Moxy Williamsburg is the New Hub for Free-Spirited Travelers

Moxy Williamsburg opened its doors on March 7 as the brand’s first hotel in Brooklyn, featuring interiors by BASILE Studio in collaboration with Lightstone Design Studio and four new dining and drinking venues from Bar Lab Hospitality, the creative force behind the renowned Broken Shaker. Being as it’s a hub for New York’s creative class of artists, entertainers and the queer community, Williamsburg is a fitting location for Lightstone’s growing collection of boundary-pushing Moxy Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands.

The new property’s inventive design plays on the neighborhood’s history as a magnet for mavericks, immigrants, and creators, while becoming a new center for Brooklyn’s contemporary social scene.

“Moxy embraces being bold through authentic self-expression and Moxy Williamsburg is the perfect place for free-spirited travelers to live in the moment and do just that,” said Matthew Boettcher, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of Moxy Hotels.

The property is a 216-room boutique hotel located in the heart of Williamsburg on Bedford Avenue, near the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge and easily accessible from Manhattan. The hotel’s timeless architecture, light-filled interiors, space-saving design solutions, flexible co-working and meeting studios, and range of restaurants and bars reflect the easygoing spirit of its trendsetting surroundings to attract discerning locals and cool-hunting guests with a playful and young-at-heart attitude.

The four new dining and drinking venues conceived and operated by Bar Lab Hospitality reflect the wide-ranging tastes of in-the-know Brooklynites and include the restaurant Mesiba, Bar Bedford, the nightclub Jolene, and opening this spring, LilliStar, an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar.

Mesiba is a festive space that pays homage to Tel Aviv’s lively energy and Bauhaus architecture, animated by the flavorful cuisine and celebratory “breaking bread” culture of the Levant region and Israel. Taking inspiration from Bar Lab founding partner Elad Zvi’s memories of growing up in Tel Aviv, Israeli chef Eli Buli designed the menu as a modern play on traditional dishes from the area, which encompasses Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Palestine and the rest of the Eastern Mediterranean. Creative cocktails with a culinary flair complement the fresh, seasonal cuisine. The warm, verdant dining room centers around a curved marble bar, with plants hanging from the double-height ceiling lending a bohemian vibe, while Hollywood-style booths ensure a spirited atmosphere.

Bar Bedford, Moxy Williamsburg’s cocktail bar and all-day café, is a comfortable living space that reflects Brooklyn’s forward-thinking, creative vibe. Its showpiece is the bar itself: motorized liquor risers made of blackened metal rise 20 feet behind glass and white oak panels, holding 1,500 bottles of wine and liquor. The shelves move up and down like dumbwaiters, giving bartenders access to special bottles and providing patrons with a show. This custom-fabricated system was inspired by New York’s old Automats, fast food restaurants popular in the first half of the 20th century where customers would pick up their food from a wall of glass-fronted cubbies.

​​Inspired by the retro leisure lifestyle, Jolene is a high-energy sound room with a state-of-the-art audio and light system that draws top talent from Brooklyn’s thriving nightlife scene — the ideal spot to dance to the sounds of local and global DJs. Jolene is inspired by gay icon Dolly Parton — not just her signature song “Jolene” but her image as a powerful, self-assured woman and impact on the music industry and the culture at large. Miami-based nightlife impresarios David Sinopoli, Davide Danese, and Coloma Kaboomsky — collectively known as the Space Invaders and best known for their seminal Club Space — are Bar Lab’s partners in Jolene.

Opening this spring, LilliStar, Moxy Williamsburg’s indoor/outdoor rooftop bar will blend contemporary Indo-Aussie beach culture with Brooklyn energy, creating a unique setting for tropical-inspired cocktails, Balinese beach barbecue, and dramatic views. Giant lotus flowers carved from copper, glass and leather form a dramatic ceiling sculpture in the lounge, where floor-to-ceiling windows open onto an expansive roof deck with show-stopping views of the Manhattan skyline and the iconic steel trusses of the Williamsburg Bridge. Playful cocktails, including large-format drinks for the whole table to share, incorporate tropical fruits and Southeast Asian spices.

“For Moxy Williamsburg, we envisioned an eclectic grab-bag of experiences that mirrors Williamsburg’s diversity. Once you enter, you don’t want to leave,” said Bar Lab founders Elad Zvi and Gabe Orta. “You can start with a drink at Bar Bedford, meet some friends for dinner at Mesiba, head up to the rooftop for a drink with a view, and finish up the night dancing at Jolene. Moxy Williamsburg offers a multitude of narratives that create a sense of discovery and anticipation.”

Moxy Williamsburg offers rates starting from $179 per night. For more information or to make a reservation, visit moxywilliamsburg.com.