Warwick New York
65 W. 54th St., at 6th Ave., New York, New York 10019, USA
Why We Like It
The Warwick is a comfortable hotel in a central area with incredibly friendly and accommodating service—that alone is enough to make us like it. But, toss in an amazing history (one which the hotel honors and pays homage, to boot), a decent bar, and a rude mural, and you’ve got yourself a pretty damn good time.
Fodor's Expert Review
This is a hotel with a history. Built by William Randolph Hearst for his mistress, the actress Marion Davies, the Warwick has been a hangout for celebrities, titans, and politicians since day one. Cary Grant lived here for twelve years. The Beatles stayed here in August of 1965 when they played Shea Stadium, and again in August of 1966 (they gave a press conference from the hotel that year). Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Elvis–they all rested their heads here. Even the president of Iran holed up here during a UN General Assembly Meeting.
And though it’s been updated and modernized for a new era, the property still maintains much of its historic charm.
Tip The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade wanders down 6th Avenue, just past the Warwick Hotel. If you want a parade-facing room, book early and expect to pay a premium.
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Room
By Manhattan standards, the Warwick’s rooms, which start at 250 square feet, are noticeably generous in size. They are, also, quite comfortable. However, their décor plays it a little too safe. There is a reason for this—located in Midtown Manhattan, the hotel is a smart choice for both business and leisure travel, and is designed to suit the taste preferences of a wide swath of guest. That can be disappointing to those who want a more design-oriented bedroom, but it shouldn’t dissuade most guests.
Most of the rooms, though, have Marion Davies face somewhere—it’s hard to escape the hotel’s muse.
Tip If one is looking for a more luxurious style, the eight individually-design signature suites offer them. Of course, luxury always comes at a premium price.
Bathroom
Designed with floor-to-ceiling beige marble tiling, the bathrooms are what many will expect from a New York City hotel bathroom—small, but certainly acceptable. Gilchrest & Soames provides the amenities.
Lobby
A small but pleasant lobby which is not so much a hang-out spot, like at so many trendy hotels, but an area for those who are waiting. Nevertheless, it has the bones of its storied past and the slight nod to elegance that one should expect. It somehow feels more like the lobby of an apartment building lobby, than that of a hotel—which makes sense, as there were once so many long-term residents, Cary Grant included.
Dining
Murals on 54 provides both an a la carte and buffet breakfast. There is nothing particularly sublime about the food—breakfast menus are rarely amazing—but the room itself is both lovely and amusing. It is surrounded by murals (hence the name) which were painted by illustrator and muralist Dean Cornwell, and which all pay homage to Sir Walter Raleigh. As legend has it, Hearst tried to stiff Cornwell out of his rumored $100,000 commission, and in a fit of artistic spite, Cornwell added in one very rude detail. If you look closely at the Queen Elizabeth mural, there’s a sailor in a boat who appears to be doing something rather disrespectful to her royal highness.
For lunch and dinner, Randolph’s (named after Heart, of course) is an excellent option and reasonably priced (by New York hotel standards).
Drinking
Though there isn’t a separate bar, per se, Randolph’s will serve all your drinking needs, and is a lovely place for a nightcap.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
For those looking to stay in Midtown, the hotel couldn’t be in a more convenient location. For those who want to stay in Midtown, but want to escape to somewhere else, the E, B, and D trains are at 7th Avenue/53rd Street and the N, Q, R, and W trains are at 7th Avenue and 57th Street.
Restaurants
Much more than a museum restaurant, the Michelin-two-starred The Modern (4-minute walk) overlooks the sculpture garden of the Museum of Modern Art. A classic Parisian bistro from Chef Alain Ducasse, Benoit (2-minute walk) is an informal spot to feast on charcuterie and cassoulet. Neapolitan-style pizza is served at PizzArte (2-minute walk), a bi-level space with modern art on the wall that you can purchase. It’s for sale. Have some pizza, buy some art. It’s a good time.
Bars
One of New York City’s most storied watering holes is the King Cole Bar (5-minute walk) in the St. Regis Hotel. Like Murals on 54, its centerpiece is a mural—Maxfield Parrish’s Old King Cole (murals were big a century ago). Candles and a fireplace bring a warmth to Whiskey Trader (2-minute walk), a mural-less multi-level bar and lounge with big TVs that show sports on them, if you like watching sports.
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