Luxury Hotels Near Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal sits on 42nd Street at Park Avenue, and the upscale hotels on this page are the ones I would pick when the station matters as much as the room. The InterContinental New York Barclay, rated 8.6 across more than 3,700 reviews, is the reference here, with the Kimpton Ashbel New York on Park Avenue and the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza close by toward the East River. Two more are further west: City Club Hotel near Bryant Park and the Hard Rock Hotel New York, the best rated of the five at 9. All of them suit travellers who arrive on Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road at Grand Central Madison, or the 4, 5, 6, 7 and S subway lines.
Around Grand Central, Midtown is a district of office towers, landmark lobbies and commuter flows: the Chrysler Building, the New York Public Library and the United Nations are all within walking distance, and the terminal's Main Concourse doubles as a sight in its own right.
Where to stay
Five upscale addresses around Grand Central
Staying in a luxury hotel near Grand Central puts Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road and five subway lines a short walk away, so a day trip to the Hudson Valley or a meeting downtown starts without a taxi. The five hotels listed here combine that access with full-service restaurants, bars and fitness rooms, and all of them accept pets.
The InterContinental New York Barclay is the address I would book first for a train-led trip. It stands a short walk north of the terminal in the Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue blocks, carries a rating of 8.6 from more than 3,700 reviews, and offers a restaurant, a cocktail lounge, a fitness centre and parking. That mix makes it practical for an early Metro-North departure toward the Hudson Valley or Connecticut, and comfortable for a long weekend centred on Midtown sights such as the Chrysler Building and Rockefeller Center. Of the five hotels, it is the one where the station, the rating and the facilities line up best.
The Kimpton Ashbel New York sits on Park Avenue, a short walk from Grand Central, and has a more relaxed style than the big towers. It is rated 8.2 from about 1,400 reviews, hosts a complimentary evening wine reception, and has a cocktail lounge, a fitness centre and a business centre. I would choose it for a shorter stay when you want an upscale room close to the 4, 5 and 6 trains on Lexington Avenue, with the Morgan Library and Murray Hill restaurants within walking range. It is also the most informal of the upscale options here, which some travellers will prefer.
For a stay that leans toward the East River, the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza faces the United Nations headquarters, a walk east along 42nd Street from the terminal. It has the largest review base on this page, more than 4,100, with a rating of 8. Some rooms include a kitchen, which suits families and longer stays, and the hotel has a restaurant serving contemporary American food, a bar and a gym. It is my pick for diplomats, conference visitors and anyone who prefers quieter streets near Tudor City and an easy walk back from the terminal.
Two hotels sit further west and suit travellers who care more about Midtown than about the platforms. City Club Hotel is an intimate property near Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, with a Daniel Boulud restaurant, a bar and free gym passes; its rating of 7.4 is the lowest here, so I would book it for the location and the food rather than the rooms. The Hard Rock Hotel New York, rated 9 from about 1,750 reviews, adds a steakhouse and a rooftop cocktail lounge, and is the liveliest choice for an evening near the Broadway theatres.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I had to choose one hotel here for a trip built around trains, I would take the InterContinental New York Barclay: it is a short walk from Grand Central, where Metro-North trains leave for the Hudson Valley, and its 8.6 rating rests on more than 3,700 reviews. For a lively evening I would switch to the rooftop lounge of the Hard Rock Hotel New York.
4.5Guest scoreLuxuryHard Rock Hotel New York
Luxury stay with a steakhouse, rooftop lounge, and pet-friendly rooms
View hotel →Why guests love itHard Rock Hotel New York is a luxury property in Midtown Manhattan, and it is described as well-suited to families, with a fitness centre, parking and an airport shuttle that removes one stressful transfer with children. The steakhouse and the restaurant and bar cover dinner without heading back out, while the rooftop cocktail lounge is more for parents. Pets are welcome too. A score of 9 out of 10 from 1,751 reviews is excellent for a large New York hotel.
4.3Guest scoreLuxuryInterContinental New York Barclay by IHG
Plush rooms, chic dining, and a swanky lounge near Grand Central
View hotel →Why guests love itInterContinental New York Barclay by IHG sits near Grand Central Terminal, convenient for families who arrive by train and want an upscale base in Midtown. Plush rooms and suites give space after a day in the city, and the hotel accepts pets and lists family-friendly amenities, a fitness centre and parking. The chic restaurant and cocktail lounge suit parents more than children. A guest score of 8.6 out of 10 from close to 3,800 reviews is reassuring.
4.1Guest scoreLuxuryKimpton Ashbel New York - Park Avenue
Upscale Park Avenue stay with a free wine reception and cocktail lounge
View hotel →Why guests love itKimpton Ashbel New York - Park Avenue is a hip, upscale four-star hotel on Park Avenue, a short walk from Grand Central Terminal, which makes train arrivals easy with children and luggage. It lists family amenities and a pet-friendly policy, so the dog is welcome too. Rooms are stylish, the coffee bar helps in the morning, and parents can enjoy the complimentary wine reception, the cocktail lounge or the fitness center. An 8.2 score from 1,389 reviews is solid.
4.0Guest scoreLuxuryMillennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza
Upscale hotel with dining, a gym, and pet-friendly options near Grand Central
View hotel →Why guests love itMillennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza is an upscale four-star hotel where some rooms include a kitchen, which helps families on longer stays in Manhattan. There is a restaurant serving contemporary American dining, a bar and a gym, parking is available, and pets are welcome. The location suits exploring the city. With 8.0 from more than 4,100 reviews, it is a solid choice, and I would ask for a room with a kitchen when travelling with children.
3.7Guest scoreLuxuryCity Club Hotel
Upscale hotel with a Daniel Boulud restaurant near Bryant Park
View hotel →Why guests love itCity Club Hotel is an intimate, upscale four-star hotel near Bryant Park that lists family stays among its strengths and welcomes pets. Rooms are posh and modern, and the Daniel Boulud restaurant makes dinner an occasion without leaving the building. Free gym passes let parents keep up their routine, and parking is available. Bryant Park is close for a break between Midtown sights. A 7.4 score from 1,269 reviews is modest, so keep expectations measured.
Local tips
- 1Look up at the painted ceiling of the Main Concourse on your way to the trains, then walk the lower level to the Grand Central Oyster Bar.
- 2Use the 7 train from Grand Central to reach Times Square and Hudson Yards, or the S shuttle for a quick hop to the Broadway theatre district.
- 3For Long Island, take the Long Island Rail Road from Grand Central Madison, below the terminal, rather than travelling to Penn Station.
- 4Book the Kimpton Ashbel if you value the complimentary evening wine reception, and the Millennium Hilton One UN Plaza if you need a room with a kitchen.
- 5Metro-North trains on the Hudson Line run along the river to towns such as Cold Spring and Beacon, an easy day trip from any of these hotels.
- 6Walk west along 42nd Street to Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, a quieter break between meetings or shopping on Fifth Avenue.