Wellington Hotel

Built in 1902, the Wellington Hotel looks classic and elegant, in a slightly dated way, from the outside. A large golden awning juts out from the brick high-rise, and red awnings decorate the second-floor windows. The lobby has the feel of a bygone era, and certainly lacks subtlety, combining boldly patterned carpeting with marble columns, a massive mirror framed in decorative tile work, and brass trim throughout. Limited seating consists of a small cluster of armchairs and cushioned benches around a fireplace and under a huge chandelier. A nearby row of elevators lead up to rooms on the 27 floors. Though it's suitable for business travelers, the hotel tends to draw more vacationing couples (and some families) than corporate guests, as the location is convenient to Midtown attractions and the subway. The property lacks many features, but guests are paying for its hard-to-beat location.

The Wellington Hotel is well-located in Midtown Manhattan on 55th Street and 7th Avenue. The property is steps from the 57th Street subway station (N, Q, R lines) and a block-and-a-half away from Carnegie Hall. The southern entrance of Central Park is a five-minute walk away; from here guests can hire horse-drawn carriages for rides around the park or rent bicycles from a Citi Bike kiosk. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is a seven-minute walk away and it's an eight-minute walk to the heart of Times Square. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is about 20-minute taxi ride or a half-hour walk through Central Park, while the Empire State Building is around 10 minutes by subway, or 20 minutes by taxi. Grand Central Station is about 15 minutes by subway or a 20-minute walk from the hotel. It's a roughly 40-minute taxi ride to LaGuardia and Newark Airports and about 45 minutes to JFK, depending on traffic. 

Rooms at the Wellington are old-fashioned but have charm to them. Decor includes coordinating blue-and-gray- or gold-and-brown-patterned carpets and bedding. Brassy accents complement mottled beige or wallpapered walls with white trim. Most rooms have cherrywood furnishings and heavy patterned drapes. Typical of Manhattan, many of the rooms are small, with little space between the beds and the walls. Flat-screen TVs are standard, though Wi-Fi (for one device) is only included with direct bookings. Standard Rooms have either one or two double beds or one queen-size bed, while more spacious Deluxe Rooms have either a king-size bed or two doubles. 

Deluxe One-Bedroom Suites sleep up to four guests, each with a king- or two full-size beds in the bedroom, plus a separate living room (some with a sofa bed or an additional large bed). Suites also have partially sectioned-off wet bars with mini-fridges and microwaves. Bathrooms outfitted in cream-colored tile have shower/tub combos, pedestal sinks, hairdryers, and free toiletries. Many rooms have city views (some of Central Park or Times Square) and double-paned windows keep traffic noise at bay, though past guests have reported that the air-conditioning units are loud. ADA accessible rooms are also available.

The Wellington doesn't offer a ton of features, but there are a couple of great places to eat on the premises. Molvyos Greek Restaurant serves traditional Greek fare for lunch and dinner daily, with a brunch service on the weekends. Breakfast is available all day at Park Cafe, which opens in the wee hours and stays open until late. Guests can opt to include breakfast with their booking. There are no meeting rooms, but a conference center is within a short walk of the hotel. There is a 24-hour business center in the lobby with five PCs and a printer. The hotel also has its own 24-hour gift shop selling souvenirs, snacks, and sundries, and there's an ATM on-site. The Wellington offers concierge services and dry cleaning can be arranged through the front desk, but be aware of possible additional fees. Valet parking (without in-and-out privileges) is available, but pricey. Wi-Fi also requires a fee unless rooms are booked directly through the hotel website.