There’s something about the bustle of Broadway that puts off travellers of a certain type. Even for those visiting the city for the shows behind the bright lights, the thought of staying at a generic chain hotel near the Theatre District strip is a tad less appealing than a pocket full of yellow cab receipts.

For these such naysayers, it may be time to reassess the offerings of the area, particularly in the way of hotels just West of the bustling tourist mecca known as Times Square. For as we recently learned during a visit to the NYLO New York City, if you be a well-heeled (and equally well-cultured) traveller carrying a Rag & Bone duffel bag and holding tickets to Of Mice and Men at the Longacre Theatre, there’s a luxury suite waiting to welcome you, but a short walk away from the plays that beaconed you to the city in the first place.

The newest edition to the Upper West Side’s collective of boutique hotels, the NYLO New York City joins the neigbourhood in true rock and roll style. Guest rooms in this century-old building re-imagine the space, embracing its history (with a particular nod to the  Industrial Jazz Era), while leading the charge against cookie cutter design formulas. Instead, decor here adopts a loft-style setting outfitted with cooly modern wood furnishings, soaked in sunlight, flowing in through oversized windows. Should you be planning a visit and want to bump up your New York loft experience to an even higher authenticity level (something comparable to say, the digs on Friends), reserve one of the hotels Lifestyle Lofts and indulge in 450 square-feet of space and a private outdoor terrace with views of Central Park and the Hudson River.

The Nylo’s public spaces too, steer away from the norm, inviting guests and fashionable locals to mingle and unwind at the LOCL Bar — where signature cocktails such as the Hudson Martini (a concoction of grey goose, lemon, lime, honey water and a chile lime lollipop garnish) have the customers lingering — and the LOCL View, the bar’s summer pop-up located on the 16th floor terrace of the hotel, complete with outdoor terrace seating, live music and breath-taking city views of landmarks including the Natural History Museum. (Natural history buffs will delight in not only the stunning view of the city gem, but the short distance it takes to walk over for a visit themselves.)

After an early evening sangria at the LOCL View, we recommend trying one of the hotel’s two nearby dining options, both favourites amongst residents of the neighbourhood. If seeking something more on the casual side, Serafina menu of Northern Italian cuisine will have you chatting with friends in booths over a plate of Carpaccio Di Filetto Con Salsa Di Tartufi Neri (thin sliced prime filet mignon with warm black truffle sauce and boiled potatoes) and a pizza pie till late into the night, while RedFarm will introduce you to modern Chinese dim sum, mouth-watering in the form of Lobster Cheese Sticks and ‘Pac Man’ Shrimp Dumplings, ideal for sharing amongst larger groups of friends.

For travellers looking to experience the city like true New Yorkers, and the intention of checking-off a to-do-list that encompass activities including a Broadway play or two, a picnic in Central Park and a night of symphony at the Lincoln Centre, the NYLO is the perfect home base for your arts and culture-inspired getaway in the city. Now who ever said it’s impossible to afford a loft in New York?