5 Things To Know About the New Tru by Hilton Brooklyn Hotel

If you’re planning your next trip to New York City — whether for work or pleasure — there’s a new hotel that should be on your radar.

The recently opened Tru by Hilton Brooklyn Hotel is a rare find in the city that never sleeps. Away from the chaos and commotion of Manhattan, you’ll find the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn Hotel in the slower-paced Gowanus/Park Slope neighborhood, nestled among brownstones and tree-lined streets.

This new hotel is ideal for the traveler stopping by the weekend for a clean and comfortable stay — and most notably — it won’t break your budget.

Here’s what you can expect in a stay at this new Brooklyn hotel and why it easily becomes my go-to for quick trips to the city.

Location, Location, Location

Choosing the right hotel in New York can greatly impact the success of your trip. If you have a specific purpose for your visit, it would be ideal to find a hotel that is conveniently located within walking distance of your destination.

In my case, I had tickets to the Bad Bunny concert at Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn. I wasn’t playing tourist for this trip and would only be in the city for a few nights, so being in the heart of Manhattan wasn’t necessary.

Rather, the new Tru by Hilton Brooklyn is just a 15-minute walk from the Barclays Center, meaning I’d save money on exorbitant Uber rides simply by walking to and from the concert.

True to its brand (pun intended), the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn has a few suggestions on places to see around the hotel, which I found very helpful as I explored this part of town.

We had fun checking out Prospect Park and neighborhood restaurants like Simply Greek.

Even if you are playing tourist and want to experience all the spots around the city, I’d argue that the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn is still a great choice for travelers wanting an affordable stay. The Union Street subway station on the R line is just a 3-minute walk from the hotel, getting you to Manhattan within a few easy stops.

One of my biggest complaints about New York hotels is that you can frequently hear street noise from your room. Rest assured, for those sensitive to noise, you’ll sleep like a baby here. During my 2-night stay, I often forgot that I was even in New York because it was incredibly quiet at night.

Bottom Line:

This property is an excellent alternative for those who don’t want to stay somewhere like Times Square but want to be close enough to everything in under 30 minutes.

Pet- and Parking-Friendly, With More Features Coming

Tru by Hilton Brooklyn opened in February 2024, so it still had that new carpet smell permeating through the hallways. Its location is just a few doors down from one of the only other chain hotels in the neighborhood, Marriott’s extended stay TownePlace Suites New York Brooklyn, which gives you an idea of the true residential feel as a guest here.

With only 101 guest rooms across 5 floors, there’s never a long wait for an elevator like I’ve experienced elsewhere.

If you need a car during your stay, you are in luck as guests can park on-site for just $40 per day — which feels quite reasonable for New York standards.

Furthermore, up to 2 pets are allowed for a $100 non-refundable fee (or a $200 fee for stays longer than 5 nights).

What’s even more impressive is that the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn isn’t even fully completed yet, as the hotel manager shared with me. In the coming months, the hotel will transform its lobby patio to have outdoor seating for guests to enjoy on those beautiful New York days. By next summer, the hotel will feature a rooftop bar and restaurant that will appeal to guests and local residents alike.

There’s a small convenient market near the lobby where you can grab drinks and snacks in a pinch. However, seeing the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn debut an on-site restaurant space in the coming months for guests to mingle will be exciting.

Great Deal on Cash, but Not So Much With Points

Hotels in New York can not only be crowded, but they can be incredibly expensive.

After all, renowned properties like the Park Hyatt New York have guest rooms larger than apartments in the city but at astronomical nightly rates. Budget-friendly properties like the Moxy Chelsea have come onto the scene in some of the city’s best neighborhoods, but you’ll often sacrifice great location for minuscule rooms.

That’s why the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn serves as a happy medium for travelers on a budget, even in peak travel periods. For instance, the average nightly rate at the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn starts at just $159 per night in May 2024, and $241 per night into peak summer, which is awesome compared to other hotels in the city.

While nightly rates in cash were a good value, unfortunately, I found that the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn didn’t offer the best value on points in return. For the same dates above, this hotel charges 80,000 points per night for a standard room, which is much higher than we’d expect from an affordable hotel (even if it is in New York!).

For comparison, the nearby Hilton Brooklyn New York charges the same 80,000 nightly rate, while the new Motto by Hilton New York Chelsea costs even less — just 75,000 points per night. Both of these hotels cost much more than the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn when paying cash, so if you’re looking to redeem Hilton Honors points, it’s always worth shopping around first.

Hot Tip:

You can earn Hilton Honors points in a myriad of ways, including buying points, spending on co-branded credit cards, and transferring points from Amex Membership Rewards at a favorable 1:2 ratio.

Clean Rooms With Plenty of Storage

Have you ever walked into a hotel room dressed in dingy carpet? You won’t have to worry about that at Tru by Hilton Brooklyn. After a long day in the city, you’ll be relieved that the hotel’s guest rooms are brand-new and have hardwood-like floors instead of carpet.

The bed was comfortable, although it took up the majority of the room. But the size of the guest room was certainly nothing out of the ordinary by New York standards.

In fact, Hilton cleverly utilizes vertical space for guests to hang up their bags or open their luggage without taking up floor space.

It’s clear that some thought went into the luggage storage bench, which doubled as a great place to put shoes on before heading out. While it was nice that the desk was on wheels and could move around, there wasn’t really anywhere else it could go in the room.

I’m not usually a fan of open-faced closets, but it made a lot of sense here for a guest room with limited space. Again, Hilton takes advantage of every open space possible to ensure there’s still plenty of storage for belongings.

The bathroom was surprisingly bright and large, with squeeze-bottle bath amenities that can be replenished by every-other-day housekeeping.

Notably, there weren’t enough towels, but the helpful and friendly front desk staff swiftly brought up more upon request.

Nice Communal Space Downstairs — And Even Free Breakfast

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but the Tru by Hilton Brooklyn does offer a nice hot breakfast buffet from 7 to 10 a.m. daily.

The wide array of offerings, from oatmeal to pancakes, will help you fuel up for the day. Budget-friendly travelers will appreciate the continental breakfast so they can indulge in pizza, bagels, and all the New York delicacies a few streets away for lunch and dinner.

The breakfast bar is located downstairs in a humongous space that combines the feel of a coworking space and a game room.

This space is open most of the time for guests who want to hang out outside the room, although quiet hours are after 10 p.m. for guests staying in a room on the basement level.

I even got to switch up my working style by coming downstairs and working from one of the comfortable work pods, equipped with plenty of outlets.

While I loved the downstairs space, I was surprised to find how small the hotel gym was. It was flanked next to the ice machine and had no windows, leaving me with a slightly claustrophobic feel.

Although the equipment was brand-new and included Hilton’s signature Pelotons, there really isn’t much on offer here besides a few pieces of cardio equipment.

Final Thoughts

The Tru by Hilton Brooklyn is a first for the brand in New York, standing out as a comfortable and affordable new option in the city. The hotel staff was lovely and excited to welcome guests, making it my future go-to pick for weekend trips to the city. I loved the surrounding neighborhood and its easy access to the rest of Brooklyn and Manhattan via public transit.