InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG

About InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG

InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG suits travelers who want a Midtown East base close to Grand Central Terminal and the office towers around it. Couples can walk to Broadway and the Theater District, about about two-thirds of a mile away on the grid. Families get a central address with a restaurant, room service and a fitness center in the building. Business travelers value the business center, the concierge and the short walk to meetings. Late arrivals find a 24 hour front desk.

InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG is a 5-star hotel, so the frame is a full-service Midtown address rather than a small guesthouse. The booking supplier gives it a guest score of 4.3 out of 5 from 3467 reviews, a figure worth reading as a summary of many stays rather than a promise. Expect a large, formal property with restaurants, bars, a fitness center and conference space, the kind of place that works for a week of meetings as well as a long weekend.

Rooms and listed facilities

The supplier's listed facilities show what to plan around. Air conditioning, a minibar, a safe and free wifi are listed for the property, and breakfast is listed as available, including breakfast in room. Families can ask about family rooms and a cot. Couples may want to confirm which room type they are booking. Business travelers have a business center, laundry service and luggage storage listed. Late arrivals should confirm the 24 hour front desk and room service hours with the property before traveling, since these details change.

The setting

InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG stands at 111 East 48th Street in Midtown East, a side street of office buildings and apartment blocks between the grid's avenues. Grand Central Terminal is about 0.2 miles (0.4 km) away in a straight line, and an observation deck is the same distance. Times Square and Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street are each about 0.6 miles (1 km) away in a straight line. Penn Station is about 1.1 miles (1.8 km), and the 9/11 Memorial about 3.7 miles (5.9 km).

Location and neighborhood

Midtown East covers the blocks east of Fifth Avenue between roughly 42nd and 59th Streets, with Turtle Bay running north from the low 40s toward the Queensboro Bridge. Office towers, consulates and apartment blocks share the sidewalks with churches, small parks and a steady flow of commuters. The United Nations occupies the East River edge at the district's southern end, and Grand Central Terminal anchors the area to the west at 42nd Street and Park Avenue. InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG puts you within walking distance of both, and the numbered grid makes it hard to lose your bearings.

Street life here follows a schedule: busy at commuter hours, calmer at weekends and in the early evening. Tudor City's brick apartments stand on the rise above 42nd Street, and the Chrysler Building's steel crown shows above the rooftops to the south. East of Third Avenue the blocks grow quieter and more residential, with river views opening at the end of the cross streets. Spring and autumn are the mildest seasons for walking, while summer heat and winter cold push more of the day indoors. From InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG, Fifth Avenue and the Theater District are a reasonable walk or a short ride.

Getting there and around

Grand Central Terminal, around 0.2 miles (0.4 km) from InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG, handles commuter trains and several subway lines; Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal sit a short ride west. The area center lies around 0.6 miles (1 km) from the door, and the airports are around 13 miles (20.8 km) out, typically 45 to 75 minutes from Midtown by road and rail depending on traffic and connections. The subway runs all day and night, and fares are paid by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstile. Check current service changes with the transit authority before a late trip. Congestion pricing applies to vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street.

Nearby sights and food

Grand Central Terminal is the natural first stop: the main concourse, the painted ceiling and the acoustics of the Whispering Gallery reward a slow walk even on a rushed day. The Chrysler Building rises a block east, and the United Nations complex faces the East River along First Avenue, with guided visits arranged through the UN. Observation decks across Midtown give long views north to Central Park and south to the harbor; check hours and book ahead for sunset slots. The Museum of Modern Art sits west of Fifth Avenue, and Broadway's houses lie a few blocks northwest.

Lunch in Midtown East moves fast. Delis and salad counters feed office workers, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Indian kitchens cluster on the side streets, and steakhouses and seafood rooms fill the ground floors of the larger buildings. Turtle Bay adds small Italian and Mexican places, Irish pubs and coffee bars that stay open through the afternoon, while the blocks near the United Nations lean international. Expect queues at peak weekday hours and quieter tables after 8 pm. Reservations help for dinner, especially near the Theater District before curtain.

A day from InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG

Begin early at Grand Central Terminal, before the commuter rush fills the concourse, then follow 42nd Street west for a look at the Chrysler Building's crown from the street outside. Mid-morning suits the Museum of Modern Art; pick a few galleries rather than trying to see everything. Break for lunch on a side street near Rockefeller Center, then walk north through Midtown to the edge of Central Park. Ride back south for an observation deck before sunset if the sky is clear. Finish with an early dinner in Turtle Bay and an evening curtain in the Theater District. Book timed entries ahead.

Distances

Facilities listed by the supplier

As listed by the booking supplier; a facility not listed here may still exist. Confirm anything important with the property.

• 24 Hour Front Desk
• ATM
• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock
• Banquet
• Snack bar
• Bars
• Bathrobe
• Bathroom
• Breakfast
• Breakfast in room
• Buffet
• Business Center
• Carpeted
• Cleaning
• Coffee
• Concierge
• Crib
• Desk
• Dry cleaning service
• Express check in
• Family rooms
• Fireplace
• First aid
• Fitness Center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Garage
• Hairdryer
• Housekeeping
• Internet access
• iPod dock
• Iron and board
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Luggage storage
• Minibar
• Non smoking rooms
• Parking
• Pets allowed
• Radio