Kimpton Muse Hotel

Housed in a historic limestone-and-brick-fronted building that was once filled with offices, this 200-room property was thoughtfully renovated by Kimpton Hotels in 2009, and then again in 2015. It is one of the best upscale boutique hotels in the Times Square area. Instead of evoking the hustle and bustle or kitschiness of the neighborhood, The Muse's common spaces have a relaxed, elegant vibe and stylish Art Deco flair. Stacked up against the giant mega-hotels in the area, such as the New York Marriot Marquis and Westin New York  -- this personable property feels as small and sleek and friendly as a boutique on the Upper West Side or the West Village. The only difference: the noises outside (which sometimes leak in) remind you that you’re in the middle of the action. There are some other boutique hotel options nearby for those who want to shop around; Casablanca Hotel isn't quite as upscale, but is even smaller and homier. The Muse attracts a mix of business travelers and tourists, and many guests are either Gen-Xers in their 30s or fashion-forward retirees on vacation. They love the hotel not just because Broadway is right outside the door, but also because it's a quiet retreat from the neighborhood, with its own distinctive flavor. With its most recent renovation, the hotel also made changes to explicitly target business travelers, such as adding convenient electrical outlets right by the beds. 

You can't expect to find complete and utter peace in or around Times Square, but this hotel, on a relatively quiet block, comes reasonably close to insulating guests from Broadway’s sounds, sights, and action. And yet it is just half a block away from Times Square and a three-minute walk from Rockefeller Center. It's in a heavily touristed part of town, and there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, drugstores, and cafes in the immediate vicinity. Because the Theater District is still bustling late at night, guests will feel safe in this neighborhood at virtually any hour. Taxis are easy to find on the surrounding blocks at virtually any time of day or night, and nearly every subway line in the city crosses through Times Square.The hotel is about a 15-minute walk to the southern entrance of Central Park, while getting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art takes about 20 minutes by taxi. The MoMA is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Grand Central Station is a 13-minute walk away. It's a minimum 50-minute drive to JFK, depending on traffic, while LaGuardia takes about 40 minutes by car without traffic. Newark Airport is about an hour away, again depending on traffic.

The Muse's rooms are pretty spacious for New York City. The entry-level King Deluxe Rooms range from 235 to 270 square feet (the average NYC hotel room is about 200 square feet), and every other room category is 280 square feet or above. Most rooms have a single king-size bed (with the exception of the Double Double Premiers, which each have two doubles). Trendy decor is surprisingly funky compared to the common spaces, and is meant to reflect the energy of Times Square as well as the Kimpton brand's typical playfulness. There are pop art throw cushions in hues of black and hot pink and matching bed runners, colorful Broadway-themed art prints, and "Kiss Me" graffiti-style writing inside the closets. Furniture includes gray easy chairs. Amenities include minibars (with pricey snacks, though loyalty members get a snack credit), safes, yoga mats, and animal-print robes. Room service is available. On the tech front, there are some thoughtful details that business travelers in particular may appreciate, such as electrical outlets right by the bed, as well as at the desk, and reading lights built into the headboard. Rooms don't differ much in terms of amenities, decor, or layout, with the exception of King Premier Rooms, which are corner rooms with lots of natural light -- and the King Premier Balcony units, which -- as the name suggests -- have balconies. Many room views, it should be noted, are of nearby buildings and underwhelming. Bathrooms are chic and modern, with huge marble walk-in showers and long double vanities. The Muse also offers a few types of suites, namely Premier Suite Balcony units (essentially junior suites), plus Executive Suites with separate living rooms featuring sofas. Spa Suites add lovely deep soaking tubs in the bathrooms. Note that there are occasional complaints of HVAC problems and other maintenance issues. 

The Muse offers a reasonable number of amenities for a hotel of its type, including free loaner bikes, in-room massages, and free wine receptions held every evening. There's no pool, but there is a 24-hour fitness center with cardio and weight-training equipment. Meeting facilities consist of five event spaces for up to 120 guests (reception style). Catering can be arranged through the on-site NIOS restaurant, which serves sandwiches, burgers, and a mix of European and internationally inspired starters and mains. There's also a cocktail bar with a great selection of wines, beers, and spirits, and the restaurant offers a private dining room for rent.  Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel (though access requires signing up for the Kimpton's loyalty program). Valet parking is available for a hefty fee.

The Kimpton chain is famously pet-friendly, and The Muse is no exception -- pets of any type or weight are allowed for no fee (though there is a waiver required at check-in). The Muse is especially pet-friendly, though, having hosted everything from snakes (!) to penguins (!) to a pig (!), many of them are in town to appear on television shows that tape nearby. The Muse provides beds and bowls for dogs.