Essence hotel

Essence hotel Overview

First Impressions

Degraw Street in Brooklyn has this quietly residential feel to it — tree-lined, unhurried, the kind of block where people actually know their neighbors. Essence hotel sits right in the middle of that, and honestly, it sets the tone before you even walk through the door. It’s a three-star property, so don’t come expecting a grand lobby with a chandelier, but there’s something genuinely welcoming about the place that you notice pretty quickly. It’s unpretentious in a way that actually works in its favor.

Location & Neighborhood

The location is probably the strongest card this hotel plays, and recent guests seem to agree — it’s been rated 8.3 for location, which is hard to argue with once you’ve spent a morning wandering around. You’re in the Boerum Hill area of Brooklyn, close enough to Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill that you can drift between them without really thinking about it. There are good coffee spots, local restaurants, and the kind of independent shops that make Brooklyn feel like Brooklyn rather than anywhere else. Couples especially seem to love it here, and I get why — it’s got that low-key romantic neighborhood energy without being precious about it.

The Room

Rooms are straightforward and clean — I mean, it’s a three-star, so you’re getting what you’d expect at this level, not more, not less. That said, the space feels thought through rather than thrown together, which matters more than people give it credit for. You’re not going to be spending all day in the room anyway, not with a neighborhood like this outside your window. It’s a solid base, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Breakfast

There’s a continental breakfast on offer, which is sort of the standard at this price point — pastries, coffee, the usual setup. It’s not going to be the highlight of your stay, but it’s a decent enough start to the morning before you head out to explore. Honestly, if you want a proper Brooklyn breakfast, you’re better off walking a few blocks and finding one of the local spots that do eggs and good drip coffee. Think of the continental as a convenience rather than a destination in itself.

Why Guests Love It

The overall rating sits at 6.2, which tells you this isn’t a flawless experience — and it’s worth going in with realistic expectations rather than sky-high ones. But what keeps people coming back, or at least what keeps couples rating it well for a trip for two, is the combination of location and atmosphere that’s genuinely hard to replicate. You’re staying in a real Brooklyn neighborhood, not some sanitized hotel corridor version of it. Essence hotel works best when you treat it as a launchpad — a comfortable, well-placed spot to sleep, eat a quick breakfast, and then go lose yourself in one of New York’s most interesting boroughs. If that’s what you’re after, it delivers.

New York hotels keep adventurers close to gallery districts, speakeasies, and subway hubs.

Essence hotel Accommodations

Reviews of Essence hotel

• Amy from United States (8/10)

  The hotel was basic, not fancy, but just what we wanted. We were comfortable and the room was clean. Bed was very comfortable! Needs a little updating and fixture repairing, but overall we were completely happy. Street parking was easy. We’ll be back!

• Toderascu from Moldova (6/10)

  Good location

• Lloyd from South Africa (6/10)

  For a good price, you get a room to yourself and your own bathroom. Beats a hostel any day. And everyone working there is friendly and helpful.

• Kimj1234 from United Kingdom (6/10)

  Affordable price, and the location is great. Room was clean, and staff was nice.

• Marco from United States (6/10)

• Christopher from United States (1/10)

  Nothing good here.

• Lambey from Belize (8/10)

  Didn't get to try the breakfast

• Zaher from United Kingdom (7/10)

  Location

• Cezary from Ireland (7/10)

  Nice staff

• Raven from United States (1/10)

  Nothing it’s literally a hole in the wall no move around space or anything

Surroundings

Facilities