Essence Hotel

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

Photo gallery for Essence Hotel

Standard Room
Standard Room
Reception
Front of property
Reception

Reviews

6.6 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
611 Degraw Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11217
  • Barclays Center Brooklyn
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Prospect Park
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • New York, NY (JFK-John F. Kennedy Intl.)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room

Highlights

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

Standard Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Pillow-top bed
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Pillow-top bed
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Pillow-top bed
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Single Bed

Full ROOM

Highlights

Soundproofed
Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Premium bedding
Egyptian cotton bed sheets
Pillow-top bed
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double 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

  • Barclays Center Brooklyn - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Prospect Park - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Brooklyn Cruise Terminal - 5 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Brooklyn Bridge - 5 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Wall Street - 7 min drive - 4.9 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
  • ‪Nene’s Taqueria - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Finback Brooklyn - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club - ‬6 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.

Languages

English, Spanish

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

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

6.6
Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 125 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 23 out of 125 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 21 out of 125 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 15 out of 125 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 27 out of 125 reviews

6.8/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

5.8/10

Amenities

6.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shantu

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
awesome neighborhood. very close to the barclays center!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Joey

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Will not go back or recommend to anyone
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Preston

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great stay
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kenya

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Burke

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bernice

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

David

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Cheap

Our daughter lives close by, we were visiting and needed last minute accommodation. This was in walking distance, cheap and available. Last resort.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Jude

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a very clean environment.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

2/10 Terrible

Stan

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This motel is not great. Should be rated one star. Came with wife and as we were checking in, heard another resident down the hallway stating that he was not leaving the room after management appeared to be trying to get him to vacate his room. There is nothing romantic or professional about this place. The rooms are absolutely tiny with zero amenities, there’s no nightstand or night tables. There are people coming and going at all hours of the night, we had some mentally unwell guy yelling and blasting his TV the entire time that we almost checked out at 5 AM. It’s really unfortunate that this place has paid somebody to create a nice looking website when inside it looks like the basement of the Port Authority. Avoid if you can’t. Don’t be duped by the cheap prices.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shamika

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Had a good stay
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It was nice and Quiet
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Cute, clean place

Always pleasant staff at the desk, rooms are always clean.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Kanaya

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonnelle

Travelled with partner, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It’s definitely my top picks yes I booked late they still let me get in the room was kind of tight but no biggie it’s not far from Barclays'
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Latrice

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean calm and small

2/10 Terrible

Rosa

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Not good at all. Too small. Can't hardly move around. Never again.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location staff was very nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Rakem

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Not bad for the price decent room kinda small but bathroom was big other then that great for short stay
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ebony

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

2/10 Terrible

Necole

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I had an extremely disappointing experience at this hotel. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that the property was outdated and poorly maintained. The building itself was old and crusty, with an overall sense of neglect that made me uncomfortable. The cleanliness was unacceptable—filthy carpets, dusty surfaces, and a lingering smell that made staying in the room unbearable. The room was shockingly small, offering barely enough space to move around. To make matters worse, the TV was unreliable, freezing every few minutes while trying to watch something, which added to the frustration. The entire experience left me feeling mortified. I made sure to document everything with pictures because the state of the room was beyond unacceptable. I cannot recommend this hotel to anyone and strongly suggest looking elsewhere for accommodations.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barinderjeet

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Michael

Travelled with family
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mackenzie

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024