The WestHouse Hotel in New York is a luxury boutique hotel located near Central Park in Midtown Manhattan. Read on for an honest review of things to love and things not to love about this hotel property.
WestHouse New York Rooms Are Comfortable
While this is a boutique hotel, it’s not a tiny hotel. The WestHouse Hotel has 172 guest rooms and suites with several additional guest spaces (read on for more about this).
The hotel’s design is inspired by the Art Deco era, which is evident in its sophisticated and elegant style. The interior design is characterized by its warm colors, rich textures, and use of materials such as marble and brass. The overall style of the WestHouse Hotel New York is classic and timeless, with a nod to the glamour and sophistication of the 1920s and 1930s.
You can expect to find rooms that are modern, thoughtful, comfortable and well designed.
An unexpected design detail?
One of the small details I appreciate is in the bathroom with the design of the shower door. So the person showering doesn’t get wet turning on the shower, a small cut-out in the glass allows you to turn on the water from the outside.
You might wonder: will this make the water splash out while you’re showering? It doesn’t!
With high speed internet included, a desk to work at and comfortable bedding, there isn’t much NOT to love about the rooms. One thing that would have bothered me is they are rather dark with few lamps and lighting, but most importantly: the size of the rooms were not shoeboxes even for a standard queen room.
Lobby and More – WestHouse has Beautiful Spaces to Enjoy
Many New York City Hotels (even the expensive ones) will skimp on the lobby or have no lobby experience at all aside from the front desk.
The WestHouse created a beautiful escape from the madness of NYC with areas to retreat to. Think plush, quiet thoughtfully created spaces to lounge and relax.
Adjacent to the hotel lobby is the a living room-like area
Especially during the summer months the space to enjoy is The Terrace. Located on the 20-something floor, this beautiful space has a morning and nightly food and beverage service that can be hit or miss. Read on for more…
Quick tip!
When booking tours in NYC, it’s important to book ones with top traveler reviews and are easily refundable if travel plans change.
The Terrace at WestHouse NYC
The Terrace at WestHouse NYC is a rooftop lounge located on the 23rd floor of the WestHouse Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The Terrace offers stunning panoramic views of the city skyline, including sights such as the Empire State Building and Central Park.
The lounge, open to all guests on the property, features comfortable seating areas, including plush sofas and outdoor patio seating, making it a great spot for socializing, relaxation, or even private events. The Terrace serves a variety of signature cocktails and light bites, with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients.
However, this food and beverage service is part of the required “Resident’s Fee” which is not inexpensive read on for more info about this…
Want to SEE a tour of this hotel property with more helpful tips? Checkout the full review in the video below!
The WestHouse Resident Fee
The fee is absolutely worth it (and equally absolutely not worth it) depending on what kind of stay you are having in NYC.
On your hotel bill you’ll find a nightly Resident’s fee of $53 + tax (it ends up being $60 per person) fee which includes the wifi, access to the gym, bike rental from a nearby shop and morning and nightly food and beverage service.
The Terrace offered a morning assortment of coffee, teas, hot food items and a continental style buffet.
Each evening you could expect to find a changing menu of small bites and wine. While I had no complaints about being able to indulge in city views, bubbles and a changing menu of light fare from shrimp cocktail and truffle mac and cheese to empanadas and cupcakes – I will admit that New York City is one in which dining out is one of the best parts of this city.
In other words, if I was not attending the morning and nightly food and beverage services, it would feel like the daily $60 fee felt steep.
Another thing, while there was a red, white and sparkling wine option, the actual selection was amongst wines in the $9-$15 range. I had expected a few more nicer options.
One thing not to miss in the summer months is The Terrace. Experience rooftop-like views looking out over Midtown Manhattan and Times Square. Unfortunately during the winter months, it’s not open!
Service at WestHouse NYC is excellent
One thing you can expect when staying at this luxury boutique hotel is really great customer service. From the moment you’re on property it’s welcoming (instead of stuffy).
I received regular text messages throughout my trip checking in on my stay at the property.
Maid service comes exactly at the time you ask them to and they even cover their cleaning carts when not in use so the hallways look less cluttered.
Quick tip
NOT looking lost can help you to safely travel New York City and not be targeted for one of the many scams around the city. Some of the scams to lookout for can be found in the full blog post below.
5 Star Hotels in New York City
If you are looking for other luxury hotel options in NYC below are some examples of 5-star hotels in New York City:
- Four Seasons Hotel New York – This downtown is a luxury hotel located in the Financial District of Manhattan in New York City. The hotel is situated on Barclay Street, just a few blocks from One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.. The hotel offers stylish and spacious guest rooms and suites, featuring elegant decor and high-end amenities such as marble bathrooms, Nespresso machines, and flat-screen TVs. There is also a spa, fitness center, and indoor lap pool on site for guests to enjoy. Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown features several dining options, including CUT by Wolfgang Puck, which serves contemporary American cuisine, and the lively bar and lounge, The Bar Downstairs and Kitchen. The hotel also offers 24-hour room service and catering services for private events and functions.
- The Peninsula New York – situated on Fifth Avenue, this hotel boasts spacious guest rooms, a rooftop bar, and a spa.
- The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park – located near Central Park, this hotel features elegant guest rooms and suites with park views, a spa, and a rooftop bar.
- Mandarin Oriental, New York – located in Columbus Circle, this hotel offers stunning views of the city, luxurious amenities including a spa, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
See more 5 star hotels in NYC
Affordable New York City Hotels
Maybe the luxury hotel selection might not be up to par with what you’re looking for. There are very affordable hotels in NYC, I paid $143 and $90 per night for two other 4-star hotels in the city. These include…
The Distrikt Hotel: $90/night
A Hilton property conveniently located a short walk from Javitz, Times Square and more – this basic hotel was just $90/night when I stayed.
Distrikt Hotel NYC is a hotel located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is situated on West 40th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, and is within walking distance of many popular attractions, such as Times Square, the Theater District, and Bryant Park.
The hotel features modern and stylish guest rooms and suites, with amenities such as flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, and iPod docking stations. There is also a fitness center, a restaurant, and a bar on site, as well as meeting and event spaces for business or social gatherings.
Distrikt Hotel NYC is a popular choice for both leisure and business travelers, due to its convenient location and comfortable accommodations.
Hampton Inn Times Square North: $143/night
Hampton Inn Times Square North is a hotel located in the heart of New York City’s Times Square district. The hotel is situated on West 51st Street, just steps away from some of the city’s most popular attractions, including Broadway theaters, the Rockefeller Center, and the Museum of Modern Art.
The hotel offers modern and comfortable guest rooms and suites, with amenities such as flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, and mini-refrigerators. There is also a fitness center, a business center, and a complimentary breakfast buffet served daily.
3 pro travel tips for booking hotels!
1. After booking your hotel, check rates again prior to your trip. Hotel prices fluctuate week to week and sometimes the hotel rate will drop
2. Filter hotel results by traveler rating. While star rating is important, it’s not the only way to rate a hotel
3. Join the hotel loyalty program. Even if youâre not sure youâll stay at that hotel group again, it never hurts to accumulate points
Opt for a Modern Vibe vs. Luxury with The Walker Hotels
Want a different kind of hotel option in another part of the city? I loved staying at The Walker Hotel – a vibey modern stay in Tribeca.
The pro? A really cool area of the city to stay in, but you’re trading off a smaller space that isn’t as luxurious. Check it out in this blog post here!
Looking for some ideas of things to do in NYC? I used to live in Manhattan for 4 years and this video talks about what I do every time I travel back to this amazing city…
Bottom Line
The WestHouse Hotel NYC is a very comfortable stay with many things to love about it like well appointed rooms, excellent customer service and beautiful spaces around the property. However, depending on the time of year you are booking and what kind of stay you are having in New York City, the required Resident’s Fee may feel expensive if you are not able to use all the amenities it comes with.
Nikita Khanna says
Your deep and insight full review is really helpfull in making smart desecison of booking hotel.
whereintheworldiscl says
Thanks, Nikita! Glad to hear it!