Has anyone stayed at this Empire hotel on the west side of Central park in NY City? Any other suggestions for a hotel on West side of Central Park?

My parents stayed there around 15 years ago so I don't think their observations are still valid. More recently I know family members who have been happy staying at the Excelsior and the Lucerne, both on the west side.

Beacon - 75th and Broadway
Lucerne - 79th and Amsterdam
Excelsior - 81st just east of Columbus Ave.
Mayflower - 61st and Central Park West.

My sister stayed there this past Spring--said the room was very, very tiny, almost unacceptably so. We've stayed at the Mayflower numerous times and love the location and the price. Try it instead.

I've stayed at the Empire many times since 1995, and posted on it in detail here within the past two days so you could do a search. In a nutshell, my last stay was in March 2002. Yes, the rooms are small. Not so unusual for old NYC hotels. And, I didn't consider it "unacceptably small," whatever that is. Definitely don't try to cram a rollaway in. Although, one of the outside rooms I had once would have accommodated one easily. The decor is traditional and is showing signs of wear. Bathrooms are very small, but mine have always been spotless. With phones & hairdryers that worked. Rooms come with voice-mail, TV, CD players and VCRs. Inside rooms have basically no view, but are quiet (unless you are next to an elevator). They also are (duh!) the cheaper rooms. The hotel restaurant was a casualty of 9/11. Still, there's a buffet breakfast (expensive) and a bar. We generally used the grocery store/deli/buffet bar which is in the building on the ground floor (but access is from the street) for "do it yourself room service." Convenient. Reasonably priced. What I saved eating here (or on take out) allowed us to splurge more elsewhere. If the price is reasonable, I wouldn't hesitate to stay here. The location, across the street from Lincoln Center and about a block from Central Park on the west side, is hard to beat.

Also on the Upper West side are the Excelsior and the Lucerne, which have had good reviews. But, they are in residential neighborhoos and, although close to Central Park and a couple of museums, are much farther from many tourist sites.

I've also stayed at the Mayflower. The rooms are much larger, and much dowdier. A little less clean when I was last there. Refrigerator and park view rooms (more expensive) were a plus, though.

I found the Mayflower rooms to be very clean, very large bathrooms, plus a very large walk-in closet with small fridge. Easily could accommodate a rollaway in any room. Suite upgrades are often available for just the asking. Park view can't be beat. Not hard to get $179-$189 rate.