Hilton Club The Central at 5th New York
King-bed studios on East 48th Street, seven minutes from Grand Central
About this hotel
The Central at 5th stands at 12 East 48th Street, between Fifth and Madison avenues, a 34-storey building run as a Hilton Club by Hilton Grand Vacations. From Grand Central Terminal it is about 530 metres on foot: head north from the Vanderbilt Avenue side, cross Madison Avenue and turn onto 48th Street. Metro-North trains to the Hudson Valley and Connecticut leave from the terminal, and Long Island Rail Road trains from Grand Central Madison beneath Madison Avenue. Amtrak uses Penn Station instead, on the West Side. Studios run from 272 to 415 sq ft with a king bed, a walk-in shower, motorised shades and a mini-fridge, for two guests; Penthouse Studios occupy floors 26 and above, and one-bedroom suites suit larger groups. Guests have a fitness center, a business center, terraces on the first two floors and a 24-hour concierge. On-site parking has a height limit, with an off-site garage for taller vehicles.
- About 530 m, seven minutes on foot, from Grand Central Terminal
- 34-storey building at 12 East 48th Street
- Penthouse Studios on floors 26 and above
- 24-hour concierge
- Fitness center and terraces on the first two floors
- Check-in from 4 pm
Our take
The Central at 5th is a 34-storey Hilton Grand Vacations club building at 12 East 48th Street, between Fifth and Madison, about 530 metres from Grand Central Terminal: six blocks north and one avenue west, roughly seven minutes with a wheeled case. Studios measure 272 to 415 sq ft, with a king bed, a walk-in shower and a mini-fridge, and take two guests at most. A 9.2 score from 554 reviews backs up the rooms. I would book it for Metro-North or Long Island Rail Road trips; for Amtrak, remember that its trains leave from Penn Station on the West Side, not from Grand Central.
- Penthouse Studios sit on floors 26 and above: those are the rooms to request if a high view over Midtown matters to you.
- Amtrak never calls at Grand Central. Trains to Boston, Washington or Montreal leave from Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall on Eighth Avenue, so allow a crosstown subway or taxi ride.
- Long Island Rail Road trains now run from Grand Central Madison, the deep concourse under Madison Avenue, which shortens the walk from this side of Midtown.
- Check-in starts at 4 pm. After a morning arrival, Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock are directly across Fifth Avenue, a good way to fill the gap.
- Drivers should ask about the height limit of the on-site garage before arriving: taller vehicles are sent to an off-site garage nearby.
Why we love it
- A short, flat walk from Grand Central and Grand Central Madison
- King-bed studios with walk-in showers
- 24-hour concierge for late train arrivals
Why guests love itRoom size decides whether this building suits a family. A standard studio takes two guests at most, so parents travelling with one or two children need one of the one-bedroom suites, and that is worth settling at booking rather than at the desk. The location works well with children: Rockefeller Center and its winter rink are across Fifth Avenue, Central Park is just over half a mile north, and Grand Central, with its Metro-North trains to the Hudson Valley and Connecticut, is about seven minutes on foot. The studios come with a mini-fridge rather than a kitchen. I would choose it for a short Midtown stay with older children rather than for a long stay with a toddler.