Hotel Riu Plaza New York Times Square

The Riu is a popular Spanish-based chain hotel, and the Times Square outpost opened in 2016. The soaring glass and steel tower shoots up 20 stories, and has epic views of the city and Hudson River from its higher floors. Interiors are bright and airy, thanks to a massive lobby and windows galore, even in the corridors. The lobby is a busy, open-plan place with a long reception counter manned 24-hours by bilingual front desk agents. There's a pair of enormous white pleather benches lit by circular glass orb hanging pendants, just next to the elevator bank. Otherwise, guests (a mix of international and domestic tourists, both couples and families) can gather at Fashion Bar or in the buffet restaurant. Most visitors are out and about exploring New York City, both day and night, so the lobby does stay busy with people coming and going. But noise isn't an issue thanks to soundproofed windows and elevators set away from guest room entrances. 

Hotel Riu Plaza is located on the corner of Eighth Avenue and 46th Street in the Times Square area of Midtown. The hotel shares its stretch of street with numerous souvenir shops, offices, food cart vendors, restaurants, bars, and tons of pedestrians (both tourists and business people, day and night, almost non-stop). Times Square is arguably New York's main attraction, especially for first-time visitors, and it's busy around the clock. Food, souvenir shops, and sightseeing options are endless, but the sheer volume of bike, bus, and foot traffic can induce sensory overload. (Locals tend to avoid this area for that very reason.) That said, this area is also a major hub for subway lines, making it a convenient base both for exploring the city's sights on foot or setting out farther afield via public transportation. The A/C/E/N/R/W lines are within a four-block radius of the hotel. Port Authority Bus Terminal is a three-minute walk away. Penn Station is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The corner of Central Park can be reached in a 10-minute ride; The Empire State Building is a 15-minute ride; and the 9/11 Memorial is 21 minutes.

Walkable highlights include Times Square (a four-minute walk), Bryant Park (10 minutes), Radio City Music Hall (13 minutes), Rockefeller Center (14 minutes). Theaters are in abundance, which is a treat for Broadway fans, and there’s an endless supply of bars and restaurants to explore nearby. Restaurant Row (a strip of eateries running along 46th Street) can be reached in two minutes on foot.

LaGuardia Airport is about a 30-minute drive. JFK Airport and Newark Airport are about a 50-minute drive or a little over an hour by public transportation in opposite directions. 

Room decor is consistent across the board. Expect: laminate wood floors, mostly white walls, and pops of lilac in accent borders, desk chairs, and bed pillows. Art depicting Manhattan landmarks, like the Brooklyn bridge and city skyline, hang above the beds. The main difference between the rooms is square footage and bed configuration. The most entry-level category, Deluxe Queen, is a tight fit for two people, though there is a built-in closet in the entryway for storing luggage and hanging items. Family Suites are simply a Deluxe King and a Deluxe Double Bed Room accessed via an adjoining door. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the higher floors have the best views, some of them include the Hudson River. Other standard features include a flat-screen TV with cable channels, mini-fridge with bottled water, air-conditioning, electronic safe, iron, ironing board, and Wi-Fi paid for with the facility fee. Bathrooms are spacious with large vanities, toiletries, and hairdryers. Though the showers are powerful, the semi-transparent wall between the shower and the bedroom poses as a privacy issue. Though you can't see completely into the shower from the bedroom, you can definitely see an outline of what's going on in there. Another complaint is the small and thin bed pillows. 

Upgrading to a Junior Suite or Presidential Suite buys a change in decor, with bold red accents replacing lilac found in the rooms. Suites also have additional square footage, sitting areas, and a hydromassage tub in the bathroom. 

The most attractive feature is the hotel's walkable location in Times Square. But it also has three dining options and a handful of other conveniences. Rates include a free hot breakfast buffet of pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, pastries, fresh fruit, oatmeal, and coffee. The breakfast room is large and divided between two identical buffet stations to keep traffic flowing smoothly, plus huge windows overlooking the street provide natural light. Buffet dinner is also served here, and half-board rates are available for those who want to eat breakfast and dinner at the hotel. There's also Fashion Bar in the lobby, which serves breakfast to hotel guests, and then opens to the public in the late afternoon for cocktails and small plates. Capital is the grab-and-go coffee shop with specialty coffees, pastries, and snacks. The basement level holds a small, but modern, gym with Lifefitness cardio equipment, weights, and yoga balls. A daily facility fee covers Wi-Fi, bottled water, and tips for buffet staff.