Hotel Beacon

Opened in 1929, the former apartment complex turned hotel blends perfectly into its residential surroundings. The hotel is set along a cultural corridor within walking distance to the Museum of Natural History, New York Historical Society, Lincoln Center, and Central Park. Next door is the iconic Beacon Theater (also dating to 1929), a historic landmark that hosts a variety of musical acts. The hotel caters to families and budget-conscious guests with spacious rooms and suites that exceed the square footage of similarly priced New York hotel rooms. Kitchens and sofa beds and traditional decor combine to make guests feel as if they are living the life of a local Upper West-sider. They can stock the refrigerators with gourmet treats from Citarella and Fairway Market, located across the street, or venture around the corner to Amsterdam Avenue to discover a parade of local restaurants and cafes. The bright lobby with its shiny marble floors and seating areas along a street-facing wall of windows is ideal for sipping coffee and people watching.

The Hotel Beacon is set in the heart of Manhattan's Upper West Side, next door to the historic Beacon Theater and across the street from two of New York's most popular grocers, Fairway Market and Citarella. The nearby 72nd Street subway stop accesses the 1, 2, and 3 lines, offering express service to key points in the city such as Times Square, Penn Station, and 14th Street. The green spaces and recreational activities of Central Park and Riverside Park are within walking distance as are the cultural venues of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Natural History.

• 7-minute walk to Riverside Park
• 9-minute walk to the Museum of Natural History
• 13-minute walk to Lincoln Center
• 10-minute subway ride to Penn Station
• 10-minute walk to Central Park
• 10-minute walk to the New York Historical Society
• 10-minute subway ride to Times Square
• 16-minute subway ride to Grand Central Terminal
• 30-minute drive to LaGuardia International Airport
• 40-minute drive to JFK International Airport

The Beacon's 278 rooms and suites are not designer-chic or trendy. They fit the vibe of the historic building's location, a residential neighborhood with access to cultural stops, green space, and a variety of gourmet grocers. Renovated in 2008 (though the hotel said there were some additional renovations in 2011), the rooms feature a muted color palette with pale green walls, rectangular leather headboards, and moss green and dark taupe soft goods peppered with paisley decorative pillows and club chairs upholstered in velvety (green) fabric.

The smallest rooms feature queen beds and are best suited for singles. Standard rooms offer king or queen-size beds or two doubles while the one- and two-bedroom suites deliver the feel of true apartment living with separate living areas and sofa beds. The size of the rooms and flexible sleeping arrangements make this a perennially popular pick with families. Amenities include Keurig coffeemakers, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, spacious closets with ample room to stash luggage, and small working desks for setting up laptops to access the free Wi-Fi.

Bathrooms are basic and small, with pedestal sinks and toilets practically bumping up against each other. The rooms are neatly finished in neutral tile and stocked with logo-embellished white towels and Gilchrist and Soames toiletries.

All of the rooms feature kitchenettes -- a rare amenity in this price range -- with green stone countertops, white cabinets and appliances, and steel sinks. The hotel does not offer room service, but the kitchens come stocked with tea and coffee. Guests can stock the cupboards and refrigerator with gourmet groceries from Citarella and Fairway markets, located across the street, or pop into Viand Café (next door to the hotel), an upscale diner that's open late.

The Beacon Hotel is traditional and homey, offering a residential atmosphere and rooms and suites comparable to apartment living. It does have some hotel features, however, including a small fitness center, guest laundry room, an airline-access kiosk in the lobby, a lobby business center nook, and a variety of boardroom and private meeting space. There is also a stylish bar serving light fare, coffee and tea, and a full menu of wines, beers, and cocktails.