Times Square Edition, New York City

In short… The Times Square Edition is a great hotel in an ideal location for visitors who want a true NYC tourist experience without sacrificing elegance or luxury. 

The surroundings… Safe to say that as a native New Yorker, Times Square is not my favorite part of the city. But there’s something quite magical about being so high above the chaos in the rooms of The Edition, looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the madness below. 

The vibe… A very cool space. You enter through a small and dark entryway on 47th street and take the elevator up to the 10th floor. Once you arrive, you’re met with the classic Edition scent, a bergamot-cedar blend (one of my favorites) that fills the sleek hotel lobby with a bar and seating areas, and various elements of greenery by landscape architect Madison Cox that lighten up the space. 

The rooms… The 452 guest rooms are filled with light, thanks to their enormous windows, and are simple and spare, with some mid-century modern and elevated touches, like furry blankets and warm lighting. Each room has a photograph of one (or several) NYC icons by various Andy Warhol Factory photographers, connecting the white-walled rooms to their storied surroundings. 

The food & drink… We ate at The Terrace and dinner at Outdoor Gardens, the hotel’s main restaurant, and it was absolutely delicious! They had a lovely garden salad with butter lettuce and beets, and an incredible hanger steak, so juicy and delicious. The terrace and bar on the 11th floor have a great view of Times Square, which is especially beautiful at sunset.

Be sure  to… Check out the photography exhibit curated by Trunk Archives outside the restaurant on the 9th floor! A great series of black-and-white photos of NYC by photographers including Helen Levitt, Bruce Gilden and Danny Lyon, exposing visitors to scenes of New York not usually seen. It’s always nice to feel a sense of personality in a larger hotel and a connection to the city it’s in!

Parting words… Staying at the Times Square Edition is the best way to do Times Square, and really the only truly peaceful stay in that area so you don’t feel completely overwhelmed by it.