Midtown’s East Side is the setting for this chic hotel seven blocks from the Empire State Building and 10 blocks from the wedge-shaped Flatiron Building, a 1902 landmark.

A favorite with guests in fashion, film, and theater, the Marcel features a streamlined lobby with cappuccino bar and a library with designer furnishings and private meeting rooms.

The 97 compact, well-designed guestrooms have platform beds in wooden alcoves with built-in shelves and lighting. Beds beckon with plump down duvets and premium linens.

Totally remodeled and reopened in 2000, this small hotel with high style has a streamlined teak lobby with abstract murals and chic minimalist furnishings. Rooms are cleverly planned to maximize space. The Marcel has quickly become a favorite with travelers from the U.S. and abroad, particularly from the worlds of fashion, film, and the arts.

Guests can help themselves at the all-day, self-service cappuccino bar in the lobby. Faxing, copying, and concierge services are available at the front desk. A health club across the street offers guests privileged access for a fee. The library room off the lobby, with Saarinen and Knoll-designed furnishings, is available for private meetings.

The Flatiron District, named for a triangular-shaped building at 23rd Street where Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet, has become one of New York's most popular dining and shopping centers. Designer boutiques have blossomed on Fifth Avenue in the upper teens and twenties, and restaurants such as Craft, Fleur de Salle, and the long-established Gramercy Tavern are among current favorites.