Mayfair Hotel

Housed inside an early 20th Century building, the Mayfair Hotel sits in quiet contrast to its commercial theater neighbor. Past the Mayfair’s period facade, its dimly lit, Old World interior feels like stepping back in time. Art Deco-era timber paneling wraps the lobby from wall to wall (reception desk included). Black-and-white historic portraits of celebrities like Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis Jr. line the lobby walls, and a grand piano sits at the rear of the room. Tartan Chesterfield loveseats and slipper chairs, faux flowers, and brass floor lamps populate the lobby, while tattered carpet and shabby wallpaper line the hallways. The dated (and in many places worn) decor points to the property's golden days -- which have clearly faded. What remains, however, is a quirky throwback look that some guest find charming and others less so. The on-site restaurant and bar, Cielo, marks a saloon-meets-sports-bar departure from the rest of the hotel, with its rustic timber interior, and multiple flat screen TVs.

The Mayfair is very centrally located right on the fringes of the Theater District in Midtown West, by some of the city's most iconic Broadway shows. The Eugene O’Neill Theater is right next door, and the Ambassador Theater is half a block away. Midtown landmarks that can be reached on foot include the Empire State Building (20 minutes), Central Park (15 minutes), the Museum of Modern Art (10 Minutes), and Rockefeller Center (seven minutes). Just three blocks south, or a five-minute walk, is West 46th Street, aka Restaurant Row, which is lined with eateries and bars, though many locals prefer dining in the bustling Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, a seven-minute walk away. To reach sights farther afield, guests can use the abundant public transportation. Two subway stops are located one block away in either direction offering the A, C and E trains and the N, Q and R trains, respectively. Port Authority Bus Terminal is 10 minutes on foot, and it's around a 25-minute walk or seven minutes in a cab to Penn Station. John F. Kennedy International Airport is a 45-minute drive away, and LaGuardia Airport is 30 minutes by car, without traffic. 

The Mayfair’s Old-World tone continues into the guest rooms, where the excessive use of toile (in wallpaper, pillows, lamp shades, curtains, andlounge chairs) can feel either quirky-cute or overwhelming. But crisp white bedding breaks up the uniform look. Room layouts range from Single through Deluxe King Rooms, which offer pullout sofas. Lower-category rooms are on the small side, with barely enough room to store luggage. Deluxe Rooms offer desks and updated bathrooms (some of them marble). And throughout bathrooms are a highlight with checkered floors, free toiletries, and pedestal sinks sporting Art Deco fixtures (in most). Rooms at the rear are peaceful, apart from the coo of nesting pigeons, which can be heard from outside. But you’ll only get sunlight on the (noisier) street side of the building, where pulling back the drawn curtains reveals lovely views of the neo-Gothic chapel across the road -- albeit through dirty windows. All rooms are equipped with LCD TVs (except Singles with tube TVs), digital alarm clocks, irons and ironing boards, air-conditioning units, and safes. However coffee- and tea-making facilities are provided. Wi-Fi is available in-room for free. 

The Mayfair is low on amenities, aside from its 24-hour computer center and in-house restaurant and bar, Cielo Ristorante Italiano, which springs to life in the evenings with the pre- and post-show theater crowd and intermission drinks. (Guests can order drinks ahead of time.) Cielo isn’t open for breakfast, but lunch through dinner it serves up classic home-style Italian fare, such as antipasti, pasta, pizza, and cocktails from the bar -- convenient for a quick snack, dinner, or nightcap. The Mayfair offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Additional features include car service, laundry and ironing, concierge service, and luggage storage.