Sohotel

Art & Culture | History

The oldest continuously operating hotel in New York

Sohotel Oldest Hotel Nolita NYC

About Sohotel

 & why it made the Carpe City list

That exposed brick you see in your room isn’t just there for show… There has been a hotel at 341 Broome St. (a.k.a. 146-148 Bowery) since 1805. In fact, 341 Broome is on the National Register of Historic places. And when we say “historic,” we mean it! 1805 is really, really old in New York City. For example, the NYPD was founded in 1845, and the FDNY in 1865.

That Old New York spirit touched this building deeply. The Sohotel (then called the Occidental) served as headquarters for the larger-than-life Tammany Hall Boss: Big Tim Sullivan. Sullivan was hailed “King of the Bowery” and was an enormously powerful, enormously corrupt, and enormously beloved figure south of 14th Street.

Equal parts showman, crime boss, and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Sullivan was powerful enough to have Kenmare Street named after his mother’s birthplace in Ireland!

Sohotel is a little larger than life, also. Its ground floor has a cocktail bar, a lounge, a spot for pulling craft pints, and both Mexican and Italian sit-down options.

Carpe City Trivia

Tell me more about Big Tim Sullivan!

Sullivan was a Tammany Hall Boss who held onto his power mainly through voter fraud. Still, he treated his constituents warmly, often finding food and clothing for the poor. In fact, his neighborhood Christmas dinners were legendary.

In addition to his ballot fixing, Sullivan had a thriving, legitimate business as a theater impresario. He also took a genuine interest in his role as a politician. In 1911, he authored a bill making it illegal to carry a gun without a permit in New York State. That bill is still on the books, and it's called "Sullivan's Law." Sullivan was also an earnest supporter of Women's Suffrage.

By: Lucie Levine

New York City Tours

Great Places Near Sohotel

Engine 55 NYC
History

Engine 55

Its firefighters include: Wesley Williams, the FDNY's first African American supervisor, and Steve Buscemi (yes, really)

363 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
Capitale Bowery Savings Bank Exterior Nolita
Art & Culture

Capitale - Bowery Savings Bank

From Savings Bank to making bank - how a working man's repository became one of Manhattan's swankiest event spaces

130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
Sel Rrose Cocktails Lower East Side
Bars

Sel Rrose

Oysters, Craft Cocktails & Natural Wine in an Instagrammable, Rustic Setting

1 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
Lisa Project Broome St Mural Felix the Cat LES
Art & Culture

L.I.S.A. Project Murals

Festive Felix The Cat Mural by Crash BR163

328 Broome Street, New York, NY 10002
Fig 19 Drinks Lower East Side
Bars

Fig 19

Cozy Cocktail Den Hidden Behind an LES Art Gallery

131 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
Buff Monster World Pride Mural
Art & Culture

Buff Monster World Pride Mural

Because Who Doesn't Like Rainbows & Ice Cream?

127 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
Bowery Ballroom Lower East Side Exterior
Art & Culture

Bowery Ballroom

Art Deco Splendor Meets Impressive Acoustics at this Intimate LES Concert Venue.

6 Delancey Street New York, NY 10002
Mulberry St Bar NYC
Bars

Mulberry Street Bar

The setting for practically every mob movie you've ever seen!

176 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
F Train Cherry Tree Mosaic
Art & Culture

F Train Cherry Tree Mosaics

Where Subway Mosaics Give a Juicy Peek at Local History

116 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002

More Great Walking Tours

Subscribe

Sign up to our monthly e-mail about the latest and greatest places for food, wine art and history

Skip to content