McCarren Hotel & Pool
Williamsburg, New York City
Hotel in New York City, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
McCarren Hotel & Pool is Williamsburg's pool-anchored mid-range option, best booked in shoulder season (April–May or September–October) when rates soften but the experience holds. Summer delivers the full pool-and-neighbourhood package at peak prices; winter drops the rate but loses the hook. Easy to book year-round outside of peak summer weeks.
About McCarren Hotel & Pool
Quick Verdict
McCarren Hotel & Pool is Williamsburg's most recognisable summer hotel, built around a rooftop pool that draws both guests and day-pass visitors through the warmer months. Book here between November and March and you will pay meaningfully less for a room that is the same building, same location, same access to the neighbourhood. The pool is closed, but the tradeoff is a lower rate and a quieter property. If the pool is your reason for booking, time it right; late spring and early summer give you the full experience before peak-season pricing takes hold.
Who Should Book
First-timers to Brooklyn who want a hotel with a sense of place rather than a chain lobby will find McCarren a serviceable base. It sits at 160 N 12th St in Williamsburg, within walking distance of the waterfront, Roberta's, the L train for Manhattan access. For guests arriving in summer, the pool is the differentiating factor: few Brooklyn hotels offer anything comparable at a mid-range price point. For guests arriving in winter, the value case is stronger on rate alone, but the experiential hook is gone. In that scenario, consider whether Ace Hotel Brooklyn suits you better; it holds its appeal year-round through programming and dining.
Seasonal Pricing Angle
McCarren's rate-to-experience ratio shifts significantly by season. Summer demand from pool-seekers and Williamsburg visitors pushes rates up; the off-season brings the same room at a discount with less competition for booking. If your trip is flexible, shoulder season, late September through October, or April to early May, is where you get the best of both: pool access is possible in the warmer weeks, rates have not yet climbed to peak levels. Book well ahead for June through August; availability tightens fast and rates follow. The rest of the year, booking a few days out is generally direct.
Practical Details
The hotel is at 160 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249, easily reached via the L train (Bedford Ave stop is a short walk). Williamsburg restaurant and bar options are dense in this corridor, so dining out is easy. For a broader picture of what to do nearby, see our full New York City restaurants guide, our full New York City bars guide, and our full New York City experiences guide. For comparison shopping across Brooklyn and Manhattan, browse our full New York City hotels guide.
Quick reference: Williamsburg, Brooklyn | Booking difficulty: Easy | Leading rate window: November–March and shoulder season (April–May, Sept–Oct).
Planning details
- Location
- 160 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
- Phone
- +1 718 218 7500
The take
The Take
The Vibe
McCarren Hotel & Pool presents a distinctly Brooklyn profile: a converted industrial block that leans into the neighbourhood rather than away from it. The property feels of its context — low-rise, horizontal, and woven into the fabric of Williamsburg — with a social pool that functions as a community hub. Programming and the amenity itself shape the atmosphere, creating a relaxed, casually social energy that privileges local connections, live-music culture, and the surrounding array of restaurants and shops. The hotel reads less like insulated luxury and more like an urban gathering place tied to its place on N 12th Street.
Best For
This hotel suits travelers who want to be in the middle of Williamsburg life: people who prioritize walkable access to restaurants, record shops, and live-music venues and who value an on-site pool as part of their stay. It also works well for groups or friends looking for a social base, since the pool and related programming drive much of the property's appeal. Guests who prefer neighbourhood immersion over secluded, ultra-luxury hotel experiences will find McCarren’s format and location particularly well matched to a short, social-focused city visit.
Stay Tips
Book with the pool and social programming in mind: the description emphasizes that the pool is central to the hotel’s identity and that amenity-driven programming shapes who books and how they book. Plan reservations around peak summer demand, and expect the property to operate as a social hub rather than a quiet, insular retreat. If your priority is guaranteed pool access or attendance at events, inquire about availability and any guest access policies when you reserve to avoid surprises upon arrival.
Venue details
Ambiance
Sceney and vibrant with a party atmosphere from the crowded pool and rooftop bar featuring DJs and cocktails, contrasted by stylish midcentury modern rooms.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Amenities
View
Accessibility
About the Stay
- Rooms
- 64
- Check-in
- 16:00
- Check-out
- 12:00
- Property Style
- Sleek Boutique Urban Retreat Overlooking Mccarren Park.
- Design Style
- Midcentury Modern and Scandinavian with Clean Lines and Balinese Inspired Elements.
Planning details
Location
160 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Aman New York; Notable alternative
- The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel; Notable alternative
- Pendry Manhattan West; Notable alternative
- Ace Hotel Brooklyn; Notable alternative
- The Ludlow Hotel; Notable alternative
Hotel context
How It Compares
McCarren sits in a different tier from Manhattan luxury options like Aman New York or The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel; those properties offer service depth and room quality that McCarren does not compete, and they price accordingly. If you are weighing Manhattan versus Brooklyn, Pendry Manhattan West is a closer comparison on style and positioning, though it lacks a pool and sits in a different neighbourhood. For guests who want Manhattan proximity without Manhattan rates, Pendry is worth a look; for guests who specifically want Williamsburg, McCarren is the more logical base.
Within Brooklyn, Ace Hotel Brooklyn is the most direct comparison. Ace holds its draw across all seasons through its lobby programming and food-and-beverage offer; McCarren's seasonal pool gives it a summer edge, but Ace is the better all-year pick if you are undecided on timing. The Ludlow Hotel on the Manhattan side offers a Lower East Side location with more dining and nightlife density immediately outside the door; worth considering if neighbourhood walkability at night matters more to you than a pool.
The honest read: McCarren is the right call in summer if the pool matters and you are comfortable with peak-season rates. Outside of summer, the value case depends on rate; check what Ace Hotel Brooklyn is charging for the same dates before committing. For guests who want the most from New York City's hotel scene, see our full New York City hotels guide for a broader comparison set including options like Crosby Street Hotel and The Greenwich Hotel.
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Unlock the full McCarren Hotel & Pool guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare McCarren Hotel & Pool
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| McCarren Hotel & Pool | No published awards | Easy |
| Aman New York | 2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 World’s 50 Best Hotels · #612025 Forbes 4-Star2025 Michelin 3 Keys2025 AAA 5 Diamond Hotel2024 World's 50 Best Hotels · #372024 Michelin 3 Keys2023 World's 50 Best Hotels · #25 | Unknown |
| The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel | 2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 World’s 50 Best Hotels · #642025 Forbes 4-Star2025 Michelin 2 Keys2024 World's 50 Best Hotels · #302024 Michelin 2 KeysPearl Recommended Hotels | Unknown |
| Pendry Manhattan West | 2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2026 La Liste Top Hotels2025 Forbes 4-Star2025 Michelin 2 KeysPreferred Hotels L.V.X. Collection 20252024 Michelin 2 Keys | Unknown |
| Ace Hotel Brooklyn | 2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key | Unknown |
| The Ludlow Hotel | 2026 Design Hotels Collection2026 Mr & Mrs Smith Luxury Hotels2025 Michelin 1 Key2024 Michelin 1 Key | Unknown |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How does McCarren Hotel & Pool compare to nearby hotels?
McCarren is the clearest choice in Williamsburg if pool access is your priority; no comparable hotel in the immediate neighbourhood offers the same setup. Ace Hotel Brooklyn is the stronger pick for nightlife-adjacent energy and design credentials; Pendry Manhattan West suits business travellers who need Manhattan proximity. McCarren's advantage is its sense of place: it functions as a Williamsburg destination, not just a place to sleep.
Is McCarren Hotel & Pool good for business travel?
It works for business travel only if your meetings are in Brooklyn or lower Manhattan and you want a less corporate stay. The Williamsburg location at 160 N 12th St is a short walk from the Bedford Ave L stop, so Manhattan is reachable, but the commute adds friction. For standard corporate travel, Pendry Manhattan West or The Ludlow Hotel will reduce transit overhead.
When is the best time to book McCarren Hotel & Pool?
Book off-season if rate is your priority. Summer demand from pool guests and Williamsburg foot traffic pushes prices up significantly, you are effectively paying a premium for pool access you may share with day-pass visitors. Spring and autumn offer better rate-to-room value; the pool is less of a draw, but the neighbourhood and hotel remain fully operational.
How is the dining at McCarren Hotel & Pool?
Dining details are not documented in our current data for McCarren, so we can't give a reliable verdict on the restaurant specifically. What the address does give you is immediate access to one of Brooklyn's densest concentrations of restaurants and bars; Williamsburg along Bedford Ave and the surrounding blocks covers nearly every format and price point, which reduces dependence on the hotel's own food offering.
