PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Try to picture the exotic, romantic setting of the movie Casablanca -- ceiling fans, mosaic tiles, and North African-themed art -- and then try to picture that setting in the heart of neon-blinding, cacophonous Times Square. The combination seems unlikely, but really, who wouldn't want a desert oasis in the middle of all that mayhem? And that's what the Casablanca Hotel really is: a calming refuge where you can escape from the noise and crowds. Where, in Rick's Café, the Casablanca's homey guest lounge, you can sit by a fire, read a paper, check your e-mail, watch television on the gargantuan-size screen, or sip a cappuccino from the serve-yourself cappuccino/espresso machine. Or, if the days or nights are balmy, you can lounge on the rooftop deck or second-floor courtyard. Or you can just retreat to your room. They might not be the biggest around, but they are well outfitted with the aforementioned ceiling fans, bathrobes, free bottles of water, complimentary high-speed Internet access, and beautifully tiled bathrooms where, if you wish, you can open the window and let sounds outside remind you where you really are. The Casablanca is an HK Hotels property (The Library, Gansevoort, Elysée, and Giraffe), and like those hotels, service is top-notch. Because of its location, moderate prices, and size (only 48 rooms), the Casablanca is in high demand, so book early.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's New York City 2008, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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