Fantastic location close to Times Square and popular
Broadway theaters
Modern, light-filled lobby with views of Times Square
Airy restaurant and bar with modern decor and an outdoor
terrace
24-hour Pavilion Pantry with numerous snacks and beverages
Some corner rooms have direct views of Times Square
Close to many subway lines, including Grand Central Station
Direct view of New Year’s Eve ball drop from some rooms and
public spaces
Free Wi-Fi
The lobby can become congested during prime check-in/out
times
The breakfast buffet can become crowded, requiring waiting
in line
Rooms facing the street on the lower levels receive street
noise
Some rooms have little space between the bed and wall/window
Armoires instead of closets reduce the amount of storage
space
No valet parking or discounted off-site parking
Room service has limited hours
The hotel holds a private event on New Year’s Eve that
closes its public spaces
Opened in 2014, the Hilton Garden Inn is a mid-range,
282-room chain hotel with spiffy modern decor and dead-on views of Times Square from
the public spaces and some of the rooms. Tourists and business travelers (especially those with Hilton Honors points) are attracted to the hotel for its location and budget-friendly rates. Rooms are on the small size with somewhat bland decor but they are brightened by floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the light and the city views.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A mid-range chain hotel that emphasizes location and views all the while catering to tourists and business travelers
All is relatively calm from inside the glass-enclosed lobby
and restaurant at the 36-story Hilton Garden Inn. Soaring ceilings and floors
are finished with long stretches of honey-colored wood. Gray sofas blend with
dark wood and chrome tables adorned with whimsical touches such as tiny white
bird ornaments and bright pink orchids. There are a large-screen TV set above a
gas fireplace, a business nook with three computers, and a separate pantry alcove packed with neatly arranged snacks and beverages, a set-up that trumps the average hotel room minibar. The white stone wall accents are a surprisingly high-style touch; in fact, the decor throughout the lobby and restaurant is more stylish than one might expect from a mid-range chain. Throughout the day, the lobby ebbs and flows with activity. The
overall vibe is both touristy (guests may include groups of ladies en-route to a Broadway matinee)
and business-friendly. Suit-wearing guests settle in at the white stone bar beneath a series of chandeliers that resemble the famous ball that drops from the nearby spire on New Year's Eve. While the lobby is truly the hub of the hotel, offering guests
many reasons to stay, the hotel's biggest reason to leave is right outside the floor-to-ceiling
windows -- the vibrant, pulsating lights of Times Square and the tempting entertainment of Broadway's Theater District.
Location
In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, steps to Times Square and Broadway Theaters
The enormous flashing media screen above the entrance to the
Hilton Garden Inn announces the hotel's prominent location, just a few steps
from Broadway and the action of Times Square. Directly across the street is the
sleek 4 Times Square skyscraper and the adjacent Aureole, an upscale restaurant from
celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. Guests can follow the flashing lights to find the sights and restaurants of Times Square, including the famous ball drop location at One Times Square. Flags and banners hang from lamp posts and buildings along the block, advertising nearby Broadway shows. Also within reach by walking is Rockefeller
Center, the shops of Fifth Avenue, and the Empire State Building.- Two-minute walk to Times Square
Rooms
Tidy, with views of Times Square, plenty of modern amenities, and ho-hum decor
The hotel offers 282 guest rooms neatly tucked along the
narrow hallways of the building's 36 floors. Unlike the lobby and restaurant,
which are warm and inviting, the rooms are bland and cold in their design -- somewhat of a disappointment considering the hotel's colorful location. Still, they're contemporary in
style, and feature king, queen, or two double beds finished neatly with white
linens and ivory leather headboards. The main piece of furniture is a cohesive dark brown wood unit that incorporates the desk with ergonomic chair (a nice splurge), TV, and armoires, which take the place of closets and offer just enough room to hang a coat and a couple of out-on-the-town outfits. The nightstands by the bed blend are attached to the headboard panel. Modern amenities are impressive for this caliber of hotel, and include 50-inch flat-screen TVs (possibly the largest we've seen at a mid-range property), Keurig coffeemakers,
mini-refrigerators, microwaves, adjustable lighting, and Wi-Fi with secure
remote printing to the hotel’s business center.Bathrooms are awash in neutral tile and stone countertops
with glass shelving to display and store toiletries, plenty of white towels, and
Neutrogena bath products. Large vanities offer storage below and glass enclosed
showers are large enough to turn around, with bathrooms in some of
the corner rooms offering voyeuristic-worthy windows that look out to Times Square.All of the rooms have large, floor-to-ceiling windows framed
in silvery steel. Some, especially those on the corners of the building, feature fabulous city skyline or Times Square views
(including views of the New Year’s Eve festivities and midnight ball drop).
Features
A lively restaurant and bar, fitness center, guest laundry, and a business nook
There are hundreds of restaurants within walking distance, including the posh Aureole right across the street, but the Hilton Garden Inn's restaurant seems to keep guests happy with its generous breakfast buffet along with a lively bar, outdoor terrace, and options for lunch and dinner. It's decorated in a chic style with lots of natural wood contrasted by bright yellow leather chairs, shiny chandeliers, and oversized black and white photgraphs of iconic New York landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge. Those looking for a simple snack instead of a sit-down meal can pop into the pantry, a tiny space stocked with treats and beverages and meal substitutes such as Cup of Noodles, which can be prepared in the microwaves in the guest rooms. Other features include:- A lower-level gym that uses a gorgeous mural to hide the fact that there are no windows
