Here's what it's like to stay at New York City's No. 1 ranked hotel, which has a dynamite cocktail bar and beautiful decor

• The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, was ranked the No. 1 hotel in New York City by U.S. News & World Report.
• We stayed at The Beekman recently to see if it lives up to the hype.
• While the hotel is architecturally stunning, has a dynamite cocktail bar, and in-room Chromecast, a few lapses by the hospitality team took away from my experience.

Step into The Beekman in New York City's Financial District and you will no doubt feel transported to a different era.

First opened in 1881, the Temple Court building that houses The Beekman was one of the city's first skyscrapers. The stunning atrium that centers the building housed offices for lawyers, publishers, advertising agencies, and architects for decades.

Prior to the building of Temple Court, the location was home to the Chapel Street Theater, which held the first performance of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in New York in 1761, and Clinton Hall, a literary salon of sorts where poet Edgar Allan Poe worked.

That history rings through the building, embedded in the carpeting, the architectural design, and the art on the walls. It feels both old and new, a trendy location in a neighborhood that has long been known more for its brigades of suited financiers than its nightlife.

The hotel was recently named the No. 1 hotel in New York City by U.S. News & World Report, no doubt due to the chic Old World design and the high-end food and cocktails served at chef Tom Colicchio's on-site restaurant, Temple Court.  

Keep reading to check out our stay at The Beekman:

The Beekman is tucked down one of the winding alley-like streets of the Financial District. Its location feels very old New York. I'm talking 1800s old. It'd be easy to miss if it wasn't for the black Beekman Lexus parked out front. One of the hotel's advertised amenities is a courtesy house car service.

Look up and you can see the original landmarked building that has been on this location since 1881. That taller 10-story building next to it is a new addition that is also part of the hotel.

The lobby sets the scene of old meets new immediately. The tiling was chosen based on bits and pieces of the originals found throughout the development process. The carpeting on the lobby desk is from 1881, the same year the building was first constructed.