Faena New York Debuts As A Culture-driven Hospitality Landmark In Manhattan

NEW YORK, NY – Faena, the internationally recognized hospitality brand known for integrating culture and community into luxury experiences, has officially opened Faena New York, its first property in the city. Two decades after launching in Buenos Aires and ten years after redefining Miami Beach, Faena now introduces its culture-driven concept to Manhattan with a property designed as both a hotel and a cultural destination.

Located at 500 West 18th Street overlooking the High Line, the Bjarke Ingels Group – designed building houses 120 guest rooms and suites, immersive dining venues, wellness facilities, performance spaces, and public art installations. Conceived by founder Alan Faena, Faena New York is a multidimensional expression in celebration of the city’s creative pulse. “New York City has historically been the center of innovation, creativity, and pushing boundaries. Faena embraces and amplifies that spirit, offering a touch of magic that honors and contributes to the vibrant legacy of New York,” stated Alan Faena.

Design and guest experience

Faena New York’s interiors, developed by the Faena Design Team with Peter Mikic, combine bold patterns, theatrical elegance, and references to old New York glamour. Floor-to-ceiling windows in all rooms frame sweeping views of the Hudson River and the skyline, while the two-story Faena Suite offers a private residence complete with three king bedrooms, a landscaped terrace, and a baby grand piano.

The guest journey begins in The Cathedral, where Diego Gravinese’s monumental mural The Sefirotic Journey transforms the lobby into an art experience. Throughout the property, works by artists such as Juan Gatti, Keith Haring, Sebastian Errazuriz, and Chris Levine reinforce the brand’s commitment to art as a central element of hospitality.

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Dining and social venues

Culinary experiences are led by internationally renowned chef Francis Mallmann at La Boca, which pays tribute to Buenos Aires’ iconic neighborhood through fire-inspired cuisine and vibrant design. The Living Room, with two Deco-style bars and an outdoor terrace overlooking the High Line, functions as the hotel’s social heart, transitioning from daytime gatherings to evening events. Additional venues include El Secreto, featuring a deconstructed disco ball installation, and La Cava, modeled after Faena Buenos Aires’ original wine cellar.

Cultural programming and wellness

Faena Art, the group’s nonprofit foundation, will curate public art installations and performances in the property’s plaza, continuing its mission to bring cross-disciplinary cultural experiences into community spaces. Later in 2025, the Tierra Santa Healing House will open with 12,000 square feet of wellness facilities, including a hammam, treatment rooms, and indigenous-inspired therapies. In spring 2026, Faena Theater will debut, designed as an intimate venue for cabaret and artistic productions.

Faena New York extends the brand’s philosophy of merging art, culture, and community into a hospitality framework. For travel and hospitality professionals, the property highlights the growing trend of hotels positioning themselves as cultural destinations, where design, gastronomy, wellness, and performance converge to create immersive guest journeys.

With its Manhattan debut, Faena reinforces the role of hospitality as a platform for storytelling, cultural engagement, and transformative experiences, setting a benchmark for future developments in the sector.

The article Faena New York debuts as a culture-driven hospitality landmark in Manhattan first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.