The Big Six: Boutique beds in Brooklyn

The Wythe, Williamsburg

If you needed any convincing to cross the East River, The Wythe ought to help. This turn-of-the century factory has dazzling views of the New York skyline that you won't enjoy holed up in Manhattan. Now reimagined as a luxury hotel, it sports industrial-luxe design: poured concrete, custom-designed wallpaper, exposed brickwork, timber ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Reynard's Restaurant serves a rustic, meat-heavy menu, while The Ides rooftop bar mixes up cocktails late into the night.

The Wythe, 80 Wythe Avenue at North 11th, Williamsburg (001 718 460 8000; wythehotel.com). Doubles start at $230 (£153), room only.

Hotel BPM, Sunset Park

Hip hotel? So last year. This summer is all about the hip-hop hotel. Slated to open on Wednesday, Hotel BPM (that's beats per minute, by the way) is the baby of DJ Bijal Panwala. Rooms will come stocked with the latest music magazines and a DJ Bigal-curated playlist that can be enjoyed through the bathroom speakers. A rooftop lounge will open later in the year, but the emphasis here is on going out and enjoying the New York nightlife, with high-spec "Sound Sleeper" beds and frette linens to ensure a deep sleep afterwards.

Hotel BPM, 139 33rd Street (001 718 305 4182; hotelbpm.com). Doubles start at $313 (£209), including breakfast.

Nu Hotel, Boerum Hill

One of the first "design hotels" to open in Brooklyn back in 2008, Nu champions local businesses, such as Brooklyn Industries, whose clothes it sells at reception, and Eau de Brooklyn toiletries that are displayed in the bathrooms. Prints by Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat line the corridors and salvaged mannequins, lights and signage add interest elsewhere. A Mediterranean sidewalk café and cocktail bar are recent additions.

Nu Hotel, 85 Smith Street (001 718 852 8585; nuhotelbrooklyn.com). Doubles start at $298 (£199), room only.

Hotel le Bleu, Park Slope

As the name suggests, the prevailing colour here is ... blue. It's set against a sleek white backdrop with high-specification fittings, but what really catches the eye are the Manhattan views from the guestroom balconies. The restaurant and rooftop lounge are currently undergoing renovation, however Park Slope is home to dozens of well-regarded restaurants, including the Brooklyn outpost of the Blue Ribbon group, as well as pubs, vintage shops and Prospect Park.

Hotel Le Bleu, 370 4th Avenue (001 718 625 1500; hotellebleu.com). Doubles start at $250 (£167), room only.

King & Grove Williamsburg

The opening of this self-styled urban retreat at the end of last year secured Brooklyn's spot on the roving hipster's map. Bamboo flooring and oak furniture add warmth to the white-painted rooms, while the minibars are stocked with locally produced liquors. Light meals and drinks are served around "one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in New York"; a restaurant is due to open later this year.

King & Grove Williamsburg, 160 North 12th Street (001 718 218 7500; hwbrooklyn.com). Doubles start at $257 (£171), including breakfast.

Aloft Brooklyn Downtown Brooklyn

Starwood's W-lite offering, Aloft, opened close to Brooklyn Bridge a year ago. Its 176 rooms are small and functional, with high ceilings and big windows adding a sense of space. Things get more playful in the lounge, where Sixties space-age chairs meet lime green carpets. There's a self-service café decorated with bright colours, blonde wood and eye-catching patterns, and a rooftop terrace with city views as far as the Statue of Liberty.

Aloft Brooklyn, 216 Duffield Street (001 718 256 3833; aloftnewyorkbrooklyn.com). Doubles start at $219 (£146), room only.