Excellent Midtown location near Central Park and Carnegie Hall
Stylish rooms with flat-screen HDTVs, microwaves, Keurig coffeemakers, and mini-fridges
Trendy on-site steakhouse serving steaks and seafood
Evening room service and daily breakfast buffet, along with an a la carte menu
Gym with ample cardio and weight machines, and free weights
Business center with computers and printer, plus two meeting rooms
Coin-operated guest laundry and 24-hour lobby convenience store
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Valet parking (for a fee)
Complaints about unauthorized charges on guest bills
Reports of difficulty contacting reception or managers
Long elevator lines
No pool or spa
A modern, business-friendly property in Midtown, the upscale, 401-room Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South-Midtown West is conveniently close to Central Park, Carnegie Hall, Broadway theaters, and ample shopping and dining. It's flush with features, including a fitness center, a pricey steakhouse, a business center and meeting rooms, and coin-operated laundry facilities. Rooms are stylish but subdued -- as expected for the brand -- and come with ergonomic chairs, work desks with outlets, 40-inch flat-screen HDTVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers. Some of the Junior Suites have terraces. Travelers could also compare prices with the Holiday Inn Midtown/57th St., which is farther west, but it has a pool and a sports bar, and generally lower rates.
Scene
Stylish, subdued chain hotel with modern spaces drawing a full range of guests
Equally geared toward tourists and business travelers, this massive Hilton outpost draws a fair amount of guests. Though it may be the largest Hilton Garden Inn property in North America, it stays true to the chain in its streamlined design, with dark-wood paneled walls, stonework, and a mix of wood and marble-tile floors in the lobby. There's a seating area with trendy cream-colored chairs in the center of the lobby, and a cozy nook with a faux fireplace and comfy gray couches surrounded by small plants soften the look. The hotel's steakhouse is trendier with low lighting, a marble bar, stylish box chandeliers, and a large wine rack.
Location
Near Central Park, Carnegie Hall, Broadway theaters, and the Museum of Modern Art
As the name suggests, this Hilton Garden outpost is extremely well situated in Midtown, close to several major attractions. It's a six-minute walk to Carnegie Hall, a seven-minute walk to the Theater District, an eight-minute walk to the Museum of Modern Art, and a 10-minute walk to Central Park. Times Square is also about a 10-minute walk in the opposite direction from the park. The closest subway station is a four-minute walk away, at 55th Street, and crosstown buses run north and south along 57th Street. The area buzzes with restaurants and shops, including the high-end shopping of Fifth Avenue, a 10-minute walk away. Laguardia Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel, and JFK International Airport is 45- to 60-minute drive, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Tastefully decorated rooms with modern amenities like microwaves and Keurig coffeemakers
The 401 rooms at this Hilton Garden are modern and stylish, if New York City-sized (read: small). Dark wood furnishings provide a clean contrast to the white bedding and bold white-and-charcoal carpeting. Leafy panels of abstract art hang above the beds, adding a much-needed touch of color and warmth. Mattresses are Serta Plush, and desks come with Mirra ergonomic chairs by Herman Miller. Junior Suites are larger and are outfitted with pull-out couches; some have furnished terraces with views of neighboring buildings. All rooms include flat-screen HDTVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, microwaves, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers. The sleek all-white bathrooms are a cut above standard chain-hotel fare, with black-framed artwork, glass-enclosed showers, Neutrogena toiletries, and hairdryers.
Features
Steakhouse restaurant, gym, convenience store, and several business-oriented features
Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South-Midtown West offers several services catering to business travelers, including two fully equipped meeting rooms and a 24-hour business center with multiple desktops and a printer. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. But the hotel's star feature is its ritzy steakhouse, serving steak and seafood dishes. Breakfast is served here as well, but it's not included in room rates, and the menu prices overall reflect its upscale status. There’s also a 24-hour convenience store with drinks and snacks in the lobby, and evening room service is available. Guests can utilize a 24-hour gym with a range of weight and cardio machines and free weights. Other perks include a coin-operated guest laundry and expensive valet parking.