The highly anticipated debut of Hotel 50 Bowery, the first Joie de Vivre property in New YorkÑopens today in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood. The 229-room boutique hotel was developed by Chu Enterprises and is owned by two families with deep roots in the Asian community Ð the Harilela family in Hong Kong and the Chu family in New York. Located in a 21-story building at the landmark address of 50 Bowery, the hotel welcomes guests with artistic energy, Asian-centric cuisine, and playful design.
“We knew our first Joie de Vivre property in New York had to be in a neighborhood that allows us to provide guests with the eclectic, destination-driven experiences the brand has been synonymous with for the past 30 years,” said Jamie Sabatier, CEO of Two Roads Hospitality. “With an unrivaled location in the heart of Chinatown, Hotel 50 Bowery’s guests will be immersed in the local culture, without sacrificing convenient access to all of New York City’s offerings.”
“We are delighted to celebrate the opening of Hotel 50 Bowery,” said Karin Kopano, General Manager at Hotel 50 Bowery. “The property creatively captures the culturally rich spirit of Chinatown, and we’re looking forward to welcoming neighborhood locals and guests to this culturally-rich, one of a kind hotel.”
A walk through Chinatown’s history
Embracing the destination’s rich layers of history and culture, the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) has installed a permanent exhibit located on the hotel’s second floor in The Gallery. The 1,500-square-foot exhibit, titled the Heart of Chinatown, explores the history of Chinatown’s core streets: Bayard, Bowery, Canal, Doyers, Elizabeth, Mott and Pell.
Paying homage to the destination’s past, the exhibit showcases many of the artifacts that were found at the hotel’s construction site, highlighting its colorful history; taverns, a gambling den, and vaudeville and motion picture theaters all called the hotel’s location “home” from the 1700s through the early 1900s. The Heart of Chinatown will also feature original artifacts from MOCA’s collection. This exhibit is a complement to MOCA’s permanent exhibit “With a Single Step” located at the Museum’s main location 215 Centre Street in New York City.
The exhibit is adjacent to Atlantic Garden, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor space named after the historic beer hall that occupied the site in the 1850s. The space can be used for events, and by hotel guests at their leisure. For indoor events and meeting spaces, the hotel offers the Bowery Common, a semi-private, multifunctional space that can seat up to 12 guests, as well as the Precious Coral Boardroom, a private boardroom ideal for intimate meetings.
Chinatown by design
Each one of Joie de Vivre’s hotels is an original concept designed to reflect its location and community. In tune with the brand’s vision, Wimberly Interiors led the design of the hotel, thoughtfully incorporating influences from Chinese culture and the surrounding neighborhood into the property.
“Through the mixing of gritty New York industrial materials and finishes, with subtle nods to Asian heritage, the hotel reflects the unique story that the neighborhood itself tells,” says Rebecca Weinstein, Senior Designer & Associate, Wimberly Interiors and WATG.
Spacious stays
Stepping off the elevators and onto the floors of the guestroom corridors, visitors will be transported to a vibrant Chinese village at night with dimly lit hallways punctuated by large, bold works of art from Beijing-based graffiti artist Dake Wong.Ê Upon entering rooms and suites, guests are greeted with familiar materials like distressed oak floors and luxe linens, while being introduced to the traditional chinaware colors of blue and white, which infuse the signature hand-plastered headboard wall found in each guestroom.
All rooms feature a contemporary aesthetic with subtle touches of Asian heritage. Abstract artwork from local, Lower Manhattan artists curated by Exhibition A add touches of bold color, while vintage black and white photographs of Chinatown from MOCA’s collection reflect on the destination’s past. From deluxe and city view rooms to a selection of expansive top-floor suites, the hotel’s guestrooms also include floor-to-ceiling windows, filling every room with natural light. All rooms located above the ninth floor offer unobstructed views of Manhattan’s glistening skyline.Ê The airy bathrooms feature subway tiles, Lefroy Brooks rain showerheads and Jonathan Adler custom-scented bath amenitiesÑa Joie de Vivre brand signature. Additional conveniences include versatile desks, mini refrigerators, and honor bars stocked with an assortment of sweet, savory, and healthy items.
Guestroom categories include the Deluxe King and Deluxe Double Beds that are flooded with natural light throughout their 260-square-foot layout, and the City View King and City View Double Beds, which start on the ninth floor and offer expansive views of Lower Manhattan. Additional accommodations include the 340-square-foot Grand King with adjacent seating area. The hotel’s Kindred Suite expands across 575 square feet, and has a separate living room with a convertible sofa. The fourth-floor Manhattan Suite boasts a private, landscaped terrace overlooking the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn skyline in addition to a separate living room complete with a convertible sofa. Lastly, the hotel’s Pearl, Ruby, and Jade Bowery Suites, are distinctly designed, 575-square-feet one-bedroom accommodations situated among the top three floors of the hotel with separate living rooms, full baths, powder rooms and panoramic city views.
A progressive culinary journey, from cellar to rooftop
Hotel 50 Bowery’s three restaurant, bar and lounge concepts draw influence from and reflect the dynamic and culturally-rich Chinatown neighborhood. The Three Kings Restaurant Group, which includes partners Chef Dale Talde, David Massoni and John Bush, will oversee all culinary concepts for the hotel, as well as in-room dining and event catering.Ê
Rice & Gold, the hotel’s 220-seat signature restaurant, will offer contemporary Asian-centric cuisine, featuring dishes such as Arroz Caldo, Pancit Palabok, Thai Fried Chicken and Pho Soup Dumplings.ÊA portion of the menu is inspired by Dale’s recent travels through Hong Kong and theÊPhilippines, while many of the rice dishes take their cues from around the globe. ÊBelow Rice & Gold will be The Green Lady, a parlor lounge offering live music and entertainment. Both Rice & Gold and The Green Lady are set to open this summer.
Opening with the hotel is the 21st-floorÊrooftop bar and lounge, The Crown, featuring globally-inspired street food and an Asian-inspired cocktail program, paired with a backdrop of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
