By a long shot the most iconic structure for some distance around, The Bowery is surely unmatched on the inside too amongst New York hotels. If it weren't for the other guests chatting, drinking, typing on laptops in the lobby come lounge, you may think yourself responsible for unearthing the greatest untouched 19th century domestic scene in recent times. Truth is, it's a total (and utterly believable) fabrication. The furniture is a mix of real and false antique pieces, hand-picked by MacPherson and Goode, including velvet couches and beautifully worked armchairs, under which are voguishly exhausted oriental carpets. Wooden paneling, which used to be attached to a building in Philadelphia, now lines the walls and ceilings of The Bowery's lobby (where there is no wooden paneling there are small Art Deco tiles). A hand-painted mural of the Bowery encircles the top of the lounge while a fireplace down below roars away, keeping guests toasty during the winter months. There is something almost sinister about the atmosphere of the space, perhaps something to do with the low lighting from the loosely Gothic lamps overhead. Despite this, we bet that you'll find no more comfortable, homely lobby in New York. The Art Deco reception desk, to the right of which is a cabinet of intriguing antiques, is also worthy of a mention if only for the delightful grid behind it which is home to the tasseled room keys (no such thing is a key card in this establishment). The false plants and real peacock feathers which cache the lounge are souvenirs of Old World extravagance. The hotel though is not all about the lobby. There is a small fitness centre downstairs which must be one of the strangest places in the city to have a work out with many of the features from upstairs such as the Art Deco tiles, rugs and wooden paneling. There are cardio and weights machines as well as free weights, but unfortunately no view (just a brick wall). The hotel has a DVD collection which you may borrow from at any time (DVD payers can be found in the room as standard).The 24 hour room service, complimentary wifi and delightful staff are only to be expected in such a hotel.