Editorial take
Who should book The Mercer?
If this is your first New York trip, shortlist The Mercer for a practical reason: Couples, design, repeat visitors, shopping. The name, star rating and lobby photos matter, but the real test is whether the location helps your days feel easier.
It is less compelling if you want hotel facilities, a pool or family rooms. Before booking from the UK, compare the final price after taxes and property fees, check the exact room setup and make sure your airport arrival route is not needlessly awkward.
Location and map
Where is The Mercer?
Mercer Street at Prince is in the middle of the cast-iron district, on cobbles, with the main shopping streets immediately around it.
Nearby
SoHo shopping, Nolita, Little Italy, Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park.
Closest subway
Prince St and Broadway-Lafayette St
Hotel facts
What to know before booking.
First-timer context
Why The Mercer might feel special.
What it is known for
- The building was completed in 1890 in Romanesque Revival style and became a hotel in 1997 under André Balazs.
- Christian Liaigre designed the interiors across six floors, with furnishings made specifically for the hotel rather than bought in.
- At 73 rooms it is one of the smallest luxury hotels in Manhattan, which is central to how it feels.
New York moments
- It is usually described as SoHo's first five-star hotel, opening a year after the larger Soho Grand.
- The Mercer Kitchen, in the basement, has been a downtown fixture since the late 1990s.
On screen
- The Mercer's reputation rests on its guest list and its discretion rather than on screen appearances.
Review questions
What travellers keep asking.
Why is The Mercer so well known?
It set the template for the small, discreet downtown luxury hotel when it opened in 1997, and it has kept the same understated approach since. It is famous among people who dislike famous hotels.
Is Mercer Street noisy?
The cobbled streets carry sound and SoHo is busy by day, but the district empties in the evening and the upper floors are quiet. Ask for a higher floor if you are sensitive to street noise.
Booking checklist
Check these before you reserve.
Total price
Look beyond the nightly rate. Check taxes, destination fees, breakfast and cancellation.
Room layout
For New York, room size, bathroom privacy, bed type and storage can matter more than star rating.
Arrival route
Match the hotel to your airport, luggage and arrival time, especially after an overnight UK flight.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.