Morningside Inn

With its pre-war masonry and granite facade, the Morningside Inn resembles an upscale apartment building in a neighborhood of similarly grand buildings. But the property is more hostel than hotel, and its clientele -- students and international guests on a tight budget -- often keep their expectations relatively low. The very small reception area has a front desk that's meant to be staffed 24 hours, although some guests report climbing over the empty desk themselves to get their room key. The corridors are marble with shiny tile floors and sconce lighting giving the feel of a school or government building. In the winter of 2015, the hotel began serving a free continental breakfast in a basement room with plain tables and chairs and windows overlooking an unassuming courtyard. The atmosphere is relatively bare bones with some evident wear and tear, like a worn carpet here or a hinge there that could use tightening. 

Morningside Inn is a 10 minute walk from Columbia University, making it a good choice for prospective students, their families, or visiting staff on a tight budget. The closest subway station is a five-minute walk away. The surrounding streets are full of restaurants and bars, and the spectacular Cathedral of Saint John the Divine is seven minutes away on foot. The northern end of Central Park is a 10-minute walk away as well. Other major attractions require a taxi or subway ride. It's an 11-minute drive or a 20-minute bus or subway ride to the Museum of Natural History, also on the West Side. Across Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a 13-minute drive or 36 minutes on public transportation. Rockefeller Center and Saks Fifth Avenue are about a 23-minute drive or 26 minutes on public transportation. In the opposite direction, it takes a 17-minute drive or 24-minute subway ride to get to Yankees Stadium. The Empire State Building is 28 minutes by car or 27 minutes by public transportation. The 9/11 Memorial is a 35-minute drive or a 40 minute ride on public transportation. La Guardia Airport is a 26-minute drive or a 50-minute ride by public transportation. JFK Airport is 40 minutes away by car or 80 minutes on public transportation.

Rooms at the Morningside Inn are quite plain with white walls and honey-colored wood trim. There's little to dress up the space, aside from the occasional exposed-brick wall or china lamps with the plastic still on the shades. A few color photographs of New York City landmarks adorn the walls and the hallways. The furnishings are inexpensive pine or oak, functional pieces like simple wooden desks or small chairs. Windows sport blinds and tied-back drapes. Views are to the street or an unassuming courtyard. Guests complain of thin walls, worn carpets, and broken blinds on occasion. Rooms are equipped with 32-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges. Some rooms have kitchens with full-size fridges, sinks, and ovens (but no microwaves). There are no in-room safes, but the front desk can hold some valuables, like a laptop computer. All rooms have ceiling fans and window air-conditioning units. Heat is via radiators, so clanking pipes are not uncommon. 

The most frequent complaints regard the bathrooms, either private or shared. Both have simple, traditional porcelain fixtures and tile or carpeted floors. Occasionally, there are loose hinges and screws or wobbly toothbrush holders or towel bars. And some guests have complained of cleanliness issues like hair in the drains. Towels are supplied, but they're described as "tiny." There is hand-soap from a wall-mounted dispenser in some bathrooms. 

As of winter 2016, the Morningside Inn was offering a free breakfast of bagels, muffins, coffee, and tea in a basement lounge. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi and luggage storage. There is a coin-operated washer and dryer on the property. The front desk should be staffed 24 hours, though guests have reported finding it unmanned at times.