I recently took a one-day staycation at the Motto By Hilton at 152 West 48th Street, right in the heart of Times Square. (There is another fabulous property in Chelsea.) Starting at $174 per night, you get incredible bang for your buck as each room has the biggest flat screen TVs that I have ever seen in a hotel (your name is on the screen when you arrive) and is very efficiently designed. There are no dressers or closets but you get racks to hang your items on and to lay your suitcase on. A ledge at the edge of the bed works as a bed, desk or vanity table. There is a toilet and walk in shower right next to each separated by a wall; each has sliding privacy glass doors. Now, the special things are the views of Times Square which are fabulous from every room and the ultra comfortable but firm queen size mattresses. With the price of your room, you get a $10 food credit for each day of your stay, two bottles of water, Motto candy bars, ear plugs, fantastic full sized toiletries by organic skincare company BASD, gym access, unlimited Wi-Fi and a free Citibike rental! As you can see from the photo above, everyone is welcome to lounge at leisurely pace in the lobby which looks like a hip cousin’s living room.
The Alderman Cafe (whose website is www.aldermannyc.com) is simple, comfortable and modern but it serves very high end Modern American food at reasonable prices. They have incredible steak specials. I had the steak special for $42 and the night I went it was a wonderfully tender flank steak with grilled leeks and a peppered up warm brown sauce. The Pot De Chocolat was a super elegant dessert that I adored. It was basically a chocolate mousse topped with fresh dark chocolate chips and a lattice work butter cookies shaped like leaves. All food is plated as works of art! Be sure to try the peach covered Dutch Baby for breakfast—it’s truly special and enough for two or three hungry people to share as it is about 15” in diameter. It’s something I have never seen on a NYC resto breakfast menu and I was excited to try it! It’s kind of like a “fruit pizza with a white icing drizzle for breakfast!
The bar area off the lobby is perfect for people watching as you can tell from the photo above thanks to floor to ceiling windows. Drinks are priced better than most hotel bars and there are options under $10. You can also score some great American and Euro coffees here! You can make new friends milling about while guests are awaiting to check in at 4 PM. (By the way, you can get a noon checkout without any fees.)
Now back to talking about the amazing view from each room. This is what you get from the most northern room on the 34th Floor. There are double shades so you can determine how much of a “blackout” effect when you go to bed in the city that never sleeps! There is a full length mirror in the middle of the room that is a real plus as well. The modern shower has a removable nozzle and amazing water pressure. The minty BASD brand shampoo and conditioner are attached to a metal shelf so you only need one hand to pump them.
Here is the super efficient sink, rack, safe and fridge wall unit that is really convenient to use! You can take the luggage rack tucked on the site and put it next to or in front of the mirror on the opposite side of the room to keep it safely away from the bed.
Here’s the queen size bed that got a little rumpled when I napped but trust me that it is super comfortable. Each room has an adjustable thermostat and the awesome aforementioned seven foot wide TV! Your name is on the when you enter for a super warm welcome!
I also love that the Motto staff has a sense of humor as you can see from the floor of one of the elevators! The front staff is friendly, too and can make recommendations on nearby places to go for a snack. Carvel and the Hard Rock Hotel are right across the street. You are also a stone’s throw from six or seven Broadway theaters. For more info or to book a room, go to: Motto By Hilton Times Square. You will make this hotel your “go-to” every time you visit the Big Apple! You can bring your pet as well for an additional $50 per day.
