The Pearl New York

About The Pearl New York

The Pearl New York suits travelers who want Times Square on the doorstep and a Midtown street to come back to. Families get a Midtown base for the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park and the observation decks. Late arrivals land well here too, with a 24 hour front desk listed, and the airports can be reached at any hour.

The Pearl New York is a 4-star hotel in Midtown Manhattan, on West 49th Street a short walk from Times Square and the Broadway theaters. The booking supplier gives it a guest score of 4.5 out of 5 from 882 reviews, which points to a consistent, well-run city hotel rather than a resort. Expect a straightforward Midtown stay: a business center and fitness center listed for working days, free Wi-Fi, and a location that puts Broadway, the Museum of Modern Art and Central Park within walking distance.

Rooms and listed facilities

The listed facilities read well for different kinds of stay. Couples can ask about a kitchenette and confirm what it includes before booking. Families should ask the property about family rooms and how many people each one holds. Business travelers have a business center, free Wi-Fi and a fitness center listed, and the concierge can help with plans. Late arrivals will find a 24 hour front desk, elevators, luggage storage and a snack bar listed. Parking and valet parking appear on the list; confirm the details and the total price with taxes and fees with the property.

The setting

West 49th Street puts The Pearl New York in the middle of Midtown, a short walk from the Broadway houses and Times Square, about 0.2 miles (0.4 km) away in a straight line. Penn Station sits about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) west. The 9/11 Memorial is about 3.7 miles (6 km) downtown, and John F. Kennedy International Airport is about 14 miles (22 km) away.

Location and neighborhood

Long stays in Midtown work best when you treat the neighborhood as a base rather than a sight to conquer. The street grid makes walking predictable: numbered streets run east to west, avenues north to south, and Fifth Avenue divides east from west addresses. The Pearl New York sits inside that grid, so most errands on foot take minutes rather than a subway ride. Groceries, pharmacies and laundry services are scattered along Eighth and Ninth Avenues in the Garment District, which keeps a week-long stay practical. Midtown stays busy at all hours, and a room here removes a daily commute to the rest of the island.

Budget planning in Midtown starts with what costs nothing. Central Park begins at 59th Street and is free to enter, the Staten Island Ferry leaves from the southern tip of the island at no charge, and the 9/11 Memorial pools can be visited without a ticket. Theater is the one worthwhile splurge, and timing matters: evening curtains usually rise at 7 or 8 pm, and same-day seats sometimes appear during the day, so check the show and ask at the box office. On a longer stay, pick two paid sights and let the rest of the week run on foot.

Getting there and around

Arriving is simple. The airports lie around 14 miles (22 km) away, and road or rail connections typically take 45 to 75 minutes to Midtown depending on traffic; AirTrain links JFK and Newark to the subway and commuter rail. The Pearl New York sits around 0.7 miles (1.2 km) from Penn Station, and Port Authority Bus Terminal handles regional buses on the west side. The subway runs 24 hours, paid by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstiles. Vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay a congestion toll. The center of the district is around 0.2 miles (0.4 km) away, and the grid is flat and easy on foot.

Nearby sights and food

Midtown packs a large share of the city's sights into a small radius. Broadway's theaters cluster around Times Square, roughly forty houses in all. The Museum of Modern Art stands north of Bryant Park, and the main public library branch faces the park on Fifth Avenue. Grand Central Terminal is worth a look for its concourse alone. Observation decks at the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt give different views; Edge adds an outdoor platform at Hudson Yards, where the Vessel stands. The Intrepid Museum sits on the Hudson at 46th Street.

Eating well on a budget in Midtown takes a little looking, since the blocks closest to Times Square aim at visitors. Ninth Avenue in the Garment District and the side streets of the Theater District hold a mix of Thai, Indian, Mexican, Korean and Middle Eastern kitchens, many small and family run. Lunch counters, slice shops, dumpling rooms and food halls keep portions generous and queues fast. For longer stays, delis and grocery aisles cover breakfast and picnic lunches. Save table service for one or two evenings; elsewhere, counter seating is quicker and easier on the wallet.

A day from The Pearl New York

Start before the crowds. Head to Bryant Park for a coffee and a bench, then continue north on Fifth Avenue to the Museum of Modern Art when the doors open; weekday mornings are calmer than weekends. Cross into Central Park at 59th Street and follow the paths north for a while, then come back down for an inexpensive lunch at a counter or food hall. In the afternoon, ride to the Financial District for the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and passes the Statue of Liberty. Return to The Pearl New York to change, then take in a 7 or 8 pm curtain and eat after the show, when tables thin out.

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
• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock
• Balcony
• Banquet
• Snack bar
• Bathrobe
• Bathroom
• Business Center
• Carpeted
• Cleaning
• Coffee
• Concierge
• Desk
• Dry cleaning service
• Express check in
• Family rooms
• Fitness Center
• Free Wi-Fi
• Garage
• Hairdryer
• Housekeeping
• Internet access
• iPod dock
• Iron and board
• Kitchenette
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Lounge
• Luggage storage
• Microwave
• Non smoking rooms
• Parking
• Refrigerator
• Safe
• Shower
• Smoke detector
• TV
• Telephone
• Toiletries