Essence Hotel

2.5 star property
Hotel with free breakfast, near Barclays Center Brooklyn

Photo gallery for Essence Hotel

Standard Room, 2 Single Beds, Non Smoking
Reception
Reception
Standard Room
Front of property

Reviews

7.0 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Room service
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View map
611 Degraw Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11217
  • Place, Gowanus Canal
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Barclays Center Brooklyn
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Place, Prospect Park
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Airport, New York, NY (JFK-John F. Kennedy Intl.)
    ‪28 min drive‬

Room options

Full ROOM

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Blackout curtains
Pillow-top bed
Premium bedding
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Blackout curtains
Pillow-top bed
Premium bedding
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Blackout curtains
Pillow-top bed
Premium bedding
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room

7.0 out of 10
Good
(9 reviews)

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Blackout curtains
Pillow-top bed
Premium bedding
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Blackout curtains
Pillow-top bed
Premium bedding
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Single Bed

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About the area

Brooklyn

Essence Hotel puts you in the heart of Brooklyn, within a 20-minute stroll of popular places like Barclays Center Brooklyn and Prospect Park. Highlights at this hotel include free daily breakfast. .This business-friendly hotel offers free WiFi in public areas, a 24-hour front desk and multilingual staff. Other amenities include a microwave in a common area, luggage storage and a television in a common area. Free on-the-go breakfast is available daily between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. .With a stay at this Brooklyn hotel, you'll be 3.4 km (2.1 mi) from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and 3.9 km (2.5 mi) from Brooklyn Bridge.

What's nearby

  • Gowanus Canal - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Bond St Gallery - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Barclays Center Brooklyn - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Prospect Park - 19 min walk - 1.6 km

Getting around

  • Union St. Station - 3 min walk
  • Brooklyn Flatbush Avenue Station - 11 min walk
  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Union Street Pizza - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Finback Brooklyn - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Beanmonger Coffee - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Threes Brewing - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Essence Hotel

Hotel with free breakfast, near Barclays Center Brooklyn
Free breakfast is available daily. Public spaces have free WiFi. A vending machine, multilingual staff, and a television in common area are also featured at the business-friendly Essence Hotel.

This Brooklyn hotel is smoke free.

  • 42 guestrooms or units
  • 4 levels
  • To-go breakfast (free)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Staff members are multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Television in lobby
  • Lift
  • No smoking on site
  • Microwave in a common area
Essence Hotel offers 42 accommodations with a safe and free newspapers. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Pillowtop beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets and premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions come with premium satellite channels and pay-per-view films. Bathrooms include a shower with a rainfall showerhead, designer toiletries and hairdryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 25+ Mbps). Business-friendly amenities include desks and telephones. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and an iron/ironing board can be requested.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available

Food and drink

  • Free on-the-go breakfast available daily 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Things to do

  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Shared microwave
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Handrails in hallways
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 4 floors
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Pillowtop mattress

Bathroom

  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with premium cable/satellite channels
  • Pay films

Food and drink

  • Room service

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Desk
  • Free daily newspapers
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 18 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and window guards
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. No on-site parking is available. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB International and Carte Blanche. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and window guards in all accommodation.

We should mention

  • Children aged 18 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.

Property is also known as

Union Brooklyn
Union Hotel Brooklyn
Union Hotel an Ascend Hotel Collection Member
Union Hotel
Essence Hotel Hotel
Essence Hotel Brooklyn
Essence Hotel Hotel Brooklyn

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at Essence Hotel?

Essence Hotel offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

Are there any beaches close to Essence Hotel?

The closest beach to Essence Hotel is Coney Island Beach (12.1 km).

Does Essence Hotel serve breakfast?

Yep, free on-the-go brekkie is offered daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Essence Hotel?

No, Essence Hotel does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at Essence Hotel?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.

Are pets allowed at Essence Hotel?

No, only service animals are allowed.

Essence Hotel Reviews

Reviews

7.0

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 71 out of 212 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 40 out of 212 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 40 out of 212 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 27 out of 212 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 34 out of 212 reviews

7.2/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

6.0/10

Amenities

6.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Lawrence

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
Nice accommodations if not a bit tight, good AC, great folks, no food, workout or any other ammenities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Randall

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Sergio

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Al

Business traveller, Travelled with group
Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Space was clean, but could use a second coat of paint. Room was dark enough to sleep in, which is unusual for NYC, but my room was next to the front desk, and my door was not soundproofed. It was very hard to sleep from about 5 to 7 AM each day due to the noise, and the front desk didn't even offer towels to put around the door.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brendaliz

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good place
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms are very small but clean. Staff were friendly and allowed a late check out without extra charge.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cody

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The absolute perfect clean and affordable hotel in Brooklyn not far from manhattan
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

marivel

Travelled with family
Disliked: Staff & service
It was ok for one night but there is no full length mirror
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Jeffrey

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Cameron

Disliked: Staff & service
Mentally unstable guest screamed the whole afternoon and night. Had to leave at 1:00am and sleep in the airport. Asked for help from the staff early in the day and the said they was handling it and never did anything.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carlee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great location if you’re going to an event at Barclays Center. Also affordable pricing
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary, STANHOPE

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel for a quick trip to Brooklyn. Small but exactly what was needed to sleep and refresh while in Brookly
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

James

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I was not able to stay here overnight and decided to leave early because the whole situation felt unsafe. The place smelled like cigarettes and weed, there was no lock on the door that wasn’t connected to the key card, and at 2pm, down the hall, there was a man that would not stop yelling. It seemed as though his window outside was open and had a trash bag taped over it, and I was not able to get an understandable answer from the front desk as to why he was yelling or if it would stop (it seemed like it wouldn’t).
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Denise

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Luis

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Herbert

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The reviews helped to set my expectations- they said "tiny rooms but clean and quiet". They were right. Just enough space to fit a bed, but if you're only staying a night, it works.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Olivia

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Muy limpio y ordenado
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very clean and convenient location

The hotel is very clean. The room was very clean. The only downfall is the room is real small. There’s not a lot of room to move around.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matt

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matt

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
OK, let's get it out of the way: YES! The rooms are very compact. So, expect to have to scoot around the bed and not have much room for stuff. I took a star off for cleanliness because the hard floor was dirty and we tracked bits and other people's hair into the bed. So, the cleaners need better training. The bed was super comfortable. The sheets were clean. The HVAC works very well. The shower was nice and hot. The staff are incredibly friendly and very helpful. The bagged breakfast (with 7 different things!) and endless coffee in the basement cafeteria are nice touches. The location to the Barclay and Paramount is excellent. Close to Prospect Park. Literally over 100 restaurants within an easy walk. Lots of shopping within an easy walk. 2 blocks from the R subway, so you can be anywhere in the city. 20 minute subway/walk to the beach at Coney Island. If you go in expecting a 3-star experience in a tiny room, you will be very satisfied, especially with the rate you are paying compared to nearby places. My litmus test for any accommodation: would I stay there again? YES!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Larry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Comfortable bed.

I'll be coming back for sure. Easy parking, great bed, helpful nice staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Ray

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The room is way smaller that what it looks.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

sean

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great deal
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025