Curator’s statement
Named for the founder’s chihuahua, The Penny Williamsburg is an ode to Williamsburg, Brooklyn of the 90s and early aughts (when I lived just around the block). It’s a little sleeker, with more modern conveniences like in-room pour-over coffee and yoga supplies. The building somehow slips in seamlessly next to the townhouses surrounding it. Williamsburg is a great jumping-off-point to explore the rest of Brooklyn or one subway stop away from Manhattan in the other direction. The nearby passing traffic on the above-ground Brooklyn-Queens Expressway will lull you to sleep at night.
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Located between the G and the L MTA lines, in a slightly more residential part of Williamsburg, an image of Penny, the hotel’s namesake, welcomes you invitingly on the flag out front. The lobby is as full of art as a small lobby can be — on the walls and hanging from the ceiling — and it follows you throughout the spaces. It’s an uber-dog-friendly hotel and your dog will fit right into the neighborhood.
The design is like an art museum. White with pops of vibrant colors from the art surrounding you, including the contemporary seating in the hallways and gathering spaces. A visit at holiday time means even more sparkle with festive decorations and dog ornaments on the tree. The Penny offers a spot-on dining experience for brunch, cocktails or dinner in the rooftop restaurant and bar, elNico. The views are killer in the day or night, and the Mexican-inspired menu includes classic tacos, ceviche and churros that are great for sharing. Order the Fortune’s Fool for a slightly modified margarita.
Every inch of space in Penny’s rooms is planned to make the area feel as large as possible, and the arrangement works. The comfy beds are pushed against the large window (with retractable black-out curtains). A round table is stocked (and restocked daily) with seasonal fruit alongside a kitchenette with hidden refrigerator and microwave. Wake up to your own pour-over coffee, with directions left on the bulletin board even a novice non-coffee drinker can follow. And just like in the other spaces, art is placed thoughtfully around it. The bathroom area is exactly the right size for the layout. You can say goodbye to the staple white robe and swap it out for the brightly patterned robes left hanging for you, fitting for such an artsy hotel.
Even though it’s been around less than ten years, Penny Williamsburg fits right into the neighborhood and feels like it’s been around decades longer. It’s also doing good for the community by lodging graduate students from Bard College under the same roof as Penny's guests. While also exhibiting artwork by two local nonprofits supporting artists with development disabilities.
Need to know
The Penny would be a special experience for a group of friends who want to reconnect with a daily happy hour at elNico or a business trip where the client may need to work a little from the room (good coffee and snacks are available 24–7). I’m already itching to return for another stay at Penny Williamsburg so that I can stay in a different room with a brand new art experience and maybe catch a glimpse of the live Penny dog dropping in for a visit.
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