The Knickerbocker Hotel proves that, even slap-bang in the centre of Times Square, you can find comfort and proper, five-star luxury. This hotel, where the dry martini was supposedly invented, combines famous New York history with contemporary elegance, offering a calm retreat from Midtown’s chaos. Soundproof rooms, minimalist décor, and one of the city’s most comfortable beds make The Knickerbocker a standout choice.
Its location is unbeatable: Broadway, Bryant Park, and Grand Central are all close by, with almost every major subway line on your doorstep. This means easy access not only to Midtown attractions but also to outer boroughs like Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. There’s more to New York than Manhattan, after all.
The 330 rooms and suites are somehow both understated and indulgent, with 12-foot ceilings, oversized windows, warm wood and leather finishes, and spacious layouts. Beds feature Stearns & Foster Euro-tops, SFERRA 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and Ploh goose down pillows. The bathrooms have marble finishes, rain showers, backlit mirrors, and Diptyque amenities. High-tech touches include bedside tablets controlling lighting, curtains, and temperature, plus Samsung Smart TVs, and room options range from Superior and Deluxe Kings to the Martini Suite, which comes with an in-room martini kit and video tutorial.
Outside, Times Square will live up to its disorderly, lively reputation, but this hotel has been thoughtfully designed to ensure you still have some peace. For travellers wanting luxury, convenience, and quiet right in the middle of New York, The Knickerbocker will have you covered.
Time Out tip: Don’t skip over the dining options – Charlie Palmer Steak IV serves classic dishes (the Knick Burger with short-rib bacon jam was a personal highlight), and The Martini Lounge offers tableside service and caviar in homage to the drink’s origins, which feels just about as luxurious as it can get.
Address: 6 Times Sq, New York, NY 10036
Price: Standard room rates begin at $329 per night, Standard King Room starts at $450 per night
Closest transport: N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7 trains at 42nd Street-Times Square; M, D, F, B trains at 42nd Street-Bryant Park; Grand Central Station is a ten-minute walk; LaGuardia Airport is a 30-minute drive; JFK International Airport is an hour drive.