• Soho is home to loft buildings, art galleries and upscale shopping.New york's building image by Theli from Fotolia.com
  
  Soho is a compression of the phrase, "South of Houston Street." It refers to the section of Manhattan bordered by Houston Street on the north, Canal Street on the south, Broadway on the east, and the Hudson River to the west. In the late 1960s, the commercial lofts of this industrial area were converted into studios by avant-garde artists. In the decades since, Soho has become a chic location brimming with art galleries and upscale shopping. Naturally, the area also boasts some rather expensive lodging.
  
  

Sixty Thompson

• Sixty Thompson is an upscale boutique hotel located, unsurprisingly, at 60 Thompson St. in Manhattan. The 100 guest rooms include amenities such as cable TV and climate control. The hotel also boasts the Thom Bar lounge, the Kittichai Restaurant and a rooftop bar called A60. In summer 2010, doubles start at $639 a night and suites start at $750.
  
  Sixty Thompson
  
  60 Thompson St.
  
  New York, New York 10012
  
  212-431-0400
  
  thompsonhotels.com
  
  

Soho Grand Hotel

• The 363 guest rooms of the Soho Grand Hotel include flat screen TVs, DVD players, digital cable TV with movies-on-demand, a gourmet mini-bar and toiletries from Malin & Goetz. Guests may request an iPod; a complimentary newspaper from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the London Financial Times; or even a pet goldfish. Contemporary American cuisine is available at the Grand Bar & Lounge. In summer 2010, nightly rates start at $295.
  
  Soho Grand Hotel
  
  310 West Broadway
  
  New York, New York 10013
  
  212-965-3000
  
  sohogrand.com
  
  

The Mercer

• The Romanesque-style Mercer was the site of a notorious phone-throwing incident involving actor Russell Crowe. The atmosphere is usually more elegant in the 75 loft style rooms that feature Egygtian cotton bedding, marble bathtubs, HDTVs and complimentary wireless Internet access. Casual dining is available at the open plan Mercer Kitchen. In summer 2010, nightly rates start at $495.
  
  The Mercer
  
  147 Mercer St.
  
  New York, New York 10012
  
  212-966-6060
  
  mercerhotel.com