Sean McPherson, one of the developers behind New York hotel The Ludlow, first visited the Lower East Side in 1984, and was immediately struck by the area’s energy; he recalls a city that always felt on the brink of an outburst, whether it was a street art happening or a riot. That vitality and sense of possibility is ingrained in the DNA of the Manhattan district, and in the bones of the renovated building now known as The Ludlow on the street of the same name, flanked by institutions such as Katz’s Deli and Ludlow Guitars.

McPherson, an LA native responsible for a string of the West Coast city’s hottest hangouts, felt the NYC neighbourhood’s heritage (stretching back to the Gangs of New York period) should be as important to the venue as the contemporary Lower East Side, and the renovation reflects a range of eras. Oak panelled walls and marble mosaic flooring greet visitors from the street, with a large scale lobby lounge – featuring a distressed limestone fireplace – acting as “a living room for the neighbourhood”, complete with an adjoining outdoor terrace. The 184 guest rooms are peppered with artisanal furniture, Moroccan pendant lamps and Indo-Portuguese beds, with bathrobes and trompe l’oeil bathmats from Maison Martin Margiela. Fancy.