As the tallest hotel in North America, the Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park offers a unique perspective high above the city. Occupying the upper floors of a 750-foot skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, the hotel boasts spectacular panoramic views. In addition to its prime location, the hotel’s proximity to Central Park, Times Square and numerous subway lines makes it an ideal base for exploring all that New York City has to offer.
Property Location
Midtown Manhattan is home to the Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park, located at 1717 Broadway (entrance on West 54th Street). This bustling hub is known for its iconic landmarks, world-class entertainment and vibrant atmosphere. With Central Park just five blocks away, guests have easy access to one of the world’s most iconic green spaces. Times Square is about a 10-minute walk south, making it easy to catch a Broadway show. Guests can also easily explore Rockefeller Center, Columbus Circle and Lincoln Center, all within a short distance of the hotel.
Adding to its convenient location, 7 subway stations within a 5-block radius provide easy access to most subway lines, including the 1, 2, and A/B/C/D lines, and access to other lines as well. The closest stations are 57th Street-7th Avenue (57 St-7 Av) and 7th Avenue (7 Av), making it easy to explore all of New York City.
Check-In Experience
Arriving at around 9:00 AM after an early flight from Singapore, we were the only guests at the front desk and were delighted to be checked into our 43rd-floor room so early, a real bonus! The shared lobby for Residence Inn and Courtyard guests was efficient, allowing us to quickly begin our stay. Heading towards the elevators, we passed a striking artwork by William DeBilzan. His signature elongated figures seemed to echo the impressive height of the Residence Inn Central Park, North America’s tallest hotel.
Room Quality and Comfort
Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park offers 261 rooms and our stay provided the opportunity to experience two of their studio suites with distinct views: the Times Square View Studio on the 43rd floor and the Partial Central Park View Studio on the 59th floor.
Times Square View Studio
Our first room, the Times Square View Studio (Room 4306) on the 43rd floor, provided great views in the direction of the iconic Times Square and partial views of the Hudson River.
The compact studio includes a kitchenette just inside the entrance, a separate bedroom, and a bathroom with a glass-door shower.
The room’s layout had a design quirk. The bathroom was immediately visible upon entering, which might be a consideration for some guests seeking more privacy.
With three pieces of luggage, the 200 sq ft studio felt cramped, prompting us to request a larger room. The front desk kindly upgraded us to a Partial Central Park View Studio for the rest of our stay.
Partial Central Park View Studio
The Partial Central Park View Studio (Room 5901) was a welcome upgrade. The increased space and improved layout made the room more comfortable and easier to navigate. While not overly spacious (welcome to New York!), it offered a much-improved stay.
The corner room offers stunning views of Manhattan, the Hudson River and of course, Central Park.
The room’s dated interior and tired finishes could use a refresh to bring it up to date and enhance the overall experience for guests.
The kitchenette provides the essentials for convenient in-room dining, although the absence of a stovetop made the provided cooking pots somewhat puzzling.
Wi-Fi speed in both rooms averaged 15 Mbps, sufficient for browsing, email and light streaming.
Like many Marriott properties, the Residence Inn Central Park offers Mobile Key, allowing guests to unlock their rooms with their smartphones.
iPhone users can create an iOS Shortcut for voice-activated access, by simply saying “Hey Siri, unlock door” to open the Mobile Key in the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Dining Options
Dining at the Residence Inn Central Park is limited to a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, served weekdays (6:30 AM to 9:30 AM) and weekends (7:00 AM to 10:00 AM) in the 3rd floor dining hall. The buffet offered a good variety of hot and cold breakfast items, including oatmeal, cereals, bread, pastries, coffee, and tea, providing ample choices for a hearty breakfast. However, vegan options were limited.
The dining hall transforms into Nosh Bistro in the afternoon, featuring a daily happy hour from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The Residence Inn Central Park focuses primarily on its complimentary breakfast buffet when it comes to on-site dining. There’s no room service, unfortunately. But the good news is, you’re in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, so finding a great meal nearby is super easy. Plus, there’s a 24/7 market right in the lobby for snacks and drinks.
Onsite Facilities
Guests at the Residence Inn Central Park can enjoy the convenience of a 24-hour fitness center, on-site laundry, and readily available ice machines. However, a swimming pool is not among the offerings.
Fitness Center
Located on the 35th floor, the 24/7 fitness center offers a wide selection of equipment, including cardio machines, Woodway 4Front treadmills, Wattbike bike trainer, Peloton bikes and various strength training equipment.
Ice Machines
Guests will find two ice machines on the 35th floor, one situated near the Courtyard by Marriott elevators and the other adjacent to the laundry room entrance.
On-site Laundry
Residence Inn Central Park offers a spacious, well-equipped laundry room with a dozen washers and dryers. Each load costs $3.50 but does not include laundry detergent, which can be purchased from the 24/7 Market in the lobby.
Customer Service
We found the staff to be generally responsive to our requests. After expressing our concerns about the size of our initial studio, the front desk kindly upgraded us to a larger room. Housekeeping service was satisfactory, although it required multiple reminders through chat on the Marriott Bonvoy app to receive the lotion we requested.
Loyalty Benefits
As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, I was thanked for my loyalty at check-in and enjoyed early check-in (well before the standard 4:00 PM). While a room upgrade wasn’t initially available, we accepted the recommended Times Square View Studio. However, the studio proved a bit small for two adults with three pieces of luggage, so we requested and received a complimentary upgrade to the larger Partial Central Park View Studio, which we appreciated.
Value for Money
Our four-night stay at Residence Inn Central Park averaged $416 USD per night, which is higher than average for New York City hotels and likely inflated due to Thanksgiving week. However, the Residence Inn Central Park’s unbeatable location and stunning views more than compensated. Being in Midtown Manhattan meant easy access to countless attractions and multiple subway lines for exploring the entire city. The room’s views of Times Square, Central Park and the Hudson River were a real treat and a key factor in the overall value.
Overall Experience
Overall, our stay at the Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park was a positive one. The hotel’s prime location high above the city, offering stunning views of Times Square, Central Park and the Hudson River, was a major highlight. While our initial studio was a bit small, the staff were very accommodating in upgrading us to a larger room, which made a big difference. The limited on-site dining wasn’t a major issue given the abundance of restaurants within walking distance. While the price is a consideration, the overall experience, especially the views and location, made it a worthwhile stay. We’d happily recommend this hotel to those looking for a centrally located base in Manhattan.
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