Sofitel New York

About Sofitel New York

Sofitel New York suits travelers who want a Midtown base within walking distance of the Theater District and Grand Central Terminal. Couples can leave the lobby and reach an evening curtain on foot. Business travelers are close to Midtown offices and to the business center on site. Families can ask about family rooms and cribs. Late arrivals find a 24 hour front desk and luggage storage. The address on West 44th Street puts Times Square about 0.2 miles (0.4 km) away in a straight line.

That figure comes from guests who booked through the supplier, so treat it as a summary of stays rather than an inspection. The hotel is a full-service city address with a restaurant, a bar, a fitness center, a spa and a terrace listed among its facilities. Rooms come with air conditioning, carpeted floors and a minibar.

Rooms and listed facilities

Rooms at Sofitel New York come with air conditioning, carpeted floors and a minibar; some categories listed by the supplier include a kitchen or kitchenette, so confirm the layout when you book. Couples booking a special trip can note preferences when reserving. Families can ask about family rooms and cribs. Business travelers have a business center, internet access and Wi-Fi, plus room service and breakfast in room for early starts. Late arrivals can rely on the 24 hour front desk and luggage storage. Confirm pet policy, spa access and any facility fee directly with the property.

The setting

Sofitel New York stands at 45 W 44th St, a side street in Midtown Manhattan, a short walk from Fifth Avenue. Broadway theaters and the Theater District are roughly the same short walk. MoMA is about 0.4 miles (0.7 km). The 9/11 Memorial is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south, and Hudson Yards about 1.1 miles (1.7 km) west. Penn Station sits about 0.7 miles (1.1 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. Sofitel 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 13 miles (21.4 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. Sofitel New York sits around 0.3 miles (0.5 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 Sofitel 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 Sofitel 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
• 24-hour security
• ATM
• Air conditioning
• Alarm clock
• Balcony
• Banquet
• Bars
• Bath
• Bathrobe
• Bathroom
• Breakfast in room
• Business Center
• Carpeted
• Cleaning
• Concierge
• Crib
• Currency exchange
• Desk
• Dry cleaning service
• Family rooms
• First aid
• Fitness Center
• Gym
• Hairdryer
• Housekeeping
• Internet access
• Iron and board
• Kitchen
• Kitchenette
• Laundry Service
• Elevators
• Lounge
• Luggage storage
• Lunch
• Minibar
• Non smoking rooms
• Patio
• Pay per view
• Pets allowed