Harlem Gets Its First Hotel in 40 Years

Nov. 2, 2010— -- Visitors to New York love to stay by the big lights of Times Square, the hip streets of SoHo or the business centers of midtown. Now one hotel is looking to buck that trend.

In a few days, a new Aloft boutique hotel will open in Harlem, just around the corner from the famed Apollo Theater.

The hotel is edgier and hipper those most hotels. It's also the first new major hotel to open in Harlem in more than 40 years.

For travelers, the hotel offers a new, modern space at 10 to 15 percent cheaper prices than comparable midtown hotels. While Harlem has had an incredible renaissance -- red, double-decker tour buses now swarm the area's main drag, 125th Street -- there is still a grittier side to the neighborhood.

While the Apollo Theater and several churches with beautiful gospel music all are within a block or two of the Aloft, there are plenty of tattoo and body piercing stores and men walking the streets with sandwich boards for pawn shops announcing that "We Buy Gold Diamonds & Watches."

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Hey, this is New York, after all; there are a handful of adult peep shows still in business near some pretty posh Times Square establishments.

"This place is vibrant; lots of things going on," Aloft's general manager, Daniel Fevre, told ABC News while standing outside the Apollo.

Aloft is Starwood hotels' relatively new affordable but chic chain. It's basically a W hotel but with more self-service. There is a pool table near the lobby bar. Music is pumped through the first floor and the outdoor courtyard. Bright colors are everywhere, and the hotel tries to be whimsical with names and services. For instance, there is no housekeeping, just "refresh."