Hot Spot: The Greenwich Hotel, New York

First came the Tribeca Grill, then the Tribeca Film Festival. Now Robert De Niro lays claim to more of his home turf with this chicly discreet pet hospitality project.

Décor: An unmarked brick-and-glass entrance sets the tone for this below-the-radar property, which blends residential comfort with hotel convenience. Public spaces mix rustic Mediterranean touches with Asian inspiration, from terra cotta-tiled floors to illuminated Buddhist statues.

Rooms: The 72 guest rooms and 16 suites range from $625 to $2,250 per night. Many rooms have a view of either a cozy courtyard or the Tribeca streets. French doors, Oriental rugs and fragrant reclaimed wood floors lend a homey feel, while the elaborately tiled bathrooms add an exotic Moroccan aesthetic.

Food: Chef Agostino Sciandri's latest outpost of his famed L.A. original, Ago (also backed by De Niro), occupies a corner of the hotel. Sample the innovative take on Italian country cuisine, embodied by grilled cuttlefish skewers served in a squid-ink sauce.

Spa: Soon to open, the Shibui spa will offer traditional Japanese bathing rituals and various massages, including a special shiatsu room. The indoor pool and lounge are housed under a 250-year-old wood and bamboo farmhouse roof meticulously reconstructed in the hotel.

© 2008