144 Washington Street, New York City, New York, United States | (586) 210-9239
Next to the 9-11 Memorial and nine-minute walk to Battery Park in the Financial District
Contemporary rooms with Keurigs and flat-screen TVs
Extended-stay apartments with kitchens and free local calls
American restaurant with 20th floor terrace dining, plus room service
Free daily wine hour and paid made-to-order breakfast
Business center and meeting rooms
Fitness center offers mostly cardio machines
Loaner iPads and free Wi-Fi
Free laundry room
Valet and discounted self-parking
No pool or spa
Complaints about uncomfortable mattresses
Rooms are tight on space (not uncommon for Manhattan)
World Center Hotel is a three-and-a-half-pearl hotel that overlooks the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in the Financial District. This view is played up in the American restaurant and bar (with it’s outdoor dining terrace) and from some of the guest rooms. While the style of the hotel’s public spaces are attractive, the 169 small rooms are somewhat bland. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and Keurig machines. Only upper-level rooms offer mini-fridges and microwaves or kitchenettes. A modest fitness center and free daily wine hour are notable extras. Rooms at the nearby Hampton Inn Manhattan/Downtown - Financial District are slightly more spacious, and come with the added benefit of free breakfast, making it a good alternative.
Scene
Modern hotel with a chic lobby and views of National September 11 Memorial & Museum
World Center Hotel sits in a modern hotel that’s connected to the Club Quarters Hotel, World Trade Center and shares similar amenities like elevators and a fitness center. The lobby is chic, offering a cozy seating area with gray carpets and contemporary maroon and gray seating under a modern chandelier. Hallways aren’t very spacious, but they have free, filtered drinking water stations on each floor -- a nice perk for those carrying water bottles. The View of the World restaurant is located on the 20th floor and offers a great opportunity for a meal and a view from indoor and outdoor dining rooms. Even those who have indoor seats can enjoy city views from plush white or maroon seating, as the restaurant is complete with floor-to-ceiling windows. Though some tourists do stay here, the hotel is mostly popular with business travelers.
Location
Next to the 9-11 Memorial and a nine-minute walk to Battery Park in the Financial District
World Center Hotel is in the Financial District in lower Manhattan, close to some attractions, though far from others like Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building, all of which are about a 25-minute subway ride away. The closest subway (1,R,W lines) is a five-minute walk from the property. The hotel sits next to the 9-11 Memorial and is just a nine-minute walk to Wall Street. Travelers can see the Fearless Girl statue on the way to Battery Park at a nine-minute walk away. It’s from Battery Park that visitors take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. There are lots of excellent restaurants nearby, especially at Brookfield Place, an upscale mall, which takes five minutes to reach on foot. It’s about an hours’ drive to John F. Kennedy International Airport and an hour and 15 minutes by car to LaGuardia Airport.
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffeemakers
Rooms at World Center Hotel are contemporary and slightly bland with blond wooden furniture and gray carpet that blends well with soft blue bedding and white walls. They are not as stylish as the restaurant or public areas and are quite small, which isn’t surprising for Manhattan, but may be too cozy for more than two people. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Superior Rooms offer mini-fridges and microwaves, while One-Bedroom Suites are equipped with kitchenettes and sofa beds. There have been complaints about the quality of the mattresses. Items like air purifiers, ambient sound machines, eye masks, ear plugs, and aromatherapy can be delivered to rooms upon request. Bathrooms are plain with little space and include showers, toiletries, and hairdryers. Room views vary from city views to the 9-11 Memorial, but are definitely better on the top floors and from balconies in certain Superior Rooms.The hotel does offer extended-stay apartments with kitchenettes that include sinks, refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, dishwashers, platter ware, and cookware. They also come with free local calls and weekly maid service.
Features
Stylish restaurant with a 20th-floor terrace, plus a modest gym and business features
World Center Hotel lacks a pool or spa, but it has a good selection of features for an urban hotel. The highlight is the sky-high restaurant and bar called View of the World. It offers American cuisine and indoor and outdoor dining for a paid made-to-order breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Other dining options include a room service menu that offers cuisine from View of the World and Morton’s The Steakhouse, as well as a few vending machines. There’s a free daily wine hour, too. Guests can stay fit in the gym which has some Cybex cardio machines, free weights, and a weight machine. Yoga mats and exercise equipment can be delivered to rooms for free. Business guests can take advantage of two meeting rooms, a business center, iPads to borrow, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Other amenities include a free laundry room and valet and self-parking for a fee.