The McCarren has a secret weapon. It's 13 metres long, it's wet and in the middle of summer you'll want to get there early if you want to get near it. Yes, the open-air, saltwater pool is a major attraction. Non-guests pay $45 a day for the privilege of swimming and sunbaking there, but guests immerse themselves for free. Try to book a room with balcony views of sprawling McCarren Park across the street and Manhattan across the river. Upstairs is the rooftop bar Sheltering Sky. Downstairs is much buzzed-about new restaurant Oleanders, which opened in June, with a twist on '70s/'80s American cuisine from the restaurateurs behind Williamsburg's acclaimed Fette Sau and Antica Pesa. Rooms from $260. See www.www.chelseahotels.com/us/brooklyn/mccarren-hotel-and-pool
"One's destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things." That's the Henry Miller quote stencilled across the wall on the Nu Hotel's third floor. Well, Henry, place does count with the Nu, nestled between Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and downtown Brooklyn. The lobby has a complimentary breakfast buffet in the mornings and transforms into a bar at night. They know how to use limited space here, but they don't cut corners in the loft-style rooms, which feature several unique touches, including Brooklyn-themed bedroom murals and a chalkboard wall in each bathroom. The friendly staff is quick to help, whether booking a free hotel bike, directing you to the 24-hour fitness centre or offering advice on where to eat on bustling Smith Street. Rooms from $217. See www.nuhotelbrooklyn.com
Smack bang in the middle of downtown Brooklyn, the Aloft is within ambling distance of many of the borough's most walkable neighbourhoods, including Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Fort Greene. Aloft prides itself on the quality of its beds, and indeed, they're plush but firm and sure to send even the most jetlagged traveller off to dreamland. From the blonde-wood paneling in the rooms to the modular furniture in the public spaces, the hotel goes for a modernist feel. Down in the lobby you can play pool or drink at the W XYZ cocktail bar, there's a pool and a fitness centre if you're feeling like some exercise, while the rooftop courtyard is the place to be once the sun sets. From $219 See www.aloftnewyorkbrooklyn.com
If Williamsburg is the capital of Brooklyn hipsterdom and gentrification, then the Wythe represents everything about the neighbourhood. The bedframes and desks in the rooms were fashioned from wood salvaged from the original building, a former cooperage and textile factory. Everything from the wallpaper and bathroom products to the beer and chocolate in the minibars is sourced from Brooklyn artisans. Up on the sixth floor is Ides, a terrace bar with postcard views of Manhattan. Co-owner Andrew Tarlow, the man behind pioneering Williamsburg eateries such as Diner and Marlow & Sons, introduced a radical idea at the Wythe – no room service. With his inviting restaurant Reynard on the ground floor, who needs it? Rooms from $315. See www.wythehotel.com
Don't be put off by the position, between a taxi depot and a medical practice on a largely industrial stretch of 4th Avenue. The minimalist Le Bleu is just a block away from Park Slope's 5th Avenue, which is lined with restaurants, cafes and bars and it's within walking distance of bucolic Prospect Park. Bottled water and popcorn greet you in the room on arrival, and the complimentary continental breakfast, delivered to your door at the time of your choosing, is a box of fresh croissants, pastries and yoghurt. The beds are especially comfy, with extra thick mattresses for your tired bones after a day of pounding the Brooklyn sidewalks. And the F and R trains are just down the street, with a 20-minute ride to Manhattan. Rooms from $169. See www.hotellebleu.com
Part of the worldwide Indigo boutique hotel chain, the sleek 128-room Brooklyn outpost opened in 2012, right opposite the Aloft in downtown. The grey-and-white decor in the rooms is a mix of baroque and modern, with polished hardwood floors, moulded mirror frames and leather bedheads. From artworks sourced from the Brooklyn Arts Council to the hotel's Brooklyn Brewhouse restaurant, the Indigo incorporates a bit of Brooklyn into its aesthetic. There's a fitness centre and rooftop courtyard, the bars, boutiques and restaurants of Cobble Hill are a short stroll away and it's in the middle of a transport hub, with subway stops for most lines within a few blocks, just in case you're missing Manhattan. From $191. See www.ihg.com
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