Carlton Arms Hotel

The Carton Arms Art Project, started in late 80’s when a small group of creative people dediced to paint the rooms of, at the time, a dark and ill shelter.

Today, every one of the 54 rooms and 4 hallways are painted of decorated by artists that came from all over the world, brought their craft and passion and transformed the rotten hotel into a unique Manhattan site, where the walls explode with colour and art. The atmosphere and the creative energy that so many talented people have brought to this place, we can’t explain it, you have to feel it for yourself. The project hasn’t stopped. It’s in constant evolution.

What do others say?

“The Carlton Arms, where the atmosphere suggests a set from a Tennessee Williams play, a Fellini movie and a Kerouac novel” NY Daily News “With plenty of spirit and only basic conveniences, it’s not for everyone. Only for the people from this Earth’s four corners whom you’ll meet in the lobby and in the halls. If the show fits, wear it” Ed Ryan “It ain’t no Holiday Inn, but it’s good art: rooms of it. It might be the perfect place for a very dirty weekend” Aliox Sharkey, Sunday Times “It’s the cheapest, hippiest deal in town”. Elle Magazine “A live-in” museum” People Magazine “The hotel’s halls, stairways, bathrooms and guests rooms explode with environmental art” The Face Magazine “Not merely a bohemian-dive hotel but a constantly evolving conceptual art-project, the Carlton Arms boasts some of the most striking quarters in Manhattan” The Independent “A contemporary version of the Chelsea Hotel and a favourite with artists. Funky with plenty of spirit”. Time Out (London)

"This hotel is really, really great. The beds are old, the building is old, there might be a wif of bad air coming from the surroundings, but this place is unique.

All the rooms are differently decorated (personally, we lived in the "class room") and the people working there are really nice to you. The cat is lazy, but it is nice also, and it gives a notion of it being a rat hunter, so you don't have to worry about that either.

This place is central. If you like to explore by foot, it really takes no time to walk to Empire State, Grand Central, Washington Park, SOHO, Little Italy... the works really. Great eating all around the place, and having a beer and sushi on the fire stairs, fronting 3 avenue, is great entertainment.

And it is cheap."