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The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel vs Hotel Chelsea

Two 1880s buildings from about $505 and $510, but only The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, adds a nightly fee. The Beekman for Victorian ironwork and the Brooklyn Bridge on foot; Hotel Chelsea for the house where Arthur Miller and Janis Joplin lived, plus a rooftop spa.

The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel: The atrium, rising nine storeys to its pyramid skylightThe design one

The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel

An 1883 office block built round a nine-storey atrium of cast-iron galleries, an interior landmark since 2024, with Colicchio and Boulud restaurants downstairs.

$$$From about $505 a night

Choose The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel if

  • Design hotels
  • Architecture lovers
  • Downtown sightseeing
  • Cocktails and jazz brunch

The catch

Laissez Faire, the club in the cellar, plays until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, and The Bar Room serves until 1am, so low floors hear the weekend.

Hotel Chelsea: Red brick and iron balconies on West 23rd StreetThe insider one

Hotel Chelsea

New York's bohemian landmark, restored in 2022 with its iron staircase, its residents' art rehung and El Quijote's murals intact.

$$$From about $510 a night

Choose Hotel Chelsea if

  • Literary pilgrims
  • Art lovers
  • Couples
  • Gallery walks

The catch

The Petite Chelsea, the entry room, is about 200 sq ft (19 m²), with a queen bed, a limited view and a place on the lower floors.

Which of our lists each one is on

Best forThe Beekman, A Thompson HotelHotel Chelsea
Best design hotels in New YorkOn the listOn the list
Best central hotels in New YorkOn the listOn the list
Best hotels for food and drink in New YorkOn the listNot on the list

Both hotels on the same scales

The Beekman, A Thompson HotelHotel Chelsea

FunctionalDesign-led
InternationalStrong sense of place
QuietLively
ClassicContemporary
Food secondaryDestination dining
Wellness minimalWellness focus
PolishedCharacterful

The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel

Area
Financial District, United States
From the centre
5.5 km
Airport
45 min from JFK
Price band
$$$
Typical rate
From about $505 a night
Rooms
287
Opened
2016
Pool
No pool
Beach
None
Spa
No
Adults only
No
Restaurants
2
Parking
Yes
MICHELIN Guide
One MICHELIN Key (2026)
Selected by
Independent research
Last checked
October 2026

Hotel Chelsea

Area
Chelsea, United States
From the centre
1.8 km
Airport
50 min from JFK
Price band
$$$
Typical rate
From about $510 a night
Rooms
155
Last renovated
2022 (opened 1905)
Pool
No pool
Beach
None
Spa
Yes
Adults only
No
Restaurants
3
Parking
No
MICHELIN Guide
One MICHELIN Key (2026)
Selected by
Independent research
Last checked
October 2026

The verdict

Two 1880s buildings from about $505 and $510, but only The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, adds a nightly fee. The Beekman for Victorian ironwork and the Brooklyn Bridge on foot; Hotel Chelsea for the house where Arthur Miller and Janis Joplin lived, plus a rooftop spa.

Questions people ask

Good questions about The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel vs Hotel Chelsea

The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel or Hotel Chelsea?

Two 1880s buildings from about $505 and $510, but only The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, adds a nightly fee. The Beekman for Victorian ironwork and the Brooklyn Bridge on foot; Hotel Chelsea for the house where Arthur Miller and Janis Joplin lived, plus a rooftop spa.

Is The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel worth it?

Book The Beekman for a landmarked Victorian atrium, with the Brooklyn Bridge and the 9/11 Memorial on foot. Pay up to a Premium King on a high floor, and make the bar downstairs your night out rather than your alarm clock. Design and history are the whole argument: an 1883 office block wrapped round a nine-storey atrium of cast-iron galleries, with two big-name kitchens downstairs and a busy public bar on the floor of it. It is lively rather than restful, and there is no spa or pool.

Does The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel have a pool or a beach?

There is no pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.

Is Hotel Chelsea worth it?

Hotel Chelsea earns its place on the building itself: the staircase, the residents' art and El Quijote's murals and bar are the real thing, restored rather than recreated. Pay for a Premier Chelsea, ask for your side, and accept 23rd Street as part of the address. A Victorian landmark kept characterful on purpose, with residents' art on the walls and up the iron staircase, and a ground floor of bars and restaurants that stays busy late. It is a base for walking Chelsea rather than a hotel to retreat into, with a rooftop spa but no pool.

Does Hotel Chelsea have a pool or a beach?

There is no pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.