Harlem Ymca

About Harlem Ymca

Harlem Ymca suits travelers who want a plain, well-placed base in upper Manhattan and plan to spend most of the day out in the city. The address on West 135th Street puts you in Harlem, with Central Park about 2.5 miles (4 km) away in a straight line and the Theater District within reach by subway. Couples traveling on a budget, solo visitors and small families who care more about location than lobby polish fit here. It is a 2-star building, so set your plans around the neighborhood rather than the room.

Expect a functional, no-frills stay rather than a full-service hotel. Harlem Ymca carries an official 2-star rating, which in practice means a compact list of practical services and a focus on the basics: a bed, air conditioning, free wifi and a 24 hour front desk. Guests tend to be in and out, using the building as a place to sleep between museum afternoons, walks in Central Park and evenings downtown. If you want a simple base with an indoor pool and a garden, this is the kind of address to check.

Rooms and listed facilities

Among the facilities listed by the property are air conditioning, free wifi, a 24 hour front desk, luggage storage and lifts, which matter most on a short trip. Couples and solo travelers can rely on the wifi for planning; families may find the indoor pool and garden useful for downtime; business travelers have a business center, meeting room and safe. Late arrivals should confirm desk coverage and access arrangements with the property before traveling. Room types, bed configurations and the total price with taxes and fees are worth checking directly with Harlem Ymca when you book.

The setting

Harlem Ymca stands at 180 West 135th Street in Harlem, in upper Manhattan, on a numbered cross street in a residential part of the neighborhood. Streets here run east to west and avenues north to south under the grid laid out in 1811, with Fifth Avenue dividing East from West addresses. From this address the Theater District around Times Square is about 4.5 miles (7.3 km) in a straight line and Grand Central Terminal about 4.7 miles (7.5 km). Central Park is closer, roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) in a straight line.

Location and neighborhood

Harlem fills the northern part of Manhattan, from the low 100s up to the Harlem River, and it works well as a base for a family that wants space, quieter blocks and short subway rides south. Much of the neighborhood is low-rise: brownstones and apartment buildings of five or six floors, with sidewalks wide enough for a stroller and a small child holding hands. Streets here are numbered and run east-west, so finding your way back to Harlem Ymca takes little effort. The ground is gently hilly in places and flattest near the rivers.

Sunday morning is the reason many families come. Church services in Harlem are open to visitors, and several congregations in the brownstone blocks near 125th Street welcome children who can sit quietly for an hour; dress respectfully and check service times with the congregation before you go. Weekday afternoons are calmer. 125th Street is the main commercial spine, busy with buses and shoppers, and easier crossed at marked corners with the signal. Side streets, especially the tree-lined blocks south of 125th, suit a slow walk with small children and a stroller.

Getting there and around

Harlem is well connected. Subway lines run down the spine of the neighborhood and along its edges, and most addresses sit within a short walk of a station; check the current service pattern before a late trip, since weekend work often changes routes. From Harlem Ymca the airports are a drive or a train ride away: allow around 15 miles (23.8 km) for the airport run, and check traffic before setting out with children. Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station, both useful for regional trains, are around 4.7 miles (7.5 km), and Midtown's center is around 4.5 miles (7.3 km).

Nearby sights and food

Central Park is the big draw for families, and its northern end is usually the calmest to visit: paths, lawns and playgrounds spread out with room to run. The park is a short subway or bus ride from the area center, and you can enter at several points along its west and north edges. Closer in, the Apollo Theater on West 125th Street is a landmark worth walking past, and the brownstone blocks themselves make a pleasant stroll. Riverside and Morningside parks, on the Hudson and the heights, add more open space.

Eating out with children in Harlem is straightforward. The neighborhood has plenty of casual places with tables that suit a family: Caribbean kitchens serving rice, beans, plantains and jerk-style chicken, soul food counters with baked macaroni and cornbread, and pizza and burger spots along 125th Street and the avenues. Portions tend to be generous, and many small places are counter service, which keeps a meal short when children are tired. Brunch after Sunday services is busy, so arrive early or expect a wait. Check opening days, which vary widely.

A day from Harlem Ymca

A day from Harlem Ymca starts early, before the sidewalks fill. Walk a few brownstone blocks, pick up breakfast to eat on a park bench, then take a bus or subway to Central Park's northern end, where lawns and playgrounds give children room to run before the day warms up. Head back for a quiet lunch and a rest. In the afternoon, walk 125th Street, look at the Apollo Theater's facade and let the children set the pace. On Sundays, plan around a morning service. End with an early dinner and a slow walk home, since Harlem Ymca sits among the neighborhood's quieter streets.

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
• Bathroom
• Business Center
• Computer room
• Free Wi-Fi
• Garden
• Health club
• Housekeeping
• Indoor pool
• Elevators
• Luggage storage
• Meeting room
• Night club
• Picnic area
• Refrigerator
• Safe
• Shower
• Steam room
• TV
• Terrace
• Toiletries
• Wheelchair accessible