Midtown West, United States
Convenient, walkable location near Penn Station, Empire State Building, and subway
Rooms are spacious by New York City standards
Most rooms have kettles, mini-fridges, and tubs
Free continental breakfast and daytime refreshments
Japanese restaurant and whiskey lounge
Cocktail bar with daily happy hour discounts
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Economy rooms have no mini-fridges or TVs
Room furnishings have some wear and tear
Street noise can be an issue
Limited seating areas in the reception
This flagship hotel of the family-owned, mid-range boutique Hotel Stanford chain has an unbeatable location in midtown Manhattan. While the area can get noisy, it has the convenience of being within walking distance to the Empire State Building, Penn Station, Macy’s, and several subway stations, at relatively affordable prices for the city. The lobby was renovated in early 2017, but the 124 rooms look dated. However, they’re surprisingly spacious, and most come with modern amenities like mini-fridges, kettles, and Bath & Body Works toiletries. Amenities and common areas here are limited, though free breakfast and happy hour specials in the bar are offered and a Japanese restaurant opened in 2017. The Hotel Beacon offers comparable rates in a quieter, more residential Upper West Side neighborhood.
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Scene
Modern decor freshens up limited space inside a quintessentially New York building
Hotel Stanford’s limestone facade and Beaux-Arts design are classic of New York. The lobby, refurbished in 2017, evokes the city’s chic and modern side with its sleek black, gray, cream, and brown color scheme plus grid-pattern steel doors and the large print of the city’s skyscrapers on one wall. Scarce real estate limits the reception area from holding little more than the front desk -- seating areas are limited to the adjacent bar -- and hallways and staircases are also narrow. While scaffolding and construction of neighboring buildings are likely to surround the hotel at any given time, the property itself is clean and classy, and especially popular among tourist couples and travelers on quick business trips.
Location
Convenient but noisy Midtown location; walkable to several tourist sites
In the heart of Manhattan’s Koreatown and an eight-minute walk to Penn Station, Hotel Stanford’s lower Midtown location is central, but that also means constant street noise can be an issue. Several New York City landmarks are within walking distance. The Empire State Building is two minutes away on foot, while Macy’s department store is a four-minute walk away. Times Square is a 13-minute walk. Several subway stops are within a five-minute walk from the hotel. Via public transport it’s 15 minutes to Central Park, 25 minutes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and 30 minutes to the Statue of Liberty ferry. John F. Kennedy International Airport is an hour away by car. La Guardia is 25 minutes away and Newark Airport takes about 45 minutes to reach.
Rooms
Old-fashioned but spacious by city standards; most have mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and tubs
Rooms here aren’t huge, but are on the spacious side by New York standards, and several offer views of the iconic Empire State Building. With studded leather headboards, bed skirts, valance drapes, and classic dark wood bedside tables and lamps, room decor is on the traditional side, but still maintains an old-school appeal. Cabinets and desks can show a bit of wear. Economic Rooms are purely functional, with just air-conditioning, kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Standard Rooms also have TVs and safes, plus mini-fridges and a few beverages. Deluxe Rooms and Suite-level rooms come with separate sitting areas, larger mini-fridges, dressing tables with chairs, and ironing equipment. Bathrooms are clean, well-sized, and warmly lit. Bath & Body Works toiletries and hairdryers are provided. All come with shower/tub combos and handheld showerheads except for Standard Double Double Rooms, which have walk-in showers and handheld showerheads.
Features
Free breakfast and Wi-Fi, plus a Japanese restaurant
Like most boutique New York Hotels, this one comes with limited amenities. Guests won’t find a pool or gym here, but the 1986 Est. Wine Bar & Lounge offers happy hour specials every evening in a small setting decorated with giant globe-shaped pendant lights, leather seating, and bold wallpaper. The bar also serves free tea, coffee, and snacks to guests during the day. As of April 2017, an adjacent sake bar, outfitted in sleek modern wood and long tables, is available for drinks and there's a Japanese restaurant. A free continental breakfast is available daily, and includes a passable selection of breads, cereals, pastries, and fruit. Guests have complained about paper plates and flimsy plastic cutlery. Other free extras include newspapers and Wi-Fi throughout the property.
