Moxy NYC Times Square is billed as a “boutique social hotel” and is aimed at the modern millennial traveler.
Name
Moxy NYC Times Square
Location
Conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan, on the corner of 7th Avenue and W 36th St, the hotel is close to Times Square, Empire State Building and Penn Station. It’s a great base for tourists with 5 different subway lines (8th, 6th, Broadway, 7th and Flushing) all within walking distance.
Room
King Bedroom 912
I had originally booked a Queen Room but thanks to my Marriott Gold Elite status, I was upgraded to a King Room that looked out on W 36th St.
The rectangular room is compact at 200 sqft/18sqm with the king size bed positioned flush against the windows.
Renowned design company, Yabu Pushelberg employed some clever design tricks (fold-able furniture, utility hooks on the wall, storage drawers under the bed) so that guests could maximize space in the room.
A warning for light sleepers, the rooms haven’t been sound proofed very well and music from the rooftop bar can definitely be heard at night.
King bedroom at the Moxy NYC Times Square[/caption]
The bathroom is quite small with the shower taking up most of the space. This unfortunately meant the vanity had to be placed outside, next to the frosted glass sliding door.
Bathroom amenities are provided by Australian hair care brand, Muk – which I was not particular fond of. The hair + body wash was combined in one bottle and the pump required several pushes to produce an adequate amount out.
Facilities
The hotel has a 24/7 gym, luggage storage, co-working space with free Wi-Fi and a barbershop. Keeping with the fun, eclectic theme of the hotel, there’s a mini putt putt golf course which is cheekily named Foreplay.
An annoying inconvenience in regards to the facilities were the elevators, which often required long waits especially during peak times.
Food
As Moxy is aimed at the millennial customer, there’s an abundance of food and drinks options, including:
- Magic Hour – rooftop bar that also serves brunch on the weekend
- Legasea – seafood brasserie
- Bar Moxy – lobby bar and lounge
- Egghead – sandwich shop with a focus on egg
- The Pickup – grab and go cafe counter
With so many excellent restaurants in NYC, I was only able to dine at Magic Hour for Saturday brunch.
Diners are spoilt for choice during brunch with both sweet and savoury options, there’s also an extensive drinks list that includes big batch cocktails that serves 15.
The @Egghead On The Roof burger is perfect if you’re feeling hungover, as is the Super Stack Pancakes. For a lighter option I’d recommend the Coconut Chia Seed Pudding or the Blue Crab Toast.
Although the food was scrumptious the service wasn’t ideal, with the waitstaff being inattentive.
Chia Pudding at the Magic Hour rooftop bar
Guests craving dessert can head to the millennial pink ice cream vending machine located on level 2 near the Lobby Bar.
Unlike traditional hotels, there’s no room service available at the Moxy NYC Times Square but guests can order breakfast from Egghead to be delivered the next morning.
Service
Check in is completed at one of the wooden podiums that line the hotel reception area. Although I had arrived on a Friday afternoon, I was quickly attended to and my reservation was confirmed.
As I was handed my room key, I was thanked for my loyalty and given a card that listed my Elite perks at the Moxy which included:
- Free coffee at The Pickup from 7-10am
- 250 points upon arrival
- Room upgrades based on availability
- 2PM late checkout
- 20% off all Blind Barber services
My other interactions with hotel staff were normal bar the one time I called housekeeping for some toothpaste which was ignored and I had to follow up with.
Small Details
A cute candy cart, located near the hotel entrance, is made available to guest for free – a small, sweet gesture.
Verdict
For tourists wanting to be in the heart of NYC, the Moxy NYC Times Square is an okay choice that won’t break the bank. However, if you’re a seasoned traveler or a light sleeper, I would recommend looking elsewhere if your budget permits.
This review was based on an independently paid stay.
Moxy NYC Times Square
485 7th Ave
New York
NY 10018
USA
No Comments