with sweeping views of both downtown and Midtown—some of the best in the city. The neighborhood is a nexus for nightlife, especially on the weekends, and the hotel's rooftop bar and pool is ideal for kicking off the night.