Imperial Court

About Imperial Court

Imperial Court suits travelers who want a simple base on the Upper West Side and a kitchenette for breakfast and light meals. Couples on a city break, families who prefer an apartment-style setup, and business travelers keeping costs down all fit here. The address on West 79th Street puts Central Park within walking distance, and the rest of Manhattan is a short trip away. Anyone who plans to be out sightseeing most of the day and wants a calm residential block at night will find the location practical.

This is a two-star hotel, so expect a straightforward, unpretentious stay rather than a full-service one. The booking supplier gives Imperial Court a guest score of 3.6 out of 5 from 27 reviews, a middling rating that points to basic comforts rather than extras. Reading that score as a prompt to check room details before booking is sensible. It is a place to sleep, shower and leave bags between days out in the city, with the Upper West Side on the doorstep.

Rooms and listed facilities

The facilities the supplier lists for Imperial Court are air conditioning, carpeted floors, a kitchenette, laundry service and a safe. For couples, the kitchenette means coffee and simple meals without eating out every time; for families it takes the pressure off breakfast and snacks; for business travelers the safe and laundry service cover the practical side. Air conditioning matters in a New York summer. Late arrivals should confirm reception hours and key collection with the property before traveling, since those arrangements are set by the hotel.

Room categories, bed sizes and outlooks at Imperial Court are best checked with the property before booking. Laundry service is useful on longer trips, and the safe keeps documents and devices out of the way. Guests who rely on a kitchenette should ask what equipment the room includes and whether a supermarket run on arrival will cover the rest. Anything beyond the listed facilities is a question for the hotel rather than the booking page.

The setting

Imperial Court stands on West 79th Street on the Upper West Side, a residential stretch of the neighborhood between Central Park and Broadway. Central Park's edge is about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away in a straight line, so a morning walk into the park is realistic, and the park's Fifth Avenue corner at 59th Street is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The 9/11 Memorial is about 5.3 miles (8.6 km) south.

The block sits in a quiet part of the Upper West Side, north of the busier Midtown streets and within reach of the museums and parks that line Central Park West. From here, the straight-line distances put Times Square at about 1.9 miles (3 km) and the observation decks around Midtown at about 2.2 miles (3.6 km), both easy trips on a short stay. The Lower Manhattan sights are further out, with the 9/11 Memorial about 5.3 miles (8.6 km) away in a straight line.

Location and neighborhood

The Upper West Side's central stretch runs from 72nd Street to 96th Street, between Central Park and Riverside Park. This is the neighborhood's brownstone heart: quiet side streets lined with row houses, and two broad avenues, Columbus and Amsterdam, running north through the middle. Broadway cuts across at an angle, carrying the subway and most of the cross-town bus traffic. Most of the grid here follows the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, so numbered streets run east to west and avenues run north to south, which makes orientation simple. Fifth Avenue divides East from West street numbers, but on this side of the park the addresses are all West.

The area has a steady, residential rhythm, and from Imperial Court most of it is reachable on foot. Weekday mornings bring dog walkers and school runs; weekends fill the sidewalks near the parks. Central Park's western boundary runs along Central Park West, a block east of Columbus Avenue, and Riverside Park follows the Hudson River to the west. Culture is close: the American Museum of Natural History sits on Central Park West at 79th Street, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts stands near Lincoln Square. Autumn color in Central Park usually peaks in early to mid November. Summer is hot and humid, so plan sightseeing for mornings.

Getting there and around

The nearest subway stations sit along Broadway, and several bus routes cross the neighborhood east to west. Pay by tapping a contactless card or phone at the turnstile; the subway runs around the clock, and the MetroCard is being phased out. Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station are the main rail gateways, both reachable by subway or taxi, around 2.2 miles (3.6 km). From Midtown Manhattan the area center is around 1.9 miles (3 km). JFK and Newark Liberty are around 15 miles (23.4 km) away, typically 45 to 75 minutes by road depending on traffic and connections. LaGuardia is closest by road, and a free shuttle bus links it to the subway.

Nearby sights and food

Sightseeing starts at the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West at 79th Street, with Central Park directly behind it. The park's 843 acres run from 59th to 110th Streets, free to enter, and the Ramble, the lakes and the Great Lawn sit within walking distance of the area. Museum Mile begins at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, where the Metropolitan Museum of Art stands; the Museum of Modern Art is further south in Midtown. Broadway theaters cluster around Times Square in the Theater District. The Intrepid Museum occupies a pier on the Hudson. Check opening days and whether timed entry is needed before you go.

Food in the area leans residential. Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue carry most of it: casual neighborhood restaurants, pizza counters, bagel shops, diners, delis, Thai and Japanese kitchens, Italian trattorias, and a steady supply of coffee shops. Broadway adds more of the same plus grocery stores and markets for picnic supplies. Expect a line at weekend brunch and quieter tables on weekday afternoons. Reservations help at dinner, especially Thursday to Saturday. For a quick lunch near the park, counter-service places along Columbus Avenue are the practical choice. Menus and opening days change, so check before setting out.

A day from Imperial Court

A day from Imperial Court can start early, before the museum crowds: enter Central Park at 79th Street and walk the loop paths toward the Great Lawn, then cross to the American Museum of Natural History for the morning. Break for lunch along Columbus or Amsterdam Avenue. In the afternoon, walk south through the park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue, or take the subway to Midtown for the Museum of Modern Art. Return to Imperial Court to change, then head to the Theater District for an evening curtain, typically 7 or 8 pm; check the show. Confirm opening days and timed entry before setting 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.

• Air conditioning
• Bathroom
• Carpeted
• Credit Card Accepted
• Hairdryer
• Iron and board
• Kitchenette
• Laundry Service
• Microwave
• Mini fridge
• Radio
• Safe
• Shower
• TV