Paging NYC divas and other divas for ideas

[santacruz skier]

My sister and I have decided not to do our usual Hawaii trip and are going to go to NYC ! This will be her first time and I suggested we stay centrally located in Times Square... others who have been say no Union Square area is better (stay at the W ) .... We want a resort like hotel with amenities rather than an Airbnb type lodging but not willing to spend $1000 per night....
Ideas about where we should stay? What district ? Hotel recommendations?
I'll reach out for things to do in another thread (shows, museum, food, etc) as time gets closer. I booked the Hyatt Centric NYC Times Square just to get something on the books but can easily cancel. The hotel has an outdoor rooftop bar on the 54th floor which sounds fun. We will be sharing a room so not that interested in tiny boutique like rooms.

 

[RachelV]

I mean, it depends what kind of trip you want to have. Times Square is at least convenient to most subways so you'll be able to get wherever you want pretty easily. It's also an incredibly touristy area.

It is close to some museums and to Broadway shows. It's probably not close to most restaurant recommendations you'd get, or to many good neighborhoods to just walk around.

It might make sense to figure out roughly what you're interested in, and then see if there's a central neighborhood you could be based in? When I'm going to visit a city I like to use google maps to track things I'm potentially interested in. Makes it easier to plan a day by seeing what you'll be near, and can be helpful in deciding where to stay. My current NYC map is 90% restaurants and bookstores.

 

[santacruz skier]

Thanks Rachel.... We know Times Square is super noisy and touristy but thought maybe centrally located. My understanding is the good restaurants are not in that area, so we realize that. It was recommended by my BF's daughter (goes to NYC every year) to stay in Union Square area or Soho. She also said that Times Square has good proximity to shows and subways, but would not recommend staying there either.
It's a ways off but need to secure a hotel . Dates are August 27 - Sept 1 so 5 nights....
Think I'm looking for hotel recommendations as aware the best food is NOT in Times Square... We like outdoor seating. Actually I hate those cold air conditioned restaurants!

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Times Square is definitely centrally located--especially with regard to multiple subway lines. Some people love staying there and being in the middle of all the hub-bub. If your sister has never been it's definitely something to see. I stayed over there once many years ago just to try it (normally stay in midtown east) and found it was too loud for me--ie you could hear people yelling, laughing, gaffawing all night long so it was hard to sleep. I went back to midtown east after that.
Depends on what you are looking for. I like mid town east because it's not too crazy--quiets down at night. My go to hotel is the Omni Berkshire Place. I've stayed downtown in the financial district before too, but that too can be super busy now as the WTC site is such an attraction.
Not sure what type of food you like--fine dining? casual? type of cusine? but a few of my favorites all with outdoor seating are the Odeon, Pastis, Cantina Cubana. And locals--don't laugh but I love going to Little Italy and eating outside there! I have had some really good meals there and great people watching. Pershing Square Diner has a big outdoor patio and good pancakes for breakfast but they don't always open it I've found (especially on weekdays). My favorite pancakes are at Clinton St Baking Co (no outdoor seating at the LES one but can eat outdoors at the Time Out Market location in Brooklyn).

 

[santacruz skier]

Thank you @NewEnglandSkier ... The Omni looks great and we can get a premier view, 2 doubles.....The only restaurants I remember when in NYC last (right after 9/11) was Balthazar (great food), and Little Italy to watch the 4th of July fireworks. It was a little bittersweet though. Went to Met and also saw Billy Joel on Broadway. Did a short Hudson River cruise (I know, super touristy), but I refused to get on the hop on/hop off buses because growing up in San Francisco, as kids we would throw water balloons at the tourists . I know, bad. I'm older and wiser now. Thanks again for your restaurant and hotel ideas.

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Oh, yes I've been to Balthazar once. I liked it. I think they have outdoor seating now too . . .

 

[Christy]

I would very much hesitate to recommend Times Square. I get the convenience, but it's pretty awful (IMO). It kind of makes me hate my fellow humans. Also, what a buzzkill to go to NYC and see Appleby's and Red Lobster etc. I don't even love staying in Midtown, at least not post pandemic. When I last did it a couple years ago it just seemed like a sea of 20 something tourists smoking weed on their way to concerts or standing in crazy lines for a food cart that had gone viral for something. I don't remember it always being like that and I suspect it has to do with post pandemic changes like higher office vacancy rates (so less locals around). I bet the edges like Midtown East as New England Skier recommends are a good bet though.

 

[santacruz skier]

This is all great info..... also recommended was the W and the Moxy in Union Square (more like 14th Street and Fifth Ave) so I guess the other end... Any comments? We googled the Omni and like the idea of larger rooms as we are sharing....

 

[DebbieSue]

Consider The Maritime. Great location and decor/atmosphere, although rooms are small. Not sure if they have 2 bed rooms. Near Chelsea Mkt, hi-line, Whitney. They have a couple suites I think…not sure price.

Kimpton Eventi near Madison Square Garden has fun atmosphere, very good location, dining.

Renwick near Grand Central Station has history and charm. Fun dining. I recal bigger 2 bed rooms. stayed with a friend. Bathroom was tiny.

Roxy in TriBeCa is very fun.
Can you tell I like funky options?
Or stay at Sofitel and pretend you are in France a little bit!

 

[teppaz]

NYC local here and I would strongly advise against staying in or near Times Square. My friends and I refer to it as "the hellscape" and go only to see shows. Union Square is just as central, a couple of stops away from Times Square if you do want to see a show, has much better food options and is within walkable distance of other great neighborhoods — East and West Villages, Chelsea, High Line, etc. It's a hub for convenient subway lines so easy to reach any part of the city.

 

[RachelV]

Hah I tried to reign in my initial response so as not to sound super cranky, so it's nice to see this thread has landed on a non-Times Square option. Agree the Union Square area would be a nice spot to be based.

 

[santacruz skier]

@RachelV this is exactly what I want !! If someone asked me if they should stay in Fisherman's Wharf in SF, it would be a flat NO - way too touristy..
@DebbieSue great hotel ideas, already eyeballing the Kimpton Eventi. What neighborhood is that in? The Sofitel sounds nice too, but isn't that Times Square. Also, I've heard a few times that Union Square area is great .... Any hotel recommendations in that area? @teppaz I was hoping you would respond too.... I'm definitely canceling the Hyatt Times Square reservation !!!!

 

[teppaz]

@RachelV this is exactly what I want !! If someone asked me if they should stay in Fisherman's Wharf in SF, it would be a flat NO - way too touristy..
@DebbieSue great hotel ideas, already eyeballing the Kimpton Eventi. What neighborhood is that in? The Sofitel sounds nice too, but isn't that Times Square. Also, I've heard a few times that Union Square area is great .... Any hotel recommendations in that area? @teppaz I was hoping you would respond too.... I'm definitely canceling the Hyatt Times Square reservation !!!!

Kimpton Eventi is about a dozen blocks north of Union Square and just south of Koreatown (just a couple of blocks but some great restaurants). It's a kind of in-between neighborhood, relatively quiet but with some good restaurants, shopping, coffee. It's no coincidence that boutique hotels have popped up there in the past decade.

 

[DebbieSue]

Sofitel is on quiet street couple blocks from Times Square, close to Bryant Park.
Good Greek restaurant next door.
Eventi is Chelsea/Flatiron. Some rooms have fab views of Empire State Bldg. There is police station nearby I think FWIW. And YES close to Koreatown. I love restaurant “Her Name is Han.” Shopping from there and general transit is easy.
Manhattan seems cleaner /safer than 1980s. I’m a city person and have made several work trips to San Francisco and NYC since COVID. Street scene in SF near unions square, Moscone, tenderloin has been as “uncomfortable” as anything Ive encountered in Manhattan lately. Times Square is chaotic, loud, no character but not the seediness of the 80s.

As an aside….in San Francisco, my organization on Beach St has a room block at the Argonaut which is around the corner from their HQ. It’s the edge of touristy Fisherman’s Wharf but on the park and Marina Beach. Hotel decor is fun and rooms are comfortable. It’s bright and sunny there often it seems and delightful for a walk in the AMs. Yeah T shirt shops and stuff, but not the zoo that is Times Square.

 

[santacruz skier]

in San Francisco, my organization on Beach St has a room block at the Argonaut which is around the corner from their HQ

The Argonaut is a nice hotel... I meant more like all the motels along Lombard Street and motels near Fisherman's Wharf .
SF has really changed over the years.... Moscone Center area and Yerba Buena was always a little seedy. Union Square back in the day had lots of upscale shopping (I Magnin, Joseph Magnin, City of Paris (now Neiman Marcus) before Westfield Center on Market Street. Not much left now.
Thanks for your NYC recommendations. We like the Kimpton Eventi , Omni, and Sofitel so far... oh and need to check out Roxy in Tribeca. BF's daughter likes W in Union Square and Moxy. Moxy has tiny rooms, W looks good but pretty pricey ($800+ per night).....

 

[teppaz]

Of course it all boils down to personal taste but Omni at 52nd and Madison is in a neighborhood I find really boring. The Sofitel is far enough from Times Square but not the most exciting area either. I'm clearly not a Midtown fan!

 

[santacruz skier]

Of course it all boils down to personal taste but Omni at 52nd and Madison is in a neighborhood I find really boring. The Sofitel is far enough from Times Square but not the most exciting area either. I'm clearly not a Midtown fan!

Sounds like the Kimpton Eventi in Chelsea area might be a good one..... We're open to suggestions and know that it all boils down to personal opinion. Keep em coming !

 

[Christy]

I'm intrigued by the Moxy. The LES location, right? I like that area, and I'd like the easy access to the latke/sauerkraut/swiss veg reuban thingy at Veselka. Also Russ and Daughters. (These are not going to be everyone's food priorities but I've got a thing for the old school NYC places). You could walk to Chinatown, Soho and the Brooklyn Bridge arent' far...Curious what the residents and former residents think of the location. Might be a good fit for me but not everyone.

 

[santacruz skier]

I'm intrigued by the Moxy. The LES location, right? I like that area, and I'd like the easy access to the latke/sauerkraut/swiss veg reuban thingy at Veselka. Also Russ and Daughters. (These are not going to be everyone's food priorities but I've got a thing for the old school NYC places). You could walk to Chinatown, Soho and the Brooklyn Bridge arent' far...Curious what the residents and former residents think of the location. Might be a good fit for me but not everyone.

Curious as well. We liked every thing about the Moxy except tiny rooms!

 

[NewEnglandSkier]

Basically, I'm sure if you pick a hotel you like the looks of/style and get a price you like you'll be happy with your choice. Everything is a subway ride or cab away, so it's not like you'll be spending "all " of your time in one neighborhood anyway. I mean, obviously it's great to stay in a neighborhood that "fits" you though since just walking and enjoying the atmosphere can be fun.