The Best Midtown New York Boutique Hotels for Business Travelers

by perry  0 contributors  -  April 13, 2007   + Add To This Guide

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If you cringe at the Marriott logo, and need a quality boutique hotel in New York's Midtown neighborhood, check these out. I've stayed at them all and always compare these hotels first. All of these boutique hotels are business traveler friendly, with amenities and style you'll appreciate. I've also included a list of places I've tried, which are not the best for business travelers. Anyone can add their experiences or comments to the guide. Business travelers looking for boutique hotels - join in!

My Top Picks

All of these hotels have been good to great experiences for me.  Follow each link to preview hotel details with photos and hotel price information.

Bryant Park Hotel

Bryant Park Hotel

The Bryant Park Hotel

40 W 40th Street, New York, NY 10018

Very elegant and upscale rooms. Small hotel, right across the street from Bryant Park. Quieter than most midtown locations.

Very elegant and upscale rooms. Small hotel, right across the street from Bryant Park. Quieter than most midtown locations.

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San Carlos Hotel

San Carlos Hotel

150 E. 50th St., New York, NY 10022

On the East side on 50th, San Carlos is an unassuming treasure. Great service, very well run hotel with nicely sized rooms and quality amenities.

On the East side on 50th, San Carlos is an unassuming treasure. Great service, very well run hotel with nicely sized rooms and quality amenities.

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Royalton

44 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

Feeling trendy? Hip hotel, with stark decoration and a euro crowd to match. Best public bathrooms in the city, in case that’s important to you.

Feeling trendy? Hip hotel, with stark decoration and a euro crowd to match. Best public bathrooms in the city, in case that’s important to you.

Shoreham Lounge

Shoreham Lounge

SHOREHAM HOTEL

33 West 55 Th St, New York, NY 10019

A upscale and hip hotel in a great location a half block off 5th avenue. Very contemporary rooms and common areas. Slightly cold style, but very well done. Often hard to get into.

A upscale and hip hotel in a great location a half block off 5th avenue. Very contemporary rooms and common areas. Slightly cold style, but very well done. Often hard to get into.

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Flatotel Lobby Lounge

FLATOTEL

135 W. 52nd St., New York, NY 10019

What can you say about a hotel where you run into Jeff Tweedy on the night he finished recording Ghost! A casual hip spot, populated by a lot of music and fashion crowd. Lousy name, but you’ll find very large rooms, and a cool cowhide meets walnut interior.

What can you say about a hotel where you run into Jeff Tweedy on the night he finished recording Ghost! A casual hip spot, populated by a lot of music and fashion crowd. Lousy name, but you’ll find very large rooms, and a cool cowhide meets walnut interior.

Dream Hotel lobby

Dream Hotel lobby

Dream Hotel

210 W 55th Street, New York, NY 10019

Kind of over the top, very chic, small but well appointed rooms. An amazing rooftop lounge, and a vibe that lets you know you’re in NY and best adjust the ’tude.

Kind of over the top, very chic, small but well appointed rooms. An amazing rooftop lounge, and a vibe that lets you know you’re in NY and best adjust the ’tude.

New York Trip (95)

Mansfield Hotel Library Lobby

MANSFIELD HOTEL

12 West 44 Th Street, New York, NY 10036

I’ve stayed here off an on for over a decade, love the feel of the lobby and bar area, and it feels very classy and classic in style. Rooms have felt hit and miss of late, but it’s a solid choice. On a quiet section of midtown, close to Grand Central and 5th Ave.

I’ve stayed here off an on for over a decade, love the feel of the lobby and bar area, and it feels very classy and classic in style. Rooms have felt hit and miss of late, but it’s a solid choice. On a quiet section of midtown, close to Grand Central and 5th Ave.

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Time Hotel

The Time Hotel

224 W. 49th St., New York, NY 10019

A very reasonably priced hotel with nice rooms and a decent set up in lobby/bar. On the edge of Time Square, if you’re looking for that (I’m not usually).

If you’re not, it’s a quiet hotel, I’ve found, despite the location, and a quality choice for what is often the best boutique price in midtown.

A very reasonably priced hotel with nice rooms and a decent set up in lobby/bar. On the edge of Time Square, if you’re looking for that (I’m not usually).

If you’re not, it’s a quiet hotel, I’ve found, despite the location, and a quality choice for what is often the best boutique price in midtown.

muse hotel

muse hotel

Muse Hotel

130 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

The Muse is in the heart of Time Square theater district, which is an area I typically avoid. However, as boutique hotels go, this one is really good. Very nicely appointed rooms, and attentive service.

I’ll pick a different location, but I do like this hotel a lot. If the price is right, or if you feel compelled to spend your business trip gawking along time square, this would be mecca.

The Muse is in the heart of Time Square theater district, which is an area I typically avoid. However, as boutique hotels go, this one is really good. Very nicely appointed rooms, and attentive service.

I’ll pick a different location, but I do like this hotel a lot. If the price is right, or if you feel compelled to spend your business trip gawking along time square, this would be mecca.

 

Recommended Boutique Hotels

Not Recommended for Business Travel

Here are a few places I have tried but would not recommend for business travelers.

Boutique hotels to Avoid

Jolly Hotel Madison Tower

22 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016

Ignore the marketing, Well heeled is not equal to well worn.

Ignore the marketing, Well heeled is not equal to well worn.

Hotel QT

125 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

ok, so a pool in the lobby with a lounge to watch the swimmers. Ew!

ok, so a pool in the lobby with a lounge to watch the swimmers. Ew!

Amsterdam Court Hotel

226 W 50 Th Street, New York, NY 10019

The appearances are deceiving – all the details are cheap, disposable and poor quality.

The appearances are deceiving – all the details are cheap, disposable and poor quality.

Park Central Hotel

870 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Avoid! I just spent two sweltering nights here with marginal air conditioning. It’s understaffed, and a nightmarish landing place for tour buses.

Avoid! I just spent two sweltering nights here with marginal air conditioning. It’s understaffed, and a nightmarish landing place for tour buses.

Paramount Hotel

235 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036

I think this was Philippe Stark’s first hotel that started the whole boutique trend. While the lobby and whisky bar are cool, the rooms are super small, and worn out. Been here, done this, too many better choices.

I think this was Philippe Stark’s first hotel that started the whole boutique trend. While the lobby and whisky bar are cool, the rooms are super small, and worn out. Been here, done this, too many better choices.

Ameritania Hotel

230 W. 54th St., New York, NY 10019

While this place looks hip in lobby vibe, and feels upscale, they have sadly cut costs on the rooms and maintenance. Also very poor windows, so street noise provides a little too much of the “NY experience”.

While this place looks hip in lobby vibe, and feels upscale, they have sadly cut costs on the rooms and maintenance. Also very poor windows, so street noise provides a little too much of the “NY experience”.

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Discussions

-621924948

Love this guide, as I am staying at a large hotel and am looking for a more intimate experience.