Morgans Hotel - A Morgans Original

The Morgans Hotel, a boutique property located near the New York Public Library in Midtown, is hardly cheap, but it’s worthy of a splurge for those looking for a little luxury. And And come low season, this four-star beauty can be quite a value.

Quick read

Pros: Helpful staff and professional service. Convenient Midtown location. Included breakfast served in the penthouse with great views. 

Cons: Pricey. Wi-Fi can be patchy. Noisy air conditioner.

Rooms

The 114 guest rooms at the Morgans Hotel are comfortably furnished and immaculately clean, with suede-covered window seats, club chairs and corduroy ottomans. Black-and-with checked blankets add a touch of playful to the overall sophisticated scene.

Rooms are big on high-end creature comforts, from Egyptian cotton sheets and fluffy down comforters to amenities galore, including air conditioning, a high-definition flat-screen TV, phone, safe, minibar, and mini-fridge.

Rooms overlooking the courtyard may be the quietest, but we recommend requesting a street-facing room on a higher floor—these pick up less street noise and offer some spectacular views.

Bathrooms

The private bathrooms, with floor-to-ceiling black-and-white tiles, are adorned with sleek stainless steel sinks and offer a hair dryer and luxurious MALIN+GOETZ toiletries.

Hotel

Hotel mogul Ian Schrager certainly made a wise decision when he hired Andrée Putman to give the Morgans Hotel a makeover. The décor is chic yet warm, with earthy tones keeping things simultaneously contemporary and inviting. Although it doesn't have the ultra-modern flare of other Schrager hotels, the Morgans is sleek and casually cool, with plenty of perks.

The Morgans Hotel offers no shortage of swanky spaces, from its low-lit lobby to the airy and ultra-chic Penthouse with an elegant spiral staircase, two terraces and breathtaking views. A continental breakfast, included in the room rate, is served in the Penthouse, complimentary coffee and tea are available here throughout the day, and the space offers a menu of light refreshments in the evening.

In addition to an on-site fitness center, the Morgans Hotel has a partnership with Equinox Gym, which offers hotel guests a one-day VIP pass to any facility in New York City.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

Value

While definitely not a cheap hotel, the Morgans is what we’d call a “Classy Cheapo”: It feels a little extravagant, but its sleek, sumptuous style and central location are worthy of a splurge if you’re in search of a of a luxe experience. Plus, it offers some extra perks (included breakfast with a view, free Wi-Fi) that are often note included at hotels of its class.

Location

The Morgans Hotel puts you in perfect sightseeing position, within walking distance of leafy Bryant Park, bustling Times Square, iconic Rockefeller Center and magnificent Grand Central Terminal.

Scholarly types will appreciate being near the Morgan Library and New York Public Library, both of which are worth a look inside and out for their design ans well as their great exhibits. And for the shopping set, Fifth Avenue is just a stroll away, and Herald Square, home to the vast Macy’s flagship store, is also easily accessible.

Transportation

Subways: Choose between 42nd Street-Grand Central (4/ 5/6, 7 and S lines) and 34th Street-Herald Square Station (B/D/F/M and N/Q/R lines) for comprehensive underground access.

JFK: Take the Air Train to Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue Station and transfer to a Manhattan-bound E train to 53rd Street-Lexington Avenue. From here, take a Downtown 6 train to 42nd Street-Grand Central, about a five-block walk from the Morgans.

LaGuardia: We recommend an airport bus service to Grand Central, where you can take advantage of the free Midtown hotel transfer. (The hotel is also walkable from Grand Central if luggage is light.)

Newark: Take the Air Train to the NJ Transit station, and then any NJ Transit train into New York Penn Station. From here, it’s probably easiest to take a taxi to the hotel. Otherwise, catch the eastbound M34 bus on 34th Street and get off on Madison Avenue to walk four blocks north to the Morgans.