Fodor's Expert Review The William Vale
111 N 12th St., Brooklyn, New York 11249, USA See on Map
Every room has a big balcony at The William Vale, a hotel towering 22 stories above low-rise Williamsburg. Manhattan views are dynamite throughout, from the rooms to the popular rooftop bar, which serves plates from Chef Andrew Carmellini. He’s also behind the lovely Italian restaurant, Leuca--and everything that comes out of their wood-fired oven is delicious. Oh, also: there's an outdoor pool at this hotel.
room
Starting at 260-square-feet, contemporary rooms are tight on space, but very bright thanks to gigantic glass doors leading onto large, furnished balconies--and the skyline views are simply amazing. Hardwood floors, bold contemporary art, and a cozy chaise lounge decorate the space.
YOU SHOULD KNOW There isn’t much room for luggage storage in the rooms. They're pretty small.
bathroom
Sleek bathrooms are compact with pretty penny tile floors, large back-lit mirrors, and walk-in glass showers with powerful rainforest showerheads and bath products by L’Occitane en Provence.
lobby
On entering The William Vale, a small front desk assists with speedy check-ins. Down a narrow hallway, the lobby opens up into a large space with marble floors, big clusters of comfy couches, potted plants, and contemporary art.
pool
A seasonal outdoor pool is 60-feet in length and, like most places in the hotel, has nice Manhattan views. The pool is surrounded by a big terrace (a popular event space) where snacks and cocktails are served.
dining
Chef Andrew Carmellini (of Locanda Verde and the Dutch fame) is behind Leuca, a warm and welcoming restaurant with a wood-fired oven. Great for dinner or brunch, Leuca serves southern Italian fare--lots of pizzas and housemade pastas. Casual fare like burgers and fries are served from the window of a 1974 Airstream at Mister Dips.
drinking
The crown of this hotel is Westlight, a 22nd-floor rooftop bar with glass window walls and some of the best Manhattan views in Brooklyn. Cocktails and snacks from (you guessed it) Chef Andrew Carmellini are served.
This rooftop bar regularly draws a line at the door—make reservations in advance to secure a table without a wait.
LOCATION
Getting Around
Located on North 12th Street, this hotel is positioned to easily explore Williamsburg and neighboring Greenpoint on foot. Subway service is available at the L train Bedford Avenue stop, an 8-minute walk away from the hotel (Manhattan is one stop away). Taxis and Uber are both widely available in the neighborhood.
Restaurants
Communal tables are filled with fried oysters and burgers topped with avocado and jalapeno at Allswell (5-minute walk). Seafood with a Latin slant is the focus at Rosarito Fish Shack (6-minute walk); try the market fish ceviche and the lobster tacos. Café Colette (4-minute walk) is a cozy corner restaurant with a garden serving comfort classics like roasted chicken with potatoes and garlic-braised kale.
WHY WE LIKE IT
This stylish boutique keeps guests on-site with its popular rooftop bar, outdoor pool and Italian restaurant from Chef Andrew Carmellini. We love the Manhattan views throughout, including from the big balconies in every room.
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