The Warwick Hotel NYC

While most of my stays in NYC are less than a week, as of late the development of our new musical often requires extended stays. Now that the rental market is cracking down on short-term rentals in New York, finding a reasonably priced hotel for 10-14 days can be challenging.

When I’m just in town by myself or with some girlfriends, we don’t spend much time in the hotel. A double queen studio does the trick. But when hubs and I have to stay for longer than a week, one of my priorities is having some space to spread out. He likes to get up much earlier than I do, so he needs a place to make coffee and read while I get a little more shuteye.

Recently, I scored a great deal at the Warwick Hotel. It’s a beautiful, 4-star luxury hotel built in 1926 and has welcomed prestigious guests including The Beatles, Elvis, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor, and was even home to Cary Grant for over 12 years. It offers regular rooms and suites, and I snagged a “On the Avenue One Bedroom Suite” directly from the hotel site.

Click here to download my NYC Travel Planner!

Location

I’m pretty picky when it comes to where I stay when I’m in the city.  When AirBnBs were easier to come by, I’d always look for a place in the Upper West Side, generally around 82nd and Columbus. It’s quiet, the shops and restaurants are quaint, and there’s a good neighborhood vibe. But when I have to go the hotel route, it’s always somewhere between midtown and Central Park South for me. The location is quiet and clean and in good proximity to the theater district, 5th Avenue, Rockefeller, and Central Park.

I’ve stayed at the New York Hilton Midtown (my fave for girlfriends) and the Westhouse (great for long stays). The price on the Warwick beat out the Westhouse this time, so I gave it a whirl.

I try to avoid staying within a few blocks of Times Square, but do want to be within a short walk. That keeps the noise and lights down but allows for a quick jaunt back to the hotel after a late show—which is really helpful if it’s freezing or raining! (I’m a walker—no cabs unless absolutely necessary. You’re in a walkable city—walk it!)

The 7th Ave subway station is just a block away, and if you do need a taxi, the Hilton across the street has a constant stream at the ready (there’s often one available outside the Warwick as well).

And perhaps most importantly—my beloved Halal Guys street cart is across the street (53rd & 6th). It’s a must-eat and they’re open late. (Get the chicken platter. Go heavy on the white sauce and be careful with the red. 🔥)

First Impressions of the Warwick Hotel

The exterior of the Warwick is stately and regal, to be expected of a luxury hotel in NYC. The doorman at the revolving entrance door was kind and considerate and complete with full top hat. (That’s the first time I’ve ever spoken to someone wearing a legit top hat. I thoroughly enjoyed that on the daily.)  Upon entry, a bright, pristine foyer with fresh flowers, elegant chandeliers, marble floors, and all the historic charm you’d expect from a 100-year-old landmark.

Accommodations

Our room was the “On the Avenue (6th) One Bedroom Suite.” The hotel website states: “The On The Avenue One Bedroom Suite infuses your New York City stay with a touch of Hollywood. In addition to 654 square feet of spacious classic elegance, the sweeping views of the famed Avenue of the Americas from our one bedroom hotel suite offer an inspired ambience that is uniquely Warwick. Each suite features a living area leading to a bedroom and with a marble bathroom.” …. and they are SPOT ON.

Upon exiting the (generously sized) elevator, we walked through halls lined with artwork, portraits, and clippings of famed guests. These were no dingy, stale, dark hotel halls, they were the corridors of the stars and still held the glamour of days gone by. Unlocking our room, we stepped into our own mini-foyer with coat closet, chandelier and wood floors. A set of buttons at the door lit our desired combination of lamps and chandeliers all at once or one-by-one, and a similar set was conveniently bedside.

The large living room was bright with a golden ambiance and a bank of windows looked down and across 6th Avenue. We enjoyed a work desk, small dining table with 4 chairs, full sofa and 2 cozy chairs in the living room. The separate bedroom was generously sized as well and boasted a king bed, full window, full closet, large dresser, multiple lamps, and settee. The bathroom was small but adequate. My only complaint was the bathroom lighting was a bit dark for getting ready.

Amenities and Services

When I’m in the city for a short time, I typically let my city-walking do the trick for working out. I can get upwards of 15-20,000 steps in a day, and we typically go from early until late. So I’m beat and ready for bed when I finally get back to the hotel. But for longer stays where I’m living like a local and working all day, I like to have a full gym available. If the weather’s good (and I’m up early), I’ll run Central Park. But most likely I’m working out after work when the sun’s down and need a safer alternative. The Warwick has a great fitness facility complete with treadmills, elliptical machines, free weights and weight machines.

I typically don’t eat room service or in the hotel restaurants/bars, so I can’t speak to the quality there. The restaurants were comfortably crowded with happy patrons, so if that’s your thing—it looked good from what I could see.

The rooms were equipped with Keurig coffee machines, and there was no coffee available anywhere else in the hotel (except the sit-down restaurants). Hubs is a coffee snob so he ventured out every morning to retrieve coffee and pastries (while I took my time waking up in my dark, undisturbed room).

Pricing

Depending on the time of year, a nice New York City hotel in the midtown area will ballpark between $250 and $450 per night. The Warwick offers the best rate directly on their website, but it’s always good to compare rates on travel sites like Hotels.com. My rate ended up being around $425/night for a one bedroom suite.

Note: Most of the larger hotels in NYC charge a nightly resort fee, which is not included if you purchase on sites such as hotels.com or other travel sites. You’ll be charged that fee upon checkout. If you join the free Warwick Journeys program, the resort fee is waived, and you can get better member rates as well. New York is an expensive city, so get those discounts where you can!

Overall Experience at the Warwick Hotel

For an upscale treat or an extended stay with room to spread out, the Warwick New York hotel is a great option. The staff was wonderful, the rooms pristine and the atmosphere upon entry is welcoming and elegant.

If you’ve stayed at the Warwick, I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below. Have another great place you recommend? Let us know and we’ll try it out!

Further reading: My recs for brunch in NYC or Download my NYC Travel Planner!