New York's already stellar hotel scene has gotten some serious upgrades of late. Here's one appealing newcomer: the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood. It has excellent personal service, easy access to the city's greatest hits, and a lot of soul.

Design

The lobby of this sustainability-focused brand has a green wall and tons of communal workspace — it's among the most inviting places to nest with your laptop in all five boroughs. The eco-friendly philosophy manifests in the rooms with space-efficient floor plans and in-room water taps that offer triple-filtered hydration. Everything from room service to spa menus is available via a bedside iPad, reflecting a policy to waste as little paper as possible. A distinct Brooklyn flavor comes from subtle industrial details, such as the little iron wheels in place of traditional faucet knobs.

Staying the night

Windows that open are a rare treat in New York, and these frame one of New York's most electrifying sights: the Lower Manhattan skyline. A work surface doubling as a dining table is perfectly positioned to take in the view — it's well suited for early morning e-mails or in-room cocktails at sunset. Despite a smallish footprint, the rooms offer plenty of storage space and distinct areas to lounge. The gripes? Nowhere to set your razor in the shower, thin towels, and the parade of guests you can hear in the hotel's hallways.

Grabbing a bite

There's an excellent club sandwich on the room service menu. Downstairs, a cafe called Neighbors offers Colombian coffee, grab-and-go chia parfaits, and quick-service dishes for any diet. The sit-down restaurant next door, Osprey, hums with locals who gather for scrambled eggs and thick-cut bacon in soft brioche buns or heirloom corn pancakes with sassafras butter. Day and night, Osprey churns out homey dishes for the slightly health-conscious. The juicy double-decker burger with paprika gribiche, for instance, is recommended with a salad, rather than fries.

After hours

The rooftop bar has become Brooklyn's most popular outdoor hangout — it opened during the summer season and was packed nightly until temperatures took a nosedive. On warm days it's ideal for slushy gin drinks accompanied by knockout views. The space gets clubbier as the night goes on and a DJ takes over.

The neighborhood

The thriving Dumbo neighborhood is far more compact and connected to transportation than Williamsburg, the only other Brooklyn neighborhood with quality hotels. But the area around 1 Hotel is more manicured, less gritty: Commuting to the financial district by ferry is charming and quick, and it's easy to run down the Brooklyn waterfront or explore the borough's cutest neighborhoods. Empire Stores, a complex of new restaurants and retail spaces, is around the corner.

Adding it all up

As much as this concept feeds into seemingly every wellness trend under the sun, nothing about the hotel feels preachy or inauthentic. In fact, it's all quite welcoming and energizing — and like any health kick, leaves you with a little extra skip in your step. Rooms from $372 (1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge).