Named for the meeting point of two major thoroughfares, Union Square remains a center of activity as a subway junction, meeting place of activists and artists and host to one of the best-known markets in the city. These best hotels near Union Square will let you stay close to the action in quality comfort and style.
Right in the heart of Union Square, you can’t get any closer than this. The flagship branch of Marriott’s W Hotels of New York is set in a landmark 1911 Beaux-Arts building that served as the Guardian Life Insurance company for almost 90 years. The interior designers at Rockwell Group compare it to a “romantic, light-filled conservatory,” with decorative modern touches, greenery and views of the park. With a Mediterranean restaurant and fitness center, the W New York – Union Square provides an excellent base from which to explore Union Square and beyond.
A block from Union Square Park, the Inn at Irving Place is a beautiful 1834 Georgian brownstone with 1930s charm, topped off by a grand staircase. With just eight guest rooms and four extended-stay residences, all uniquely furnished with antiques, the small but lavish inn is a nice escape from the city. Explore the fanciful parlor of Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon, with a five-course tea, or grab a drink at Cibar lounge.
Ranked highly by AAA and Forbes Travel Guide, the Hyatt Union Square a couple of blocks south of the park bills itself as a contemporary luxury boutique hotel. The 178 spacious accommodations provide a number of options, from city and courtyard views to private terraces. Bonus features include discounts at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and the free bike-rental program, useful for leisurely rides around the park and neighborhood.
A five-minute walk from Union Square Park, the Walker Hotel Greenwich Village is more like a tall, narrow townhouse than a hotel, with 113 rooms stretched out over 18 floors. The Art Deco style is inspired by Fifth Avenue in the ’20s, with live jazz events in the lounge and a functional rotary phone in each room. As an added bonus, the hotel’s library is home to a number of early editions from Greenwich Village authors, along with other classic New York reads.
Nine minutes from Union Square Park, the biggest perk of this bohemian 1925 hotel is its access to the gated-off Gramercy Park. However, the Gramercy Park Hotel has more than its location going for it. Just stepping into the lobby, with its hand-blown glass chandelier and nine-foot-tall fireplace on the second floor, leaves guests impressed. With two lobby bars, the Roman restaurant Maialino and a rotating art collection, Gramercy Park Hotel is a stylish yet serene place to stay.
The Marlton is a little further from Union Square, about a 10-minute walk, but it might be worth it for its charm and relative affordability. Opened in 1900, The Marlton has hosted writers like Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady over the years, their spirit reflected in the snug French-bohemian rooms. Sit at the Margaux restaurant for all-day European fare, or visit the cocktail or espresso bars.
Also 10 minutes from Union Square Park, the Washington Square Hotel, across the street from the historic Greenwich Village park of the same name, is a central figure in the neighborhood’s history and has hosted the likes of Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Though first opened in 1902, today it embraces a 1960s Art-Deco vibe with its vintage Hollywood photos and period art. The hotel’s North Square Restaurant and Lounge is a favorite with locals and the on-site Serenity Suite spa is a perk not to be missed.
