Heading to NYC? We review one of our favourite hotels in Times Square – Hilton Times Square. Complete with our pros and cons.
Where to stay in New York City?! Situated on West 42nd Steet, the Hilton Times Square has become an integral part of Times Square. Walking out, literally on to Times Square, is the most marvellous feeling you could ask for.
We stayed here for a week during our summer tour around America and here are the Pros and Cons.
Times Square Hilton Hotel Review
Time Square Hilton Location
Pros:
This hotel is my top choice because of its fabulous location. Just a few steps away from the subway station, this is ideal for those wanting to explore the city and nightlife. What makes this hotel superb is its spot on Times Square. The hustle and bustle will whirl you away in excitement and you will never get bored with things to do, any time of the day.
We were surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, theatres, sightseeing buses and fast food stops. We loved walked through Times Square all the time and the hotel has two entrances so you can exit onto a quieter street away from Times Square if you wish.
Cons:
The location is fantastic for seeing Manhattan but can get super crowded and busy at the immediate entrance/exit of the hotel. A few times, we found ourselves struggling through the crowds just to get into the hotel lobby. However, there are two doors in and out of the hotel so you can always opt for the rear door which leads you to a quieter street.
NYC Hilton Times Square address:
234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, United States
The Rooms at Hilton NYC Times Square
Pros:
The rooms are spacious and luxurious with great views of the city. The bed and arm chair were incredibly comfy and showers are powerful. There are plenty of room amenities and hotel facilities to enjoy, with a flat screen television and some great bath products.
The average size of a room here is 330-square feet; a staggering size for Midtown Manhattan. Also, because rooms start on the 23rd floor, you aren’t disturbed by the street noise.
Cons:
For Manhattan, this is a sizeable room. We had no complaints about the room but would always prefer a bathtub – but they are hard to find in NYC!
Is the Hilton Hotel in Times Square worth it?
One of the biggest concerns you may have with the Hilton Times Square hotel is the price! Hotels in NYC are expensive and Hilton is pricey; average room rates are around $160. But is it worth it?
It perspective, YES. This room is well worth the price. In previous NYC trips, we had stayed the budget chain hotel Econo Lodge (also Times Square) and the Hilton actually worked out cheaper.
Things to know before visiting Hilton Times Square New York
The staff: The staff were friendly and bubbly and they were extremely helpful during our stay. Our previous hotel during our travels had charged us twice for our stay, so the Hilton staff helped us by contacting that hotel directly and talking them through how to sort the issue out for us – we couldn’t have asked for more.
Pros:
- Gorgeous views from the room.
- iPod docks, coffeemaker and mini bar.
- A light, spacious fitness centre.
- Business centre with meeting facilities.
- Free wifi in the lobby.
Cons:
- Unsurprisingly, parking is expensive here.
- No pool is available here.
- Wifi is available but for a fee.
Getting around:
Because of the location of the Hilton Times Square, you can walk to many major sights in the area:
- On Times Square
- 6-minute walk to Broadway
- 15 minutes to Rockefeller Centre
- 20 minutes to Central Park
- 15 minutes to Empire State Building
The A, C and E train lines are easily accessible at nearby 42nd Street/8th Avenue whilst train 1,2 and 3 is at 42nd Street/7th Avenue.
Restaurants at Hilton Times Square
Pinnacle Bar Hilton Times Square
The Pinnacle Bar is found in the lobby of the Hilton NYC hotel and overlooks Times Square. This is ideal for drinks and light meals, although dinner is available here too.
Open: 11am – 12am
Above Restaurant Hilton Times Square
Located 21 storeys above Times Square, the Above Restaurant offers American cuisine and is particularly popular for its breakfast.
Open 7am – 10pm
Restaurants near Hilton in Times Square, NYC
Restaurants:
- Dallas BBQ – BBQ restaurant with amazing baby back ribs.
- Wolfgang Steakhouse – Arguably the best steak in Times Square
- Hard Rock Cafe – Home to NYC’s branch of this popular chain.
- Ruby Tuesdays – casual chain restaurant serving your typical American food.
- Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery – The best desserts in town are found here.
- Hakkasan – A high-end Cantonese restaurant in the heart of New York.
- Blossom on Ninth – A vegan-friendly option with delicious inventive dishes.
Bars:
- O’Donoghues – This is my fave bar and not just because it’s my maiden name. This is a relaxed bar with drinks not too expensive considering its location.
- Gleason’s Tavern – A casual bar with good pub food.
- Bar 54 – The highest rooftop bar in NYC.
- STITCH Bar and Lounge – A great atmosphere with super happy hour deals!
Helpful Resources
More tips for NYC visits:
Overall, this hotel is one of our favourites in New York City and is highly recommend; especially for first time visitors to the city!
We hope you have a great time in New York City – let us know what you are most looking forward to in the comments below!
14 Comments
I like this post. I want to do such review soon on my recent visit to havelis of jodhpur. Your writing is inspiring. I stayed in Hilton in London once and I totally recommend it too. Thank you for informing details.
I’ve still haven’t been to New York! It’s a city on my list because I’ve been reading so much helpful information including yours! This hotel seems like it would be perfect for me, since I enjoy nightlife and city lights. Completely agree that location can be a pro and con, yet thankfully the view sometimes makes up for that
I love Hilton and this one is really nice. I hate how expensive it is to stay in the city so I never do but that’s also because I’m only 30 min away lol
Wow, what an amazing location to be staying at in New York!! I wish I’d been this lucky when I went. I was staying in Williamsburg:) It was really nice, but I’m sure it can’t measure up to having Times Square right on your doorstep:D Thanks for the great review!
Great review! I get what you mean about being a bit tooo busy but at the same time nice to be central! I am so looking forward to visiting New York for my 30th Birthday!
I think the con is not that super negative, well it’s obvious that when you are reserving a hotel in the city center is expected to have tons of people around and busy area, noisy too with the sound of cars. However the hotel is cozy, it looks neat and facilities are complete. I would love to spend 3 nights here watching that wonderful scene from the higher ground.
Hilton would be the best choice you have made. They have the best hotels. The con doesn’t sound all that bad. The best places are always crowded 🙂 That was a good review. Enjoyed reading it
The location does it for me. In hotels like these, a prime location would be just perfect, It’s so easy to hop onto public transport, your favourite cafe or to explore nearby places on foot. THe property looks really cool too. Cheers!!
I have stayed in a couple of Hiltons’ although never stateside. It is funny that the location ends up being both a plus and minus.
Looks like a lovely place to stay – these days I tend to look at Amor BNB’s first before hotels. I found NYC to be pretty expensive for accommodation too. I do like the Hilton group of hotels.
[…] WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK CITY? HILTON TIMES SQUARE […]
[…] WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK CITY? HILTON TIMES SQUARE […]
[…] WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK CITY? HILTON TIMES SQUARE […]
[…] While being one of the most popular spots in New York, my Google Maps couldn’t find it… I walked 9 blocks down the wrong direction when I noticed it. So just to make sure none of you get tricked by Google, bear in mind, that it’s located at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. What I really love about this place, that they sometimes refer to it as the “Center of the Universe”, and standing there actually felt like it! If you want to stay in the center of the Universe while you’re in New York City, make sure to check out Hilton Times Square! […]