The Empire Hotel

Michelle Newcomb

My daughter and I are staying here two nights so that we can walk across the street and see a show at Lincoln Center. This is a bit of extra money, but if you have it to spare, the location simply cannot be beat. I'd love to see them add coffee brewers, but it is super easy to grab either Starbucks next door or brunch at The Smith across the street. We have a king room that is maybe a pseudo-suite? in that it has the pullout couch and chair and desk space, but not divided into two separate spaces. Very large by NYC standards(400sqft?) it is lovely, on a corner looking out over both The Smith and Lincoln Center. The room is very clean and has excellent housekeeping service that I wasn't even expecting for such a short stay. The toiletries are great, as well. Our favorite part of this trip was Adrik, Leslie V. and Leslie Z. at the front desk! They were on point with their absolutely STELLAR welcome and help after a long trip in lousy weather. All three are gems...give them a raise! Finally, the restaurants: dinner at Rosa Mexicano in the hotel was fabulous, especially the table side guac: and the rooftop bar was a blast with our server Claudia who is also a gem! This has been an awesome trip, and if I come back to the city, this is where I'll book.

John DeSerio

Hard to beat location. Great front desk staff/ security staff and cleaning staff, but was not accommodating since we were given the smallest room in the hotel (#339) and only one bed. This was even after sharing that this was a special 10 year birthday trip for my son and requesting two beds for the five days we were there. We travelled from California and made reservations two weeks in advance so it wasn’t like it was last notice. I did get a free tooth brush because I forgot mine. We checked in early and stored our bags (free and helpful service) but still had a room that had a view of the garbage shaft and the wall. Again we had a five day reservation and this didn’t make us feel cared for. When I asked to change to a room with two beds upon check in, I was told to check back the next day because of availability. Staff never followed up with me and I wasn’t paying bargain prices. Nice pool area but small (6 ft by 20 ft). Closet door had a broken hinge, fridge had huge amount of ice, and large scratches were all over the room and shower. Hot water ran out one of the nights (got a $20 credit). I only realized we had such a tiny room when upon checking out I saw our next door neighbors queen room and it was HUGE! I will not be going back.

Danon Pascoa

5 stars — It’s the service that keeps bringing me back I’ve stayed at the Empire Hotel more than once, and while the rooms are a little dated and the darker colour scheme may not be everyone’s preference, the service is what truly sets this hotel apart for me. Ariel, Pasquale and the entire front desk team are exceptional. They are warm, welcoming, attentive and genuinely make you feel like a returning guest rather than just another reservation. And Jose and the team at the door are just as wonderful — always friendly, helpful and ready to make your arrival and departure feel effortless. For me, great hotel service is about the people, and the people at the Empire absolutely deliver. They remember you, they care, and they consistently make each stay feel special. There are plenty of beautiful, modern hotels in New York, but that kind of genuine hospitality is much harder to find. It’s the reason I keep coming back to the Empire, and why I’ll continue to recommend it. Five stars, without hesitation, for the people who make this place feel like home in NYC.

George Shepherd

My girlfriend and I had a wonderful stay for five days. The room was clean and everything worked. The daily cleaning of the room was perfect. The location is great, next to Lincoln Center and Central Park. We also enjoyed several evenings enjoying the rooftop bar, with great views. The staff were always friendly and professional. It was a great stay, and we look forward to returning.

Kerri Crowley

We recently stayed at The Empire Hotel while our daughter attended the School of American Ballet. The location and proximity to SAB and Central Park were perfect! The staff at the Empire were warm, welcoming, and attentive. The lobby was comfortable and beautifully decorated. Getting water bottles at check in and check out was really appreciated during the sweltering weather. The in-house restaurant, Rosa Mexicano, provided a delicious meal that we enjoyed together as well. The reason I am leaving a 4 star review is that the room was definitely in need of updating. Peeling paint, old surfaces that were damaged, and a thermostat that did not work well were issues. The drawers in our nightstand were open when we entered the room because they did not stay closed, even with items inside them. I banged my leg on them in the middle of the night. We also expected a hotel with this price point to have ice machines available on each floor. This is not the case, which would have been helpful to know at check in. We needed ice and were almost late to our daughter's class due to the time needed for housekeeping to bring it to us. We would stay here again, but due to those limitations, we gave 4 stars.