Despite the hotel's art-deco façade, the strikingly modern, all- white lobby is festooned with low-slung couches, ceiling fans, red throw pillows, a single scarlet chair and bicycles leaning against the wall. The famous rooftop turns into a happening nightspot after the sun goes down, where loungers lounge on teak patio furniture and queen-size waterbeds. A lighted tower built of Deco- inspired glass cubes cast a decadent glow over the shenanigans.

Guests can start their mornings out with complimentary Parisian-style breakfasts of croissants, baguettes, espresso and hard-boiled eggs, and then swig coffee the rest of the day in the kitchen. The Townhouse's Bond St. Lounge, an outpost of Manhattan's sleek sushi and saki spot, dishes up "artful" Japanese cuisine.

The dorm-like guestrooms include spare and white surroundings splashed with vivid reds of quirky lamps, retro phones, rugs, body pillows and beach balls. Travelers can stock their fridges with water, beer, rum and snacks from the front- desk gift shop, which also sells "hangover from hell" eye masks.

The Townhouse Hotel is geared toward design-conscious travelers with more style than cash. Recommended for 20- to 30-somethings looking for a fun, cool and modestly priced place, the hotel is not for families or if sleep is required.