While it's scandalous to know that it was by the Hotel Gansevoort's 45-foot heated rooftop pool that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were first spotted kissing (before their brood of never-ending adopted kids), the hotel is so much more than a hotbed of celebrity gossip. Positioned on the corner of Ninth Avenue and 13th Street, the shimmering glass tower, which, incidentally, is owned by HK Hotels, is a stone's throw away from chic brasserie-style restaurants such as Pastis and trendy boutiques such as Stella McCartney. Because of such, the hotel draws a heady mix of bohemian types and business executives, with everybody from Marc Jacobs-toting fashionistas to smart-suited Wall Street traders sashaying through its marble-clad reception area. While one of the biggest draws here is, of course, the rooftop pool, other first-class amenities such as Ono, the on-site Japanese restaurant that requires a booking three months in advance, and the full-service G-Spa & Lounge (which doubles as the exclusive Manhattan VIP bar by night), keep regulars coming back for more. When it's time to call it a night, the hotel's 187 well-appointed rooms and 23 suites cater to even the most demanding of divas, many offering step-out balconies and views out over Manhattan and the Hudson River. Naturally, we recommend the Duplex Penthouse, which comes complete with Jacuzzi, open fireplace and pool table; with the best room-service menu this side of the river, we guarantee you'll never want to leave. Offering a much-needed urban oasis in the beating heart of the city that never sleeps, the Hotel Gansevoort deserves each and every one of its celebrity fans.
www.hotelgansevoort.com / Images: Hotel Gansevoort