Hotel and the City Empire State Building

About Hotel and the City Empire State Building

Hotel and the City Empire State Building suits travelers who want a simple base in Midtown South and plan to spend their days out in the city. The address on West 31st Street sits about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) in a straight line from Penn Station and about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from Grand Central Terminal, so commuters, solo visitors and couples traveling light can move quickly. A kitchen or kitchenette in the units helps guests who prefer breakfast at home or longer stays. Use the IMPT app to check prices and availability for your dates.

Hotel and the City Empire State Building is a 2-star hotel in the Midtown South area, close to the Flatiron and Union Square districts. Expect a plain, functional stay rather than full-service hotel grounds: the listed facilities cover the basics, including a 24 hour front desk, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a kitchen or kitchenette. It works well for travelers who treat the room as a place to sleep and shower between long days of walking, museum visits and theater evenings.

Rooms and listed facilities

The listed facilities point to a practical setup. A 24 hour front desk helps late arrivals from JFK or Newark, and 24 hour security covers nights out at the theater. Couples can use the kitchenette for simple meals; families get more flexibility from a kitchen and laundry service, though it is worth confirming bed arrangements and how many people a unit sleeps with the property before booking. Business travelers have free Wi-Fi and internet access, plus luggage storage for a late departure.

The setting

Hotel and the City Empire State Building stands at 38 West 31st Street, a cross street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Midtown South, a few blocks south of the Empire State Building and at the edge of the Flatiron and Union Square area. The block is quieter than the avenues nearby and close to offices and subway lines. Penn Station is about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) in a straight line, Grand Central Terminal about 0.7 miles (1.1 km), Times Square about 0.7 miles (1.2 km) and the High Line about 0.9 miles (1.4 km). Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street is about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) away.

Location and neighborhood

This district fills the blocks between Union Square at 14th Street and the streets around Penn Station, with Broadway cutting diagonally across the grid. Fifth Avenue divides east from west street numbers, so addresses are easy to follow. Madison Square Park, between 23rd and 26th Streets, gives children lawns, shade and room to run; the Flatiron Building stands just south of it. Koreatown clusters along West 32nd Street, and NoMad spreads east of Sixth Avenue. Blocks are short, sidewalks are wide, and a stroller covers most of it comfortably.

From Hotel and the City Empire State Building, little of this requires a long walk with children. Union Square has an open plaza and a playground, and a farmers market sets up on several mornings each week; check the schedule before you go. Evenings around Madison Square Park are calmer than the Theater District, which suits early dinners and early bedtimes. Subway stations at Union Square, 23rd Street and 34th Street connect the area to the rest of the island, and the avenues stay busy into the evening.

Getting there and around

Three airports serve New York City, and the transfer in is the part worth planning with children. Hotel and the City Empire State Building sits around 13 miles (21.2 km) from the airports, around 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, and around 0.7 miles (1.2 km) from the center of Midtown. The subway runs around the clock; tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile, and weekly spending is capped automatically. Driving in means congestion pricing below 60th Street, so check the current toll. Buses cross the grid, and most sights sit within a walk or one short ride.

Nearby sights and food

From Hotel and the City Empire State Building, Madison Square Park and Union Square are the nearest open space, and both work for a run-around between sights. The High Line, an elevated park on a former freight line, begins at Gansevoort Street and ends at Hudson Yards; mornings are quieter there. Grand Central Terminal sits a short ride east, and its main concourse is worth a look for the ceiling and the architecture. Observation decks at the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center show the grid from above; pick a clear day, reserve a timed entry, and check opening hours before setting out.

Eating with children is straightforward. Koreatown's barbecue halls and noodle shops along West 32nd Street fill early, and many places there cook at the table, which keeps everyone occupied. Pizza counters sell by the slice, diner menus cover breakfast all day, and food halls let a group split up and choose different cuisines. Look for bagel shops in the mornings, taquerias and ramen counters for quick lunches, and Indian restaurants on the side streets near Murray Hill. Portions are often large enough to share; ask about high chairs when you arrive.

A day from Hotel and the City Empire State Building

A day from Hotel and the City Empire State Building can start early in Madison Square Park, where the lawns are quiet before the offices open. Walk north through NoMad to Koreatown for a mid-morning snack, then take the subway west to the High Line and follow it north to Hudson Yards. The path suits a stroller, so take it at an easy pace. Lunch fits a food hall, where children can pick their own. In the afternoon, ride to Grand Central Terminal to see the concourse, or reserve a timed slot at an observation deck. Eat dinner before seven, then walk back through Union Square as the lights come on.

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
• 24-hour security
• ATM
• Air conditioning
• Banquet
• Bathroom
• Cleaning
• Desk
• Fan
• First aid
• Free Wi-Fi
• Hairdryer
• Internet access
• Iron and board
• Kitchen
• Kitchenette
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Lounge
• Luggage storage
• Microwave
• Non smoking rooms
• Refrigerator
• Safe
• Shower
• Smoke detector
• Sofa bed
• TV
• Toaster
• Toiletries
• Towels
• WC
• Wi-Fi