It is weird walking down 29th Street lately. If you remember the vibe around 2016, the Redbury Hotel NYC was basically the center of the universe for a specific type of traveler. Not the "I need a gold-plated sink" traveler, but the one who wanted red velvet curtains, flickering Edison bulbs, and a record player that actually worked.
But things changed. Honestly, if you try to book a room at the Redbury today, you’re going to be confused.
The building is still there, standing tall at 29 East 29th Street. It’s a gorgeous piece of Renaissance Revival architecture from 1903. However, the Redbury name—a brand birthed by SBE and creative director Matthew Rolston—isn't on the marquee anymore. The transition of this property tells a larger story about New York City real estate, the volatile hospitality market, and how "cool" is often a temporary lease.
The Rise and Fall of the Redbury Hotel NYC Aesthetic
When the Redbury first took over the space formerly known as the Martha Washington Hotel, it felt like a gamble. The Martha Washington had history—it was the first hotel in New York specifically for professional women—but it had grown tired. SBE swooped in and doused the place in bohemia.
We are talking about a very specific "Old Hollywood meets Tin Pan Alley" look.
The rooms weren't just rooms; they were vibes. You had these massive, floor-to-ceiling crimson drapes and curated vinyl collections. It worked because it felt curated, not manufactured. In an era where Marriott and Hilton were trying (and often failing) to look "boutique," the Redbury actually was. It didn't feel like a corporate board decided on the paint colors. It felt like a photographer’s fever dream.
Then came the food. Marta.
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Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group put Marta on the ground floor, and suddenly, people who lived in Brooklyn were trekking to NoMad for thin-crust pizza. That’s the "Meyer Effect." When you pair a high-concept hotel with a legendary restaurateur, you create a destination. For a few years, the Redbury Hotel NYC was the definitive NoMad experience.
Why the Branding Vanished
So, what happened? It wasn't a failure of style.
The hospitality world is basically a giant game of Monopoly played with billions of dollars. In 2020, Accor completed its acquisition of SBE’s hotel brands. During these massive corporate handoffs, properties often get shuffled or rebranded based on management contracts and real estate debt.
The building at 29 East 29th Street eventually transitioned. It’s no longer the Redbury. Today, the property has been absorbed into the Sonder portfolio and is known as Sonder The Henri.
It’s a bit of a bummer for the purists. Sonder’s model is "tech-enabled hospitality." It’s efficient. It’s clean. You do everything on your phone. But that raw, bohemian soul of the Redbury? That’s mostly gone, replaced by the streamlined, minimalist aesthetic that dominates the 2020s. The record players are gone. The velvet is thinner. It’s still a great place to stay, but the "Redbury" era is officially a chapter in the history books.
What Most People Get Wrong About NoMad Hotels
People think NoMad (North of Madison Square Park) has always been this chic hub.
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Wrong.
Twenty years ago, this neighborhood was mostly wholesale perfume shops and stores selling cheap luggage. The Redbury Hotel NYC was part of a specific wave—alongside the Ace Hotel and the NoMad Hotel—that forcibly turned these blocks into a luxury corridor.
- The Ace brought the hipsters.
- The NoMad brought the high-end luxury.
- The Redbury brought the theater kids and the creative professionals.
The misconception is that these hotels failed because they closed or rebranded. In reality, they were victims of their own success. They drove property values so high that the original, gritty creative spirit became too expensive to maintain. When you look at the Redbury’s timeline, you see a property that peaked exactly when the neighborhood did.
The Real Logistics: Staying at 29 East 29th Street Today
If you’re looking for that Redbury magic, you have to manage your expectations. Staying at the building now is a different beast.
The Check-in Experience
Forget the bellhops and the front desk drama. Sonder operates largely without a traditional lobby staff. You get a code. You walk in. You go to your room. If you liked the Redbury because you felt "looked after" by a stylish concierge, you’ll hate the new setup. If you just want a high-ceilinged room in a historic building without talking to a human, you'll love it.
The Room Vibe
The bones of the building are still incredible. You still have the arched windows and the solid walls that keep the NYC sirens at bay. But the "theatrical" decor has been stripped back. It’s more IKEA-plus than Bohemian-Rhapsody.
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Dining and Drinks
Thankfully, the neighborhood didn't die. While the hotel changed names, the surrounding area exploded with even more options. You’re steps away from:
- Scarpetta (for when you want to spend too much on pasta, but it’s worth it).
- The Dead Rabbit (their new outpost nearby is stellar).
- Patent Pending (a speakeasy in a cellar where Nikola Tesla used to live).
Is the Redbury Brand Still Alive?
Yes, but not in New York.
The brand migrated. You can still find the Redbury spirit in places like Miami (South Beach), but the NYC chapter is closed. It’s a common pattern in Manhattan. A brand captures lightning in a bottle, the building gets sold, the contract ends, and the name moves on.
One thing that hasn't changed is the historical significance of the building itself. Whether it’s the Martha Washington, the Redbury, or the Henri, 29 East 29th Street remains one of the few places in the city where you can feel the literal weight of the 1900s.
Actionable Takeaways for the Modern Traveler
If you were searching for the Redbury Hotel NYC because you wanted that specific experience, here is how you should pivot:
- Book Sonder The Henri if you specifically want the location and the historic architecture, but don't care about the "lifestyle" service. It's often cheaper now than it was during the Redbury years.
- Check out The Ned NoMad if you want that lush, velvet-heavy, "clubby" feeling that the Redbury used to provide. It’s the spiritual successor to the neighborhood’s high-design era.
- Visit the Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo if you are looking for that specific "Kit Kemp" design style that rivals what Rolston did at the Redbury.
- Always verify the restaurant status. Places like Marta have faced their own set of challenges and operational changes post-pandemic. Never assume the "famous hotel bar" is still there just because an old blog post said so.
The Redbury Hotel NYC was a moment in time. It represented a period when New York hotels were trying to be art galleries you could sleep in. While the sign is gone, the impact it had on the NoMad district is permanent. It proved that 29th Street could be a destination, and for that, it’ll always be a legend of the boutique hotel movement.
To get the most out of your stay in this area now, focus on the architecture of the building but look to the surrounding streets for the soul. The neighborhood has finally grown into the reputation the Redbury helped build for it.
Next Steps for Your NYC Trip:
Check the current status of the "Henri" on major booking platforms, but specifically look at recent guest photos rather than the professional marketing shots. This will give you the most accurate view of how much of the original Redbury decor remains in the specific room tier you are eyeing. If the crimson walls are a dealbreaker, look toward the Bowery or SoHo for remaining boutique properties that haven't shifted to the "tech-hospitality" model.