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★★★ 3-star

The Parlor

138 West 127th Street First Floor Parlor Unit, New York, NY

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About The Parlor

The Parlor suits travelers who want an apartment-style base in Harlem and a straightforward, self-directed stay. The listed kitchen and kitchenette facilities appeal to guests who prefer to prepare some meals, and free Wifi covers planning and remote work. Couples can keep days flexible, while families gain space to spread out. Business travelers get a residential street address in upper Manhattan. Late arrivals should confirm arrival arrangements with the property before travel, as access details are set by the hotel.

The Parlor is a 3-star hotel in Harlem, presented as a hotel with apartment-style features rather than a full-service property. Expect a simple, practical stay: air conditioning, free Wifi and internet access are listed, along with a safe and laundry service. The official star rating is a general guide to the level of service, and the kitchen provision supports longer stays and quieter evenings. Rates change by date, so check the total price with taxes and fees in the app before booking.

Rooms and listed facilities

Every listed facility here is practical rather than decorative. Air conditioning, free Wifi and internet access cover work and planning, and the kitchen and kitchenette let couples and families keep meals simple. A safe is useful for passports and devices, and laundry service helps on longer trips. Business travelers can treat the room as a workspace; late arrivals should ask the property how to collect keys. Bedding, room layout and the exact kitchen equipment vary, so confirm the details that matter with The Parlor before booking.

The listed facilities point to a stay where you handle your own schedule. Couples can cook a quiet dinner or head out into Harlem. Families get a kitchen for breakfasts and a safe for documents. Guests arriving late should settle key collection with the property in advance, because arrival hours are set by the hotel. Ask The Parlor which kitchen items and bedding come with the room you book, and read the total price with taxes and fees in the app.

The setting

The Parlor has an address on West 127th Street in Harlem, in upper Manhattan. This is a residential side street in a neighborhood with strong cultural associations, from the Apollo Theater on West 125th Street to the older residential blocks and the churches that anchor local life. Harlem sits in the northern part of the island, and its commercial spine along 125th Street draws people from across the city. Streets here are part of the grid laid out in the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, so numbered streets run east to west.

Harlem rewards slow mornings and long walks. The neighborhood's identity is bound up with music, writing and church life, and the Apollo Theater on West 125th Street remains its best-known address. Food shopping, drugstores and everyday services cluster along the wider avenues rather than on the quieter side streets. The numbered grid makes orientation simple: Fifth Avenue divides East from West street numbers, and Broadway cuts diagonally across the island. Ask the property about local conditions on arrival day.

Location and neighborhood

Harlem occupies the upper reach of Manhattan, from the northern edge of Central Park up to the Harlem River, with 125th Street as its main commercial spine. For a short work trip the geography is simple: the neighborhood sits on several subway lines that run straight down to Midtown offices, and The Parlor puts you within reach of both. Brownstone side streets, church spires and wide avenues give the area a scale that feels quieter than the blocks below 96th Street. Expect a real neighborhood rather than a tourist district, with weekday mornings busy and weekend afternoons slower.

Two transport hubs anchor the working day. Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station are both a straightforward subway ride south, which makes day trips and early trains manageable, and the airports sit within a similar radius. Meetings in Midtown or the Financial District are easiest by subway; the numbered streets and avenues make walking predictable once you are there. Closer in, 125th Street handles errands, banks and pharmacies, and the streets around it stay active well into the evening. The Parlor works well as a base for a two or three night stay built around appointments rather than sightseeing.

Getting there and around

Subway lines along 125th Street and Lenox Avenue connect Harlem to Midtown in a handful of stops, and the network runs through the night, though weekend service changes are common, so check the current status with the MTA before you travel. From The Parlor the airports are around 15 miles (23.5 km) away; allow generous time by road in rush hour. Penn Station and Grand Central are roughly 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from the door, and the area center sits around 4.1 miles (6.6 km) away. Tap a contactless card or phone to pay. Congestion pricing applies to vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street.

Nearby sights and food

Central Park begins at the neighborhood's southern edge, at 110th Street, and its north woods, ponds and Harlem Meer make an easy early morning walk. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, on Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, and the American Museum of Natural History, on Central Park West at 79th Street, are both a short subway or bus ride south and suit a free afternoon between meetings. The Apollo Theater on West 125th Street is the area's landmark stage; its show schedule changes, so check with the venue. Sunday gospel services draw visitors to local churches; confirm times and visitor arrangements directly.

Lunch near 125th Street covers a lot of ground: West African and Senegalese kitchens, Caribbean counters serving roti and jerk, and small Dominican places for stewed beans and rice. Closer to Lenox Avenue, a growing cluster of coffee bars and bakeries handles laptop mornings and quick meetings, and there are counter-service spots for a fast sandwich between appointments. Southern and soul food cooking is a Harlem staple, with weekday lunch plates and weekend brunch lines. Most places are casual; a few take reservations. Delis and grocery stores along the main avenues cover the gap when a schedule tightens.

A day from The Parlor

A day from The Parlor: start with coffee on 125th Street and a walk west toward the Apollo Theater, where the marquee makes a useful landmark. Walk south through the brownstone blocks to the north end of Central Park at 110th Street, then follow the paths down to the Harlem Meer before turning back. Take the subway to Midtown for afternoon meetings, or stay uptown and work from a café on Lenox Avenue. Finish with an early dinner of Southern cooking, then check the Apollo's schedule for an evening show; confirm times with the venue.

Distances

Straight-line distances from The Parlor (computed from the hotel's map pin, not road distances or travel times)
PlaceStraight-line distance
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)15 miles (23.5 km)
Times Square4.1 miles (6.6 km)
Grand Central Terminal4.2 miles (6.8 km)
Penn Station4.8 miles (7.7 km)
Central Park (Fifth Avenue at 59th Street)3.4 miles (5.5 km)
9/11 Memorial7.6 miles (12.3 km)
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)4.4 miles (7.1 km)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)15 miles (23.4 km)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art2.2 miles (3.6 km)
The American Museum of Natural History2.4 miles (3.9 km)

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.

  • Air conditioning
  • Bathroom
  • Cleaning
  • Coffee
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Hairdryer
  • Internet access
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry Service
  • Microwave
  • Non smoking rooms
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Safe
  • Shower
  • Smoke detector
  • TV
  • Toiletries
  • Towels
  • WC
  • Wi-Fi

The Parlor: questions

Where is The Parlor in Manhattan?

The Parlor is on West 127th Street in Harlem, in upper Manhattan. The street is residential, and Harlem's commercial spine runs along 125th Street, where the Apollo Theater stands. Numbered streets and avenues follow the grid laid out in 1811, so addresses are easy to follow. Confirm arrival details with the property before you travel.

How do you reach The Parlor from the airports?

JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty are the three main airports serving New York City. Each connects by public transport or road, and journey times vary with traffic. Check current routes and fares before setting out, and ask The Parlor about arrival arrangements so the last part of the trip is settled.

Which station should you use when traveling to The Parlor?

Manhattan's main rail terminals are Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street and Penn Station between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. The subway runs 24 hours a day and connects the terminals with upper Manhattan. Tap a contactless card or phone to pay, and check current service with the MTA before traveling to The Parlor.

Which sights are worth planning for during a stay at The Parlor?

From The Parlor, the Apollo Theater on West 125th Street is the neighborhood's best-known landmark. Central Park lies south of Harlem and is free to enter. Museum Mile and the Metropolitan Museum of Art run along Fifth Avenue, and the free Staten Island Ferry leaves from Whitehall Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan.

What facilities does The Parlor list?

The Parlor lists air conditioning, free Wifi and internet access, a kitchen and kitchenette, laundry service and a safe. These suit guests who want to cook some meals and stay connected. Equipment and layout vary from room to room, so confirm the specifics you need, such as kitchen items or bedding, with the property before booking.

Is The Parlor suitable for families?

The Parlor can work for families because the listed kitchen and kitchenette support simple meals at home, and laundry service helps with longer trips. Air conditioning and free Wifi are listed also. Room configurations and bedding differ, so confirm what suits your group with the property, and check the total price with taxes and fees in the app.

How does check-in work at The Parlor?

Arrival times and key collection are set by The Parlor, so confirm them with the property before you travel, especially for a late arrival. Have your booking details ready and ask in advance about access to the building. Air conditioning, free Wifi and a safe are listed once you are inside.

How do you get around Manhattan during a stay at The Parlor?

The subway runs 24 hours a day and is the quickest way to cross the island from The Parlor. Fares are paid by tapping a contactless card or phone, and weekly spending is capped after a set number of rides. Vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay a congestion toll. Check current service and rules with the MTA.

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