WHAT'S IT LIKE? Recently opened in the heart of Downtown New York City, the 21-story Cooper Square Hotel cuts a dramatic silhouette of glass and steel among neighboring brick buildings, courtesy of acclaimed designer Carlos Zapata. The interior's rich woodwork blends seamlessly with slate accents, giving the lobby the feel of a stylish home as you sink into the comfy B&B Italia furnishings. These touches are the work of Milan-based interior designer Antonio Citterio. Citterio’s style is perfectly complemented by that of Zapata and Nathan Browning, the landscape architect responsible for Cooper Square’s intimate but lush dining patio and backyard garden, which features an area naturally shaded by a canopy of trees. Even staff uniforms sport a designer name, with each member of the hotel’s team outfitted in originals from New York’s own Steven Alan.
    Once you get past the stunning design features, you’ll see The Cooper Square Hotel offers much more than just a pretty face. Beauty company Red Flower created Wanderlust, a signature scent inspired by the freedom of travel, specifically for the hotel’s use in amenities. The concierge is on call 24 hours a day, and the staff is multilingual. Guest amenities include personal shoppers, limo and babysitting services, and valet parking. Plus, if you’re traveling with your favorite furry pal, you’ll be pleased to discover the hotel is pet friendly. Couple all this with excellent views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Downtown Manhattan and the Hudson River, and you might be tempted to make it your permanent home.

WHERE IS IT? Right in the thick of things. Cooper Square is nestled near SoHo, the Lower East Side, NoLita, NoHo and Greenwich Village, leaving no shortage of activity options when the workday is out. There are plenty of choices for fashion and food amid all the entertainment, and for Uptown meetings and events, the hotel is on a cab-friendly street and just across from the subway.

HOW MANY ROOMS? The Cooper Square Hotel features 145 guest rooms and suites. The 1,600-square-foot Penthouse Suite has unobstructed 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline, which guests can enjoy from the room’s 1,600-square-foot wraparound terrace.

ROOM FACILITIES Floor-to-ceiling windows are treated so that guests can see out, but neighbors can’t see in—a handy feature when bathing or showering in the chrome, marble and glass bathroom. Each room offers three bathrobes to choose from—terry-cloth, silk and a custom Japanese garment—plus a fully-stocked minibar with Tina Thor jewelry and trainer David Kirsch’s signature vitamin supplements, among other tasty treats. The hotel is Sony exclusive, from iPod docking stations to each room’s plasma TV. (DVD players are also available upon request, and the hotel has an extensive library of movies at guests’ disposal.) The desk area is suitably sized for in-room business, complemented by a dual-line cordless phone. And then there’s the bed—king-sized and luxuriously comfortable with 400-thread count Italian Sferra linens—the perfect place to enjoy 24-hour room service nibbles.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS Cooper Square plays host to two fabulous bars—a lounge-style one on the lobby level, and the other, an indoor/outdoor bar and lounge, located on the second floor. The lobby also has a cocktail-friendly library, making it the perfect place to cuddle up with a good tome in front of the hotel’s fireplace. But the crown jewel is Table 8, the on-site restaurant helmed by acclaimed chef Govind Armstrong. With a focus on local, seasonal ingredients, Table 8 is a culinary delight for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The entire hotel is Wi-Fi friendly (complimentary), with a Sony guest computer in the hotel lobby. While the Penthouse Suite is available for events and corporate functions, construction of a private screening room with amphitheater seating is still underway, but will serve as meeting and presentation space once completed.

LEISURE FACILITIES Though Cooper Square doesn’t have its own on-site gym, guests are offered complimentary passes to a nearby facility that has state-of-the-art equipment and personal trainers aplenty. However, the hotel does offer in-room spa services for those in need of hands-on de-stressing. The private landscaped garden also offers some peaceful Zen moments in the middle of Manhattan’s hustle and bustle.

VERDICT New hotels often suffer from growing pains, but Cooper Square has set the bar high, and seems destined to outdo itself. The personal attention and luxurious touches make all the difference. There’s no check-in desk—rather, guests are invited to sit in the library with a cocktail of their choice while their details are worked out. They are then escorted to their home away from home, where the financial transactions take place in the privacy of the guest room. The staff was attentive and friendly, the service impeccable, the accommodations sublime, and everything about the experience was top-notch. Quite simply, The Cooper Square Hotel is a must.

PRICE Room rates start at $425 per night for the 275-square-foot Cooper 1 room.

CONTACT The Cooper Square Hotel, 25 Cooper Square, New York, NY; tel. 212-475-5700; www.thecoopersquarehotel.com.