On The Ave Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City

The 16th Floor Public Terrace

This 250-room hotel, housed in a sturdy, 15-floor building from the 1920s, considers itself a "boutique hotel." The atmosphere reflects this: small lobby; cheerful service; sleek, low-key design; minimal accoutrements. It attracts a healthy mix of business travelers and tourists. It's an ideal pick for parents or anyone else visiting Columbia University -- it's just five stops south of Columbia on the subway line -- or the couple who wants a romantic getaway near Central Park but doesn't want to mortgage their house to stay at the St. Regis.

The low-key lobby lounge is fit with suede sofas, a marble-topped coffee table decorated with single pink flowers in square glass vases, and a striking neo-Cubist painting by New York artist Alfonso Munoz. A piano player appears most nights, guests curl up to read or write postcards, and everyone from the concierge to the suit-wearing doormen smiles and inquires about your stay.

On the Ave's motto is "Style and comfort with an authentic New York neighborhood experience," and that's not a bad summation of the place. Located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, it's a good 30 blocks from Midtown's tourist center in Times Square. But in exchange, you get some peace and quiet, along with a sense of what it's really like to live in one of the city's upscale, residential neighborhoods. Somewhat comically, though, On the Ave’s name is a bit of a misnomer -- it’s actually located on a relatively quiet corner of busy Broadway and West 77th Street.

On the Ave refers to itself as "OTA" -- or, to go with the double acronym on the elevator floor, "OTA NYC" -- and the colloquialism fits the casual atmosphere. (You don't see the Four Seasons calling itself "TFS.")

View on a Larger Map

The hotel is located in the heart of the residential and leafy Upper West Side, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. It's two and a half blocks (about a 10-minute walk) from Central Park, the Museum of Natural History, and the New-York Historical Society, but a bit farther from sites like Lincoln Center and Riverside Park. There are dozens of restaurants (and multiple grocery stores) within a two-block radius of the hotel, and the 1 train is two short blocks up Broadway at 79th Street. (The B and C subways are about 10 minutes away at 81st Street and Central Park West.)

The King Superior Room

If you want a view of the city, you'll have to shell out for the higher-priced suites and lofts -- many of which come with their own private balcony -- or go up to the shared balcony on the 16th floor. Outside my window was not much more than an unexciting look at the walls of other buildings.

Though not the cheapest place in the neighborhood for this range of accommodations -- the Excelsior, up the road a few blocks, had rooms the same night for a bit less -- OTA compares favorably with its main competitors on the Upper West Side. A rule to live by: If you can find a room for $175 at a nice place, in the heart of Manhattan, in the 21st century, grab it -- and be thankful.

• Starting at 240 square feet, the Standard Rooms are slightly larger than at many New York boutiques. Above Standards are " Superior" Rooms come in at 260 square feet.
• All rooms are outfitted with black leather Herman Miller desk chairs, which sit behind handsome wood desks topped with smoked glass.
• Internet -- both Wi-Fi and hardwired -- cost an extra fee.
• 32-inch or (in the Superior rooms and up) 42-inch flat-screen TV with cable and HBO.
• A "Dream Machine" CD player/alarm clock is also available for those who still listen to CDs.
• Down pillows and three accent pillows are propped up against a padded headboard upholstered in Ultrasuede. A thick feather bed, 380-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and a down comforter.
• Bathrooms, while small, are clean and come with floor-to-ceiling marble. Sinks are made of of a square stainless steel basin. The glass-enclosed shower -- no tubs in the standard rooms -- has a pulsing Grohe rain showerhead, and terry robes are available upon request.
• Bathroom toiletries were standard -- soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion -- and are from a generic hotel brand.
• The mini-bar includes a "Hangover Kit" (Alka-Seltzer, ibuprofen, mints, adhesive bandage, lubricant eye drops) and "Intimacy Kit" (contents unknown -- lubricants of a different sort?) is extremely well stocked. Be advised, however, not to remove any of the items on the top for more than 20 seconds; otherwise the automated sensor will charge you, hangover/intimacy or not.

The gym

• A roofed terrace for all guests features couches, chairs, and coffee tables. It has sweeping views of the city skyline, which is a major perk for a hotel in this price range -- a panoramic view of the city is not to be missed.
• 24-hour gym with but the cardio equipment, treadmills, ellipticals, and a bike, and features personal video screens. There are also free weights and weight machines.
• 24-hour busniess center with free Wi-Fi, as well as two boardroom-style meeting rooms
• Passes to Equinox Fitness Center, for discounted fee
• Full-service concierge
• Complimentary Wolfgang Puck-brand coffee in all rooms

The management here takes pains to make the hotel family-friendly: Cribs can be rented for a nightly fee, and pets are even welcome. There is a weight-limit and nightly fee for pets.

• Fatty Crab is a neighborhood favorite, and serves up “rock 'n’ roll Malaysian street food” (at New York City restaurant prices). Fatty Crab is open daily for lunch and dinner.
• Serafina General Restaurant serves Italian, and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Geisha Table is a casual sushi bar and Japanese restaurant

Other eating options in the neighborhood are nearly limitless. Fast-food restaurants line Broadway, and New York bagel emporium H&H (of ‘’Seinfeld’’ fame) is three short blocks away, across Broadway at 80th Street. As a total boon to the hotel, two very popular restaurants, Dovetail and Shake Shack, are only two blocks away at 77th Street and Columbus Avenue.