Hotel Belleclaire

Note: As of September 2012, the Hotel Belleclaire is undergoing renovation. It is still open, but guests may experience some inconveniences or noise associated with the ongoing work. EuroCheapo will be visiting the hotel soon to report back on its new look.

Looking for a little class on the Upper West Side? Of course you are, dah’ling! The three-star Hotel Belleclaire is a stylish hotel that offers beautifully designed guest rooms at moderate prices.

Quick read

Pros: Quiet yet convenient location. Friendly staff. Nice in-room amenities (like a mini-fridge). Historic building.

Cons: Small rooms. Noisy air conditioners. Some rooms don’t have much natural light.

Rooms

The Hotel Belleclaire’s 230 renovated rooms are quite stylish. The coupling of a minimalist arrangement and modern furnishings creates a chic, comfortable aesthetic. Beds are covered in white goose-down duvets and plush pillows. Wooden desks and chairs are sleek. Large leather panels hang above the beds, and laminate-wood floors are a nice change from grubby hotel carpeting.

All rooms contain modern creature comforts: a flat-screen HD TV, iPod dock, mini-fridge, laptop safe and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms are comically small, while others are a decent size (ask ahead if you like some space).

Bathrooms

The bathrooms are small but clean and adequate, and they come equipped with a hair dryer and toiletries.

Hotel

The gorgeous landmark building that houses the Hotel Belleclaire was built at the turn of the 20th century by distinguished architect Emery Roth. Once regarded as a skyscraper, today it is noteworthy for its unique Beaux-Arts-meets-Art-Nouveau-Scessionist style.

In keeping with this sense of Old-World luxury, the Belleclaire’s lobby sports dark hardwood flooring and lots of mirrors. Leather couches and velvet footrests add a touch of class. Complimentary coffee and tea are served every morning, and afternoon and evening arrivals are greeted with a welcome refreshment.

Guests have use of the on-site fitness and business center. Valet parking is available for a fee. The Belleclaire does not offer breakfast.

Location

The classy Upper West Side is perfect for guests who want to stay where the locals live, but still be close to major attractions. The subway is just a few blocks away, making it easy to zip around to the major sights, but this stretch of Broadway is also home to some great easy, as well as the glorious supersized Fairway Market (Broadway at 74th Street), which should be your first stop for groceries or Central Park picnic fixings.

The American Museum of Natural History is three long blocks west of the hotel, as is Central Park. A stroll down Central Park West passes the city’s most exclusive and historic luxury apartment buildings, including the (in)famous Dakota (which stars from Judy Garland to john Lennon have called home) at 72nd Street.

Amid all this glitz, there are also savings, though. Retail bargain hunters shouldn’t miss the Upper West Side branches of Century 21 and Loehmann’s on Broadway at 66th and 74th Streets respectively.

Transportation

Subways: The local 1 train stops at 79th Street, two blocks north along Broadway.

JFK: Take the Air Train to Howard Beach Station, then the A express train to 59th Street-Columbus Circle. Transfer to the uptown 1 train to 79th Street. The Belleclaire is a short walk south of the station.

LaGuardia: The public M60 bus stops outside the airport terminals on its way into Manhattan, where it travels west across 125th Street to its final stop at 106th Street and Broadway. Get off here and either take a taxi down Broadway to 77th Street, or walk to 103rd Street and catch a downtown 1 subway train to 79th Street. The hotel is located on 77th Street at Broadway.

Newark: Take the Air Train to the NJ Transit station, and then any NJ Transit train into New York Penn Station. From Penn Station, take an uptown A or C subway to 59th Street-Columbus Circle, and then transfer to the uptown 1 train to 79th Street.