I know New York well, but have never quite stayed in Soho. The Soho Grand Hotel is a hair's breadth away from Canal Street - which is slamming with a river of every form of merchandise (and edible food species) on the planet. And yet, the Soho Grand is a hair's breadth away, albeit in the north direction, from the intimacy and tranquil Soho otherness that also fuels the Manhattan myth. Wordy, I know. But here's the thing - when I opened the shade in my room at sunrise, I was looking uptown like I owned it. The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and all the penthouses, rooftop forests, and alleyways in between - I had an uninterrupted view for miles. In one glance, I was looking at what countless writers and poets and musicians must have seen for decades. And I could afford it! But the best part? The service. I had a reason to engage the management of Soho Grand Hotel on a matter in my brief stay, and their helpfulness, integrity, and going far beyond anything I had asked for was among the best experiences of service I have ever enjoyed. The Soho Grand Hotel is a true keeper.