West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments, New York, NY

Originally published April 29, 2008

We wound up our coast to coast trip from Los Angeles to New York City in...New York City! I was able to draw on a distinct pair from the variety of inns and non-traditional hotel offerings in the five boroughs. While there are sky-scraper luxury hotels, hostels, mid-range quality hotels (still with the big price tag) as well as a slew of 24 hour options for you to choose from, these two were self described bed and breakfasts.

The first place that we stayed on the last leg of our journey was in Manhattan at the West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments (278 W 11th St New York, NY - www.west-eleventh.com). West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments is not a place for people who don't read their instructions. As we trekked through the rain across the familiar paths unconsciously trodden hundreds of times before, the road began to seem less and less familiar. The fact was that I'd been on this road hundreds, if not thousands of times before. But the name seemed less and less familiar as we got closer and closer to our destination. West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments.

Humph.

I'd never seen or remembered seeing signs for this place before. In fact once we'd descended upon 278 W 11th Street, I was sure that this was the address I'd just checked up on but I didn't see any sign at all! The sign that I did see was an inscription in Greek which I had seen dozens of times before. In fact, just days previous a couple of friends of mine who met up with us in the city and I had noticed it (before our journey had officially come to an end; also before we'd checked in).

Regardless, once we'd figured out where we were (in our home city no less!) we quickly became acclimated. A blast of hot air and strong potpourris fills your head as you enter the sunken entryway to West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments.

This appears to be a very old building; climbing the stairs they ache and creak as you go; there is a decided noise from the folks upstairs who did not appear to be very heavy footed, and when we alighted to the third floor where our room was located, I was given quite a conciliatory buckling of knees when I'd seen the door actually sloping away from me on the tilted third-floor floor. Once we were inside of our domicile though the terrain flattened out; fully carpeted save the elevated bathroom and kitchen (!) area, we were greeted pleasantly with two chaise lounges, a sturdy queen sized bed, desk area, television, non-functioning fireplace, rocking chair, and more than 10 lamps throughout.

Another great thing about this property was that despite that fact we were in the middle (3rd floor of 5) we were in a classic, "true" property with 13-15 foot ceilings. It wasn't as though this was a floor which was created out of nothing; sandwiched between itself; or otherwise added on as so many in New York City are. This extra breathing room allowed for generous buffer from our neighbors. Not that this was a party property by any stretch of the imagination; but the fact that we'd had the ability to breathe and take a moment of solitude in the vibrant and alive city was true bliss.

To say nothing bad about the rooms or the property itself, there should be one warning put up about this properties "bed & breakfast" status. The facts were plain enough when I'd done a Google search for "bed & breakfasts New York City" and this property jumped to the top of the list. In fact, on their own website they tout their status as "Trip Advisor (ranked) West-Eleventh Apartments as the #2 Bed and Breakfast in New York City." However this place did not serve breakfast. There was a separate kitchen area in the rooms so that you could make your own breakfast, but people who come into this place expecting their choice of breakfast should be forewarned. Honestly though you're in the West Village; there are so many fine places to dine at all hours of the day, it wasn't really a problem that there is no breakfast served; it should just be duly noted.

But the true solace about the West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments was that there were no incidents of record; the place was clean and well appointed, the staff was friendly and attentive, and the sleep we got there was truly restful and fully enjoyable. While many may be afraid of New York City as some behemoth of noise and consummation, the fact is that the West Eleventh Townhouse Apartments offer a moment of peace is worth your attention.