Everyone is buzzing about the Jane Hotel—heck, even the televisions in the backseats of New York City cabs routinely show rave reviews about the place.

No wonder. Inspired by luxury train cabins, the West Village hotel rooms make the most of its very minimal space.

A bellhop dressed in classic red-suit attire greeted my friend Kirsten and I at the door and took our luggage. After checking in, we were escorted into an old fashioned, hand-operated elevator and brought to our room.

Small and Cosy

I knew from reading a slew of reviews that the rooms were tiny, but I wasn't quite expecting the 50-square-foot room with bunkbeds to be so intimate.

We received a rundown of our accommodations from the friendly bellhop. For one, the room can only be powered once the key is inserted into the power slot (for energy conservation).

There are two unisex bathrooms per each floor, and each room comes complete with air conditioning, free WiFi, telephone, voicemail, television with DVD player, and a sweet iPod dock.

Café Gitane

After we plunked down our luggage (which took up most of the sparse floor space), we decided to check out the hotel's Cafe Gitane for some grub. The cafe turned out to be my favourite amenity at the Jane, with tiny tables and old-fashioned wooden chairs covered in faded fabric.

Colourful booths with seats rimmed in faux gold are available for larger groups, and the walls are covered with paraphernalia seemingly selected at random—everything from painted portraits to a giant crocodile.

Oh, and the bruschetta is delicious!

The Hotel Bar

Later, when returning home from a night on the town, we were surprised to find the hotel's bar in full swing just around the corner from the front desk. Apparently, we didn't need to ever leave our hotel to find the nightlife we craved.

The staff was always friendly and willing to lend a hand, especially after both Kirsten and I locked ourselves out of our room a few times.

Tip: Since the keys are programmed at the front desk as guests come and go, let staff know if there is another guest sharing the same room. Otherwise, your key might not always work properly if your roommate comes back to the hotel at a different time than you.

The Final Say

Claustrophobics should perhaps think long and hard before booking a spot at the Jane. But if you don’t mind the tiny quarters and sharing a bathroom, the Jane can’t be beat for the value and killer location in the West Village, close to the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Union Square and SoHo.

A two-person room with bunkbeds starts at US$125, while a one-person room is about US$99. For a larger 250-square-foot room complete with a private bathroom, expect to pay US$250 per night.