NYC Hotel Celebrates Chinese Culture By Featuring an ‘Opium Den’ Lounge

Enter Hotel 50 Bowery, a 229-room haven that draws inspiration from its surrounding neighborhoods. According to its official site, it celebrates “Chinatown’s unique history while blending thoughtful modern touches, harnessing the spirit of change, and serving as a platform for discovery within both our local community and New York’s most vibrant neighborhoods.”

Guests may first take notice of the hotel’s decor that features Chinese design. According to DNAinfo, its hallways are lined with art from Dake Wong, a Beijing graffiti artist, while the rooms are accented with blue and white — a chromatic combo of “chinaware.”

On the second floor lies “The Heart of Chinatown”, an exhibit from the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) that covers a permanent 1,500 square feet.

Hotel 50 Bowery’s main restaurant, called Rice & Gold, is scheduled to open later this summer. It vows to be an Asian-centric hub that will offer dishes like Arroz Caldo, Pancit Palabok, Thai Fried Chicken and Pho Soup Dumplings.

Interestingly, located under Rice & Gold is an “opium-den themed” parlor lounge called The Green Lady, which will offer live music and entertainment. It will also open later this summer.

At the top of the hotel, its 21st floor, is The Crown, a bar that offers street food-inspired menu and cocktails but also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The hotel is a member of San Francisco chain Joie de Vivre, which celebrated its 30th year with the hotel’s opening. Located along Canal Street, it provides guests with easy access to Lower East Side, Tribeca, Soho, Little Italy and Brooklyn.

Photos via Joie de Vivre