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The Empire Hotel

Exterior

At a Glance

    Pros

  • prime location next to Lincoln Center and just blocks from Central Park
  • beautiful rooftop pool and bar
  • complimentary issues of

    Cons

  • rooftop bar brings lots of foot traffic through hotel lobby
  • elevators are beautifully redecorated but still feel rickety
  • bathrooms are nicely designed but tiny
  • pool is quite small

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The Empire Hotel Review

This historic Upper West Side spot, which reopened in 2008 after an extensive redesign, offers a dizzying number of amenities. When you first enter the hotel, you'll be drawn to the sophisticated, bi-level lobby with floor-to-ceiling silk drapes, high-back banquettes, and a dimly lighted bar. That's before you soak up the sun and enjoy the breathtaking views from the rooftop pool and lounge area, which becomes a hot and occasionally overrun watering hole in the evenings underneath the hotel's iconic red neon sign. Guest rooms, which are small, provide a comfortable and chic escape from the bustle of the city. A soothing palette of varying shades of brown is complemented with animal-print chairs, dark-wood accents, and luxurious amenities such as flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, and Frette linens. Ed Brown, formerly of Sea Grill and Eight-One restaurants, runs Ed's Chowder House on the second floor.

    Contact Information

  • Address: 44 W. 63rd St., at Columbus Ave., Upper West Side, New York, NY, 10023 | Map It
  • Phone: 212/265-7401
  • Website: www.empirehotelnyc.com
  • Subway: 1, A, B, C to 59th St./Columbus Circle.
  • Location: Upper West Side

    Hotel Amenities

  • 50 suites, 370 rooms.
  • Restaurant, bar, pool.
  • Rooms have: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi.
  • Credit cards accepted.

Member Reviews

  • Italiasubito, from Portland, Maine
    1/21/09

    Very high quality decor, linens. Although the bathrooms are small, they are well-appointed, and I loved the rainforest shower head! Staff at the front desk were very helpful. Location perfect, near the park, shops and subway. Would definitely book again.

    Ratings details: Room: 5 | Atmosphere: 5 | Service: 5 | Value: 4
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