A Culinary Journey Downtown: The Best SoHo Restaurants Steps from Hotel Hugo

Staying at Hotel Hugo puts you in the perfect place for a downtown culinary journey: from morning espresso at Felix Roasting Co. to classic SoHo restaurants and, finally, one of the most memorable rooftop restaurants NYC has to offer right above your room. Think of this as your step-by-step guide to eating and drinking your way through the neighborhood, without ever straying far from your boutique base. 

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Wake up in SoHo: Breakfast at Felix Roasting Co.

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Your day begins downstairs. Felix Roasting Co., located inside Hotel Hugo, is described as one of New York City’s most celebrated stops for exquisite coffee and an all-day café serving breakfast, brunch, and more. It brings its “transformational coffee experience” to the hotel, treating coffee as an art form and inviting guests to slow down and savor. 

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Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Felix serves everything from American breakfast and continental plates to homemade granola, buttermilk pancakes, shakshuka, and classic breakfast sandwiches. On weekends, brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with dishes like Nutella French toast, roasted sweet-potato hash, eggs Benedict and chilaquiles. Coffee options range from espresso and cortado to cold brew, nitro iced tea and carefully sourced teas and matcha. 

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Take your cup out onto the seasonal patio, watch SoHo wake up, and map out your food-focused day: a neighborhood slice, a long lunch in the heart of SoHo restaurants, a stroll by the Hudson, and rooftop drinks back at Hotel Hugo. 

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Late-morning wander: cobblestones, cast-iron and a first food stop

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Step out of the lobby and you’re in Hudson Square, the calm link between SoHo, Tribeca and the Hudson River. Hotel Hugo’s location and SoHo page describe a neighborhood of cobblestone streets, light-filled lofts and cast-iron façades, with luxury boutiques, galleries and restaurants all woven into a walkable grid. 

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As you head north and east, Hotel Hugo’s location guide points you toward nearby casual spots like Famous Ben’s Pizza and The Corner’s Store, listed among the local dining options. They’re close enough for a quick mid-morning slice or snack before you dive deeper into SoHo’s streets and storefronts. 

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From here, it’s all about wandering: browsing window displays, stepping into design stores, and letting the neighborhood’s creative energy set the pace before your next meal.

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Lunchtime: classic SoHo restaurants around the hotel

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By lunchtime, you’re ready for a sit-down meal. Hotel Hugo’s location page highlights several SoHo restaurants within easy reach: Ceasar, Balthazar, Lure Fish Bar, Raoul’s and The Dutch Restaurant all appear in the hotel’s dining section. They represent the neighborhood’s depth of choice and give you a handy short list to work from when you’re deciding where to go. 

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Because everything is so walkable, you can choose a restaurant that matches your mood and still return to the hotel for a quick reset afterward. That’s part of the appeal of using Hotel Hugo as your base: instead of crossing town for every meal, you build a culinary journey in concentric circles around your room. 

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Afternoon: river air, ice skating and a historic tavern

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In the afternoon, turn west. Within minutes, you can reach Hudson River Park, where tree-lined paths and public piers offer room to walk, sit and take in views of the water. Hotel Hugo’s neighborhood guide also points out the Brookfield Place Ice Skating Rink, about a ten-minute stroll away, as a seasonal highlight.

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On your way back toward the hotel, plan a stop at The Ear Inn, which the location page describes as one of the oldest operating drinking establishments in New York City. Built around 1770 and now serving food and drinks in a historic setting, it’s a character-filled pause between daytime exploring and nighttime rooftop restaurants Manhattan is famous for. 

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Evening: SoHo restaurants, then rooftop restaurants NYC at Hotel Hugo

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As the sun starts to drop, downtown lights begin to glow — and this is where Hotel Hugo’s own venues step fully into the picture. Articles and the Food & Drink page frame Bar Hugo Rooftop and Azul on the Rooftop as standout entries in the world of New York rooftop restaurants and bars, combining skyline views with thoughtful food and drink. 

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Bar Hugo Rooftop, perched at the top of the tower and open year-round, is a duplex lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass, chic seating and wide-angle views of downtown Manhattan, the Hudson River, Freedom Tower and even the Statue of Liberty. The menu focuses on cocktails, wines and shareable plates — guacamole, tacos, sliders, empanadas, seafood-leaning tapas and more — making it ideal for a light dinner or late-night grazing. 

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In warmer months, Azul on the Rooftop opens as a colorful, open-air counterpart. Inspired by Old Havana and described as “a taste of Havana in Hudson Square,” Azul layers frozen cocktails, classic mojitos, street tacos and house-made guacamole over sweeping views of Lower Manhattan.

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By ending your day here, you complete a full downtown food loop: neighborhood breakfasts, SoHo restaurants at street level, a historic tavern, and finally high-rise cocktails at one of the most atmospheric rooftop restaurants Manhattan has to offer — all just steps from your room. 

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Key Facts

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• Hotel Hugo sits in Hudson Square between SoHo and the Hudson River, walkable to many of the best SoHo restaurants.
  
  
• Felix Roasting Co. inside the hotel serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  
  
• The location page lists nearby dining spots such as Famous Ben’s Pizza, The Corner’s Store, Raoul’s, Ceasar, Balthazar, Lure Fish Bar and The Dutch Restaurant.
  
  
• SoHo is described as a charming, historic district of cobblestones, lofts, cast-iron buildings, boutiques, galleries and restaurants.
  
  
• The Ear Inn, a short walk away, is highlighted as one of New York’s oldest operating drinking establishments, serving food and drinks in a historic building.
  
  
• Azul on the Rooftop is a seasonal, Havana-inspired rooftop with frozen cocktails, mojitos, tacos and guacamole, reopening April 2026.
  
  

FAQ

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What are the closest SoHo restaurants to Hotel Hugo?

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Hotel Hugo’s location guide lists several nearby dining options, including Famous Ben’s Pizza, The Corner’s Store, Raoul’s, Ceasar, Balthazar, Lure Fish Bar and The Dutch Restaurant. All are within a walkable radius in SoHo, making it easy to build a day of neighborhood meals. 

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Can I have breakfast and brunch without leaving the hotel?

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Yes. Felix Roasting Co. inside Hotel Hugo serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, plus weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can start and end your day there, or use it as a base between outings in SoHo. 

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Are reservations required for the hotel’s rooftop restaurants and bars?

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No reservations are required for Felix Roasting Co. & Café. For Bar Azul on the Rooftop, the hotel recommends reaching out via the dedicated rooftop reservations email, especially for groups or peak times. 

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Is Azul on the Rooftop open all year?

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Azul on the Rooftop is seasonal and, according to the Food & Drink page, is currently closed for the season with reopening planned for April 2026. 

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Why is Hotel Hugo a strong base for a culinary trip in downtown Manhattan?

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Because you can walk from your room to Felix, a curated list of SoHo restaurants, the Hudson River, historic spots like The Ear Inn and, at the end of the day, two of the most atmospheric rooftop restaurants NYC is known for — all without leaving the downtown pocket around the hotel. 

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