The Empire Hotel

Shantal Miller

The rooms were extremely uncomfortable. The beds were small, hard, and lumpy. They weren’t queens, more like doubles. The bathroom was so small you had to step into the shower just to close the door. The shower only had a cloth curtain with no liner, so water would spill out and leave puddles on the floor. There was also no trash can in our bathroom, we had to pull the one form inside the room to be able to dispose of things that can't be flushed. The AC barely cooled the room, so we had to keep the window open the entire time. The outlets were old and loose, and our chargers kept falling out with the slightest movement. The TVs looked like they were from 2009. Our key cards also stopped working every single day. The cleaning staff and front desk were incredibly kind, which makes it even more unfortunate that they have to work for a hotel in such poor condition. The location was great, but that’s about the only thing going for it.

LETICIA LAMORATTA

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this wonderful hotel, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the staff's excellent attention made me feel incredibly welcome. Their dedication to detail ensured that my stay was truly memorable. The location of the hotel is perfect, situated in a prime area that made exploring the city incredibly convenient. The quality of the facilities is top-notch, with everything maintained to the highest standards. One of the standout features is the rooftop bar. It's a fantastic spot to unwind and enjoy a drink while taking in the stunning views. The entire staff , Keenan, Pascuale, Ariel and Kate were incredibly cordial and always attentive, going above and beyond to provide the best service possible. A special mention goes to Keenan, who went out of their way to decorate our room as we were celebrating a birthday. This thoughtful gesture added a personal touch that made our stay even more special. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a memorable and enjoyable stay. The combination of excellent service, great location, and high-quality facilities makes it a top choice.

Jessica Stroud

I have stayed here 3 times with my husband and daughter. Each time with a wonderful view of either Lincoln Center or looking east out into the city. This past visit really solidified this being one of my favorite Manhattan hotels. After arriving home, my 7 year old daughter realized she left her beloved stuffed fox that she has had since birth in the room. I called the hotel the next morning and spoke to housekeeping and it had not been found. I explained to them that I believe it to have fallen behind the bed perhaps. A few hours later, I received a call from Jessica in housekeeping telling me it had been found. I cannot thank The Empire Hotel and Jessica enough for their kindness extended to my family. We will definitely be back and recommend to everyone we know. PS...did we mention there is a beautiful lobby, rooftop bar and pool in the warmer months. Thank you!

Jessica Streich

I booked my room over the phone, and was told that the rooftop pool was open May-September. That amenity and the rooftop bar were 100% of the reason we booked this hotel over the less expensive options in more preferred neighborhoods. We splurged for the expectation we would have a relaxing outdoor area to enjoy with the nice weather and the expectation of service and cleanliness that come with a 4-star hotel. We were wildly disappointed to find out that by "May-September", it was actually Memorial Day to Labor Day and we were a week too early to enjoy the pool. Only one place under a FAQ on the hotel website does it clarify those exact days, otherwise it also says May to September or "late May to early September". We were also disappointed to find out we couldn't have access to any of that area, pool or not. We would have found solace in having the rooftop bar, but it was completely booked and we were told that there would only be standing room and it would be indoors. We were told by staff that we "should have made reservations weeks ago" if we wanted to be on the rooftop. It is our expectation that when something is listed as an amenity of a hotel, that guests have access to it. We could make reservations at any rooftop in the city, which we did elsewhere, but it was our expectation that we had at least some outdoor space to enjoy and we ended up having none. This was the entire reason we booked with the Empire, in addition to the expectation of service and quality that comes with a 4 star hotel. For what we paid, we did not receive any of the promised amenities or quality. Upon check-in, we were extremely disappointed to see the quality and cleanliness of our room. We had a "closet" covered by a curtain, and a worn-down, dingy bathroom. The chair and decorative pillows and blankets in the room were stained, the furniture was completely worn and dingy, and there was a smell to the room that we later complained about. There was an extremely loud, constant buzzing noise in the room that we were told could not be identified and thus could not be fixed. I have videos of this noise over the entire weekend. When we ran into other guests, we found that the cleanliness and quality wasn't just our experience and several others had complained to management about it. I had been to this hotel years ago and found that there was a steep decline in quality, but the price is wildly disproportionate to what you actually get now. We were told several times when going to the front desk to ask about these issues, that we should "just call 0" to speak with staff instead of going to the desk. We only ever went to the desk because we called 0 and either were put on hold for 10+ minutes, or nobody picked up. There was no sense of urgency in getting any issues addressed, and hotel staff seemed less than apologetic that we were told the pool and outdoor areas would be accessible during our stay. We are wildly disappointed with our stay and would like to receive some type of refund for the miscommunication of amenities, subpar quality, and lack of cleanliness. Our concerns were never addressed in person, and we know we are not the only guests that had this experience.

Taylor S.

The Empire Hotel has a great location and stylish charm, especially in the lobby and common areas. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our stay, and the rooftop bar offered fantastic views of the city. While the overall vibe of the hotel is classy and cool, the rooms felt a bit outdated and could use some modern touches to match the rest of the space. Still, everything was clean and comfortable, and the convenience of being so close to Central Park and Lincoln Center makes it a solid choice for a NYC stay.