Stylish, modern rooms with iPod docks and kitchenettes
Quick walk to Grand Central Station and subway lines
Swanky on-site restaurant
24-hour fitness center
In-room spa services available
Free specialty drinks, snacks, and fruit available all day
Free cheeses and snacks available in the evenings
Classy lounge with bar and free cappuccino/espresso machine
Excellent views from upper floors
Private terraces available in some rooms (a plus for smokers)
Only one public computer available
Fee for in-room Internet
Small lobby can get crowded during peak hours
Street parking is scarce and valet parking can be pricey
No on-site laundry facilities
This upscale, 116-room Hyatt (now Hotel 48LEX) opened in 2011, is one of the trendier hotels in corporate Midtown East. It is primarily designed for business travelers and couples, and almost all rooms can only fit two guests. Highlights include excellent views, in-room spa treatments, and a chic lounge that serves drinks and free snacks. The Andaz Fifth Avenue is comparably priced and just as stylish, but its rooms lack the 48LEX's kitchenettes.
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Scene
A stylish property that’s popular with business travelers and executives
The 48LEX's location on Lexington Avenue and 48th Street makes it a popular pick for business travelers who want to be near the corporate offices in Midtown East. The great upper-floor views, in-room spa services, and kitchenettes may also appeal to couples.The vibe here manages to be both upscale and relaxed, and curbside staff are assigned to greet guests and show them to their rooms upon arrival. The lobby is small, but the posh second floor lounge has a bar and wait staff, as well as free snacks and unlimited coffee drinks from a cappuccino/espresso machine. In the mornings free pastries are served here, and in the evenings cheeses and hors d'oeuvres are offered.The hotel restaurant, Lexington Brass, is located next to the lobby. It serves traditional American food and is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. A wall of windows that wraps around the restaurant makes the space feel bright and airy, while also providing a good opportunity for people watching.
Location
Located amid the skyscrapers of Midtown East and close to several subway lines
The appropriately named Hotel 48LEX is situated on the corner of 48th Street and Lexington Avenue in Midtown East. This locale offers excellent views from the hotel’s corner rooms, where guests can see both streets stretching off into the distance. This particular block has a constant flow of street traffic, making it a convenient spot to hail a taxi.There are plenty of delis and cafes around here, and the shopping district on Fifth Avenue is about an eight-minute walk to the west. The surrounding area is best known for popular tourist attractions such as Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, the Museum of Modern Art, and the New York Public Library (all are within walking distance).This skyscraper-filled neighborhood is where many New Yorkers come to work, and its population booms from about 40,000 at night to 200,000 during the day. Iconic buildings such as Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building are here, as well as big-name hotels like the InterContinental and Waldorf-Astoria. Many local businesses close when workers go home, so the nightlife is not New York’s best.- 3 short blocks from the 6 subway line; 5 short blocks from the E and M lines; 6 blocks from the 4, 5, 6, and 7 lines at Grand Central Station (a major transportation hub)
Airport Transportation
About 30 to 90 minutes from three airports
New York has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Getting to town from JFK or LaGuardia is usually more convenient than getting there 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 like Super Shuttle that are available at all three airports for about $14 per person. 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
Stylish, modern rooms with kitchenettes and impressive views
The Hotel 48LEX's 116 rooms are slightly larger than average for New York (they start at 289 square feet) and have high-end contemporary decor in shades of gray and cream. They all have unique local artwork, kitchenettes, and large windows that face either Lexington Avenue or 48th Street. The sleek bathrooms come with big walk-in showers (but no tubs).The minibars are impressive, and have 10 varieties of wine selected by the hotel's sommelier. These half-size bottles vary in cost and change seasonally. Other items include beer, champagne, and Dean & Deluca snacks.Most rooms have one king- or queen-size bed and are designed to sleep a maximum of two people, but there are two rooms that have two beds; a few have pull-out couches. The rooms on the fourth floor have terraces, and the Corner Suites have separate bedrooms with walls of windows that overlook the intersection below. The most impressive (and costly) rooms are the two Penthouse Suites, which together take up the entire 23rd floor. These suites have big bathrooms, better equipped kitchenettes, separate bedrooms, and sprawling rooftop patios (which can be merged for floor-wide, dual-penthouse parties).- Kitchenettes with coffeemakers, stocked minibars, dishwashers, glasses, and microwaves
Fitness Center
A variety of exercise equipment is available 24 hours a day.
A spacious fitness center is open around the clock in the hotel basement. The facilities are split between two different rooms -- a Strength Room for weight training, and a Cardio Room for everything else.The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art Life Fitness cardio machines, inflatable exercise balls, and individual TV screens.- Elliptical machines
Family
Very limited accommodation options for families
This hotel was primarily designed for individual travelers and couples, though a few rooms have two beds or pull-out sofas. These rooms are popular and tend to fill up quickly. Rollaway beds can be requested for some rooms, and cribs and baby items, such as diapers and formula, are also available upon request.Aside from a selection of board games available at the front desk, the hotel doesn’t offer much entertainment for children. The Lexington Brass restaurant has a kids' menu that’s also available for room service.
All-Inclusive / Food
Food is served all day in the hotel’s trendy Lexington Brass restaurant
The trendy Lexington Brass bistro serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a weekend bunch. The cuisine is primarily upscale American bar food, such as truffle French fries, tuna burgers, and macaroni and cheese. Meals are on the pricey side, costing around $20 for a lunch entree.Guests can order food off Lexington Brass' room service menu from early morning to late night. The restaurant also provides catering for hotel meetings and events. In the evenings, free cheeses and snacks are served in the second floor lounge.
Drinks
Drinks are served in the lounge and at Lexington Brass
A bar in the second floor lounge serves cocktails, beer, and a seasonal selection of wines. Decent coffee drinks are available free of charge from a self-serve cappuccino/espresso machine.More wine, beer, and pricey designer cocktails are available at the bar inside Lexington Brass. The atmosphere here is more lively than in the lounge, and sports fans might be able to catch a game on the bar TVs.
Services
In-room massages and a lounge with free snacks and cappuccinos
Business and Conventions
Plenty of options for small to mid-sized business meetings
The 48LEX has four high-tech, stylish boardrooms, plus catering services from the hotel restaurant. The rooms have fireplaces, hardwood floors, and large screens for presentations. Each room can fit eight to 12 people, and three of the meeting spaces can be combined to accommodate larger groups.- High-tech audiovisual equipment for presentations
Weddings
A variety of spaces can accommodate up to 120 people
The 48LEX’s second-floor lounge and meeting rooms are available for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and other small to mid-sized wedding events. Couples can also book adjoining Penthouse Suites on the top floor of the hotel for an intimate, rooftop reception overlooking the city. For events with more than 90 guests, a full buy-out of the restaurant is possible.Lexington Brass provides catering for all events in the hotel.
Renovations and Upkeep
The hotel opened in 2011.
The opened in 2011 and there are no major renovations on the horizon.
Handicap
Numerous handicap features are provided throughout the hotel.
The hotel offers 13 handicap-accessible rooms, including a Penthouse Suite. Rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible doors, peepholes, closet poles, towel racks, sinks, mirrors, and climate controls. Guests can choose between an ADA Queen Bedroom (one queen-sized bed) and an ADA Double Bedroom (two double beds).- Roll-in showers
ADA Double Shower
ADA Queen Shower
Corner Suite
Lexington Studio
Penthouse Suite
Premier Double
Premier King
Premier Queen
Studio King
Studio Queen
Terrace Studio
United States
