The Knickerbocker Hotel

About The Knickerbocker Hotel

The Knickerbocker Hotel suits travelers who want Times Square on the doorstep and a five-star base for a first visit to Manhattan. Couples booking a theater weekend can walk to evening curtains in the Theater District, and business travelers are a short walk from Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. Late arrivals land in the middle of the grid, with the subway and airport connections within reach. The address at 6 Times Square puts Broadway, observation decks and the Museum of Modern Art inside a comfortable walk.

The Knickerbocker Hotel is a five-star property at 6 Times Square, in Midtown Manhattan. The booking supplier records a guest score of 4.3 out of 5 from 2352 reviews, which suggests a steady, well-run house in a demanding location. Expect a full-service city hotel rather than a quiet retreat: front desk, concierge, restaurant and bar, fitness center and room service are all listed. The building sits on a busy crossing at Times Square, so light sleepers may want to ask about a higher floor when booking.

Rooms and listed facilities

Listed facilities cover the practical basics of a city stay. Couples get a restaurant, bars and room service, with breakfast in room if a slow start suits. Families can ask about family rooms and cribs, both listed, and confirm the setup before booking. Business travelers have free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, luggage storage and a 24-hour front desk; late arrivals can check in at any hour. Parking and valet parking are listed, so confirm the arrangement and ask for the total price with taxes and fees.

The Knickerbocker Hotel also lists air conditioning, a safe, elevators, a terrace, laundry service, 24-hour security and wheelchair accessibility. For a longer stay, the terrace and concierge are the useful extras, and breakfast is listed for both the restaurant and the room. Room categories, bed sizes and any view are worth confirming with the property before booking, along with the total price with taxes and fees for the dates you want.

The setting

The Knickerbocker Hotel stands at 6 Times Square, in the middle of Midtown and at the edge of the Theater District. Times Square is about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away in a straight line, and Broadway and the Theater District about 0.2 miles (0.4 km), so evening curtains are a short walk. Observation decks are about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) off, as are Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station. Central Park is about 0.9 miles (1.5 km). Expect crowds and traffic at street level at most hours.

On the West Side, the High Line and Hudson Yards are about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from The Knickerbocker Hotel in a straight line, and the 9/11 Memorial is about 3.4 miles (5.4 km) south. The numbered grid makes addresses easy to follow: streets run east to west and avenues north to south, with Fifth Avenue dividing East from West. Uptown means north and downtown means south, which helps when giving directions or reading a subway map.

Location and neighborhood

Midtown's streets are a history lesson you can walk from The Knickerbocker Hotel. North of 14th Street the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 laid out numbered streets running east to west and avenues running north to south, with Fifth Avenue dividing east and west addresses. Broadway cuts diagonally across that grid, and the blocks around Times Square show the result: long views, odd corners and a theater district that grew where the avenue crossed the grid. Walking here is mostly level and easy to follow. Look at the street signs, note whether the address is east or west, and the neighborhood opens up in a straight line.

The cultural weight of the district sits within a short walk. The Museum of Modern Art is south of Central Park, the Theater District holds about 40 Broadway houses, and Rockefeller Center fills the blocks between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Bryant Park gives the grid a breathing space, with a lawn in the middle of the district. Fifth Avenue from Rockefeller Center up to Central Park South carries the flagship stores, while the Garment District north of 34th Street keeps the working side of the neighborhood in view. Architecture, theater and shopping sit close enough to cover on foot in a single day.

Getting there and around

Midtown sits at the center of the city's transport, which matters when you arrive with luggage. Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal are all inside the district, and the subway runs 24 hours a day. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile; the MetroCard is being phased out. Check service changes with the MTA before a late trip. Penn Station is around 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from The Knickerbocker Hotel, and the district center around 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away. From JFK or Newark Liberty the trip typically takes 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic and connections.

Nearby sights and food

The main sights reward a walking loop rather than a checklist. Start at Bryant Park, walk west through the Theater District to Times Square, then north on Broadway to the edge of Central Park. The Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center are a short detour east. Grand Central Terminal is worth a look for its main concourse, and the observation decks at Rockefeller Center and further south give a view over the grid. Hudson Yards and the Vessel are west of the district; the Intrepid Museum sits at the Hudson River. Check opening days and tickets with each venue.

Eating in Midtown follows the rhythm of the blocks. Near the Theater District, tables fill early before curtains, with Italian, steakhouse, Japanese and Thai kitchens among the choices. The Garment District and the streets around Penn Station lean toward delis, slice shops, noodles and falafel for a quick lunch. Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center have cafes and food halls for a sit-down break, and Fifth Avenue adds bakeries and department-store dining rooms. Reservations help at popular places on show nights. Check opening hours directly; many kitchens close between lunch and dinner.

A day from The Knickerbocker Hotel

A day from The Knickerbocker Hotel can start with a walk east to Bryant Park for a coffee and a look at the lawn, then north along Fifth Avenue to the edge of Central Park. Turn west and cross to the Museum of Modern Art for a couple of hours. Lunch near Rockefeller Center, then walk the Theater District and Times Square in the afternoon light. Rest before an evening curtain; shows typically start at 7 or 8 pm, so check the time with the theater. End with a walk back through the lit blocks, which is a free show in the district.

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
• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock
• Banquet
• Bars
• Bath
• Bathrobe
• Bathroom
• Bike rental service
• Breakfast
• Breakfast in room
• Buffet
• Carpeted
• Cleaning
• Concierge
• Crib
• Desk
• Dry cleaning service
• Entertainment activities
• Express check in
• Family rooms
• First aid
• Fitness Center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Garage
• Hairdryer
• Housekeeping
• Internet access
• Iron and board
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Luggage storage
• Non smoking rooms
• Parking
• Pay per view
• Pets allowed
• Public transport
• Refrigerator
• Restaurant