New York Helmsley — Hotel Review Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Oyster Review Summary

Photos and review by Michael W., Oyster Expert Hotel Investigator.
Updated: June 8, 2010

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Oyster undercover reviewers photographed this hotel. See the hotel exactly the way we did when we stayed there. (View All Photos)

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Rooms at New York Helmsley

Oyster Hotel Review

 Scene

With 776 rooms on 41 floors and a spacious, potentially imposing lobby (complete with marble walls and a giant mechanical clock), the Helmsley could easily be mistaken for one of New York's grand old icons -- the type of place Ernest Hemingway might have stayed in the '50s. In fact, the Helmsley occupies a relatively modern building; from the outside, it resembles the corporate high-rises that surround it. Once inside, the vibe is more down-home friendliness than ostentatious gravitas; you feel like you're stepping into a comfortable temporary home, not a piece of history.

When compared to many of the recession-plagued hotels in New York City, the Helmsley often feels refreshingly alive. In the lobby, no matter the time of day, there are people checking in and out, suitcases lying about (but never in the way), and bellmen opening doors. You might even see Harry's, the low-key hotel bar off the lobby, humming (if not buzzing) at 10 on a Tuesday night.

Yet the Helmsley never feels frenetic or overwhelming. Aided by a carpet that eliminates echoes, the lobby is quiet for such a huge, open space. And the front desk and bell crew, never understaffed, seem well in control.

 Service

The second thing that impressed me about the Helmsley -- after the lobby -- was the service at the front desk. After checking me in, the clerk called one of the managers, who came all the way from her office to personally welcome me to the hotel. (This in a place with almost 800 rooms.) She shook my hand, gave me her business card, and told me I could contact her any time with any problems or questions. I still don't know if this special treatment was "special treatment," though I did see one or two other guests receive a similar greeting. (All our visits are undercover operations, so my status as an Oyster reporter had nothing to do with it.)

The bellmen smiled and opened doors without fail, and the concierge seemed to know the area well, though when I told her I was looking for a cheap dinner, she looked a bit baffled (A cheap dinner? In midtown Manhattan?) before recommending Jackson Hole on 35th Street and Third Avenue. My meal was mediocre, and I wasn't the only one disappointed -- but in the concierge's defense, there aren't a lot of budget options in that area.

 Location

The Helmsley is on 42nd Street, probably the most famous east-west road in Manhattan. Grand Central Station is about a block to the west, as is the iconic Chrysler Building, and the UN headquarters are a few blocks in the other direction, on the East River.

Yet besides those three famous buildings, and despite the fact that the Helmsley sits in the middle of Manhattan, there aren't any other major tourist sites in the immediate vicinity. If you're willing to try the subway, though, you'll be fine. Grand Central Station, just down the street, is a stop on the 4/5/6 line, which runs up and down the east side of Manhattan. Take that south to Union Square and the East Village, or north to luxury shopping on Madison & Fifth avenues and the world-famous museums along Museum Mile.

As for safety, the Helmsley's central location ensures that the street is well lit, and plenty of corporate lawyers and other business types are outside catching cabs well into the night.

 Airport Transportation

New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Getting into town from JFK or LaGuardia is usually more convenient than from Newark, but travel times are heavily dependent on the time of day and traffic conditions. From JFK, a taxi to anywhere in Manhattan costs a flat rate of $45 and takes around an hour in average conditions. From LaGuardia, a metered cab ride to midtown Manhattan costs about $40 and can take 30 minutes if traffic is light, three times that if it's bad. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 plus tolls and can take more than 90 minutes. It's customary to tip your driver 15 to 25 percent.

Those looking to save some cash can use the privately run shuttle buses that are available at all three airports for about $14 per person. For more information on the shuttles, go to New York Airport Service. Public transit is also available for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairways.

For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.

 Rooms

I stayed in a standard "city room," and it was large -- bigger than many of the rooms I've stayed in at more expensive hotels. It included a king-size bed, a desk, a dresser, an overstuffed chair and ottoman, a good-size closet, and two windows, with enough room to maneuver around it all.

Crystal light fixtures add a dose of class. The LG flat-screen TVs show more than 70 channels, including a few XM radio stations and four Showtime channels. Mine was awkwardly placed on the desk, however, making it difficult to work on my laptop and watch TV at the same time; and at 32 inches, it was a bit small to see from the bed.

The bathrooms feature marble countertops, a shower with strong water pressure, and Gilchrist & Soames bath products, including "hair purifier" and "hair protector" (also known as shampoo and conditioner, respectively).

The only disappointment in the room was the bed. The Helmsley's website brags about the Healthsmart mattress by Simmons, but mine was a bit bouncy, and my sheets felt like those you'd find in a bed-in-a-bag.

 Features

The highlight is the clean, bright fitness center, which features new equipment: seven cardio machines (three treadmills, two ellipticals, two bikes), a half-dozen strength-training machines, a set of free weights, and this bizarre stretching contraption, which I'd never seen before. Among the amenities: two flat-screen TVs, plenty of towels, and complimentary refrigerated bottled water.

The Wi-Fi connection is a bit slow, but it's free and reliable, and available in the rooms as well as in public areas.

 Family

I didn't see a ton of families during my stay (in mid-April), but there were a few kids running around (even a few eating dinner at Harry's, the bar). There's certainly no reason not to bring the family: The area is safe and wholesome enough, and the kids won't lack for external stimuli.

In-room child care is also available (for a surcharge), as are cribs.

 Cleanliness

With the exception of this unfortunately colored stain on the marble countertop in the bathroom, everything was super-clean.

 Food

The restaurant, Leona's, serves less-than-notable American/international fare for lunch and dinner, and a buffet or a la carte breakfast. The size of the restaurant is a marvel in and of itself -- that much space isn't easy to come by in Manhattan.

For a cheaper, more informal meal, you can grab sandwiches, burgers, and the like (ranging from about $12 to $18) at the Helmsley's bar, Harry's. On weekends, draft beers and appetizers are half off from 5 to 7 p.m. If you're feeling more decadent, try a Melon Rouge (Citron, Watermelon Pucker, and Midori), Cidertini (Absolut Vanilla, apple brandy, and apple cider), or Big Apple Martini (Absolut, Sour Apple Pucker, and a splash of sour mix).

There are a few solid lunch and dinner options nearby, starting with the food court in Grand Central Station. With eateries ranging from the highly regarded Chirping Chicken to the famous Junior's, Grand Central's basement plays host to a food court at least two or three notches above your everyday mall's. No Sbarro here.

Other fine eats: the Oyster Bar (also in Grand Central), Smith & Wollensky, and Dos Caminos. The thing about midtown, though, is that a lot of restaurants shut down their kitchens relatively early (by New York standards, anyway), after the corporate crowds expense their meals and head home. For a cheap, simple meal, there aren't a lot of options in the area.

 Bottom Line

With an imposing marble lobby, classically attired bellmen, an international clientele, and an (in)famous namesake, the Helmsley looks like it should cost more than it does. You get a lot for your money: a central location, attentive service, an excellent gym, and spacious rooms, complete with flat-screen TVs and bathrobes.