On its website, Moxy Times Square claims to offer guests an energetic alternative to the typical NYC hotel experience and, having just experienced the hotel for ourselves, we can agree that that was most definitely the case for our stay.
A quirky, digital-led boutique hotel with a great vibe and a unique, innovative style, Moxy Times Square offers travellers a relaxed and memorable stay in the bustling Midtown Manhattan.
INTRODUCTION
Originally opened in October 1907 as the Mills Hotel, designed for businessmen chasing the American Dream in New York City, the property was later renovated in 1954 and converted into stores and offices for the garment industry before being transformed and reopened as Moxy Times Square in 2017.
The building reopened as an affordable micro-format lifestyle hotel with 612 bedrooms designed by Yabu Pushelberg to adapt to modern traveler’s changing needs. Moxy Times Square combines smart, innovative designs with technologically advanced rooms and amenities along with light and spacious communal public spaces built for working and socialising.
Everything about the hotel is incredibly laid back and relaxed. The staff are warm and welcoming and go above and beyond to help make your stay memorable. It is a real, chilled-out breath of fresh air in a fast-paced city that can often become rather frenetic and overwhelming.
One particularly impressive feature of Moxy is the elevator system in the main lobby. Again, fully digital, you simply enter your specified floor on a digital keypad and it automatically selects and calls the best elevator for you to take!
Chilled sodas and bottles of water are available complimentary to guests by the main reception kiosks.
Check-in is from 4:00pm and check-out is at 12:00pm.
OUR STAY
For our visit, we stayed in a Studio Suite on the 16th floor. First impressions of the suite were extremely positive. The room was very large, spacious and furnished like a high-end, modern studio apartment.
The Studio Suites are designed in an L-shape with a king bed round the corner, facing a 43” flat screen HDTV (with free access to streaming apps), and a separate living and studio area with a corner sofa and a long desk/breakfast bar, complete with sink/wet bar. The room also has a dedicated suite entrance with luggage bench.
Further round the corner is a utility area with the sink, a large mirror and a number of coat hangers, which then leads through to a walk-in WC and wet room, with an excellent rain power-shower.
Other amenities in the room include: Free high speed Wi-Fi, walk-in rain shower, retro phone, individual climate control, flexible foldaway furniture, personal laptop-size safe, refrigerator, easy-to-reach USB ports and power outlets, garment steamer and hair dryer.
We really couldn’t fault the Studio Suite. It’s warm, homely and feels like you are staying in a high-end, Midtown apartment.
The Moxy building itself isn’t overly high, or no higher than many of the surrounding properties, but there are plenty of windows for natural light with views out over 7th Avenue below and the Garment District buildings across the way.
Note: There are only six Studio Suites at 350 sq ft. Most standard King and Queen rooms are 200 sq ft or less.
FOOD & DRINK
Moxy Times Square offers three distinct dining and drinking experiences by Tao Group Hospitality with striking design and accessible menus:
Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge – At 10,000 square feet, Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge is New York City’s largest indoor/outdoor, all-season hotel rooftop bar and lounge boasting stunning skyline views. Strikingly designed, Magic Hour features carousel seating, a topiary garden, and Foreplay, a miniature pitch-and-putt course featuring quirky, over-sized animal statues.
Legasea – The hotels signature restaurant offers a fresh take on bar and grill classics with a fun-casual atmosphere. Open for lunch, happy hour and dinner, Legasea‘s menu puts a fresh take on American bar and grill favourites with light seafood influences. The restaurant also has a menu of specialty cocktails, an extensive wine list and beer options ranging from craft bottles to draft favourites.
Bar Moxy – Located on the second-floor, just above the main atrium, Bar Moxy features an impressive, copper-wrapped bar wit flexible seating areas that serve as collaborative studios/workspaces during the day. Each morning, Café d’Avignon (located next door to the hotel) has a Popup offering specialty coffees, freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, and other snacks. Drip coffee is complimentary for guests staying at the hotel from 7am – 10am.
AMBIENCE & AMENITIES
As mentioned, the ambience at Moxy Times Square is incredibly laid back and relaxed. The public spaces are decorated with striking artworks and installations that give it a unique feel.
Highlighting the history of the building, the designs feature polished concrete floors, exposed concrete columns and pipework, and distressed brick walls that combine original historic elements with fresh and refined finishes.
Moxy Times Square includes complimentary 24-hour access to the state-of-the-art fitness center in partnership with Technogym. The hotel also teams up with local fitness studios to provide complimentary, weekly fitness classes to hotel guests + locals on the rooftop
LOCATION
Moxy Times Square is situated on 7th Ave (at 36th St), just south of Times Square, right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The hotel is perfect for those looking for a base whilst exploring the city’s main landmarks and attractions.
Located where Uptown and Downtown converge, Moxy Times Square is centrally located around Broadway, Bryant Park, Madison Square Garden, and Penn Station.
OVERALL
If you are looking for a hotel that’s a little bit different, extremely chilled, playful and designed for relaxing and socialising, then Moxy Times Square is a great hotel to look at. With rates starting from $139/night it is on the cheaper side, so definitely a more budget friendly option than many similar properties in the area.
📍 485 7th Avenue (at 36th St) New York, NY, 10018
💻 https://moxytimessquare.com/
Please Note: We received a complimentary press stay with the hotel in exchange for this review.
