The Faena New York hotel in West Chelsea is expanding its hospitality footprint with plans for a restricted-access club called El Secreto and a street-level cabaret venue named the Faena Theater, the New York Post reported. Opened in September 2025 at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 18th Street, the 120-room property features a starting nightly rate of USD 1,395 and replicates the arts-focused model developer Alan Faena previously established in Buenos Aires and Miami.
El Secreto and Faena Theater Expand West Chelsea Offerings
El Secreto will operate as a private club within the complex, featuring a dedicated room designed by Chilean conceptual artist Sebastián Errázuriz, though its exact location inside the building has not been disclosed. Following that opening, the Faena Theater will debut at street level, adopting the cabaret format established at the brand’s Miami location with references to classic Hollywood and installations by Argentine artist Andrés Reisinger. The additions arrive one year after the hotel began operations. “New York has historically been a center of innovation and creativity; this hotel abraza and amplifica ese espíritu, y ofrece un toque de magia,” Alan Faena stated in comments published by the New York Post.
From Bankrupt Condominium to Award-Winning Hotel
The arrival of the Faena brand in West Chelsea followed significant financial and architectural shifts for the property. Designed initially by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels to house a Six Senses hotel and luxury residences priced above USD 50 million, the development stalled when real estate firm HFZ Capital Group declared bankruptcy. Real estate developer Steve Witkoff subsequently intervened in the project with financing from Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries, a partner in the Faena hotel group. The shift replaced the original minimalist design concept with a dramatic aesthetic defined by rich reds, Art Déco accents, and large-scale artworks. In August 2026, the property was named Best New Hotel at the Virtuoso Global Awards, sharing the category with the Airelles Palladio Venice, Hotel del Coronado, Park Hyatt Tokyo, and Waldorf Astoria New York.
Art Installations and Culinary Concepts Define the Guest Experience
Guests entering the 18th Street entrance are greeted by staff wearing period-inspired uniforms and top hats. The lobby centers on a grand staircase surrounded by murals from Argentine artist Diego Gravinese, complemented by cosmic eye and egg sculptures, animal prints, velvet textures, travertine marble flooring, and a permanent Keith Haring installation running along a corridor. Current amenities include the Living Room lounge, the Tierra Santa Healing House spa—which spans approximately 1,580 square meters following its opening in June 2026—and La Boca, a restaurant directed by Argentine chef Francis Mallmann.
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