The Cambria, a brand-new boutique hotel in New York City’s Flower District, opened in April 2015. The slender 18-story building contains 134 guest rooms and a single suite, and its design deliberately reflects the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Located where bulk flowers arrive and are distributed across the city, the hotel ties local identity into its visual and material choices while offering modern, comfortable accommodations for visitors to Chelsea and Midtown Manhattan.
Distinct New York Flair
Designed as a boutique interpretation within the Choice Hotels portfolio, the Cambria embraces a clear sense of place. Its façade and interior details reference the Flower District without resorting to cliché, offering a contemporary New York aesthetic with warm, textured finishes. The hotel sits on 28th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, and its softer, curvier exterior distinguishes it from the adjacent Hilton Garden Inn and the Marriott across the street. (A second Cambria property was scheduled to open the following fall in Times Square.)
Stepping toward the hotel on either side of the street, visitors pass through a corridor of wholesale flower and plant stalls. The display changes with the seasons, but there is almost always fresh greenery and blooms to admire, reinforcing the hotel’s connection to the neighborhood and providing an immediate sensory reminder of the Flower District’s trade and history.
Inside, Gene Kaufman Architect (GKA) reimagined both the exterior and interior to create a cohesive experience. The lobby, reception, lounge, bar and dining areas flow together like a lofted apartment rather than a traditional hotel lobby. Furniture choices — custom-upholstered couches and sectional pieces alongside streamlined Nios lounge chairs — support a relaxed, communal atmosphere that feels like home while remaining decidedly contemporary.
To recall Chelsea’s manufacturing past and the loft-style architecture in the neighborhood, the design balances raw, industrial elements with warmer materials. Exposed concrete contrasts with plank wood flooring, and overhead light fixtures reference industrial-era styles while lending contemporary polish. These choices create a lived-in urban warmth that anchors the hotel in its Chelsea context.
Reception, the lounge/bar and dining areas are laid out to maximize social interaction and natural light, giving guests a sense of generous, uncluttered space. The result is a hospitable environment that serves both business travelers and leisure visitors who appreciate thoughtful, modern design and neighborhood authenticity.
Surrounded by Floral Beauty
Throughout the hotel, designers introduced contrasting textures and colorful accents to keep spaces from feeling monochrome. Wall finishes by Get Real Surfaces, fragmented mirror mosaics by Mixed-Up Mosaics, and bronze-tinted glass add visual interest and subtle sparkle. Large floral wall hangings, handmade in felt by local artist Liora Manne using a needle-punch process, bring jewel-like color and tactile detail to public corridors. Photographic collages and printed wall coverings, produced by Koroseal, repeat these floral motifs and reinforce the hotel’s connection to the Flower District.
Guest rooms are notably well-proportioned for Manhattan standards, ranging from about 230 to 400 square feet. Each room includes a dedicated workspace, thoughtfully sized bathrooms, and custom-integrated storage such as wardrobes and dressers that help guests keep belongings organized and maximize living space. Select rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that welcome natural light, while wood flooring throughout contributes to a warmer, more residential feel than typical wall-to-wall carpeting.
Overall, the Cambria in Chelsea combines modern hotel amenities with a strong neighborhood identity. Its design honors the Flower District’s trade and history while offering comfortable, well-equipped rooms and inviting communal spaces. Whether you’re visiting for business, leisure or simply exploring Chelsea’s vibrant streets, the hotel positions itself as a contemporary, locally rooted option in the heart of Manhattan.
Enjoyed the tour? The Cambria’s thoughtful approach to design and location makes it a memorable place to stay when visiting New York City’s Flower District and Chelsea neighborhoods.