Quick outline
- Why I picked it
- Check-in stuff
- Room and bathroom (real details)
- Sleep and noise
- Food and room service
- Gym and Wi-Fi notes
- Location perks
- Staff moments
- What bugged me
- Price talk
- Who it fits
- Handy tips
- Final take
First, why this hotel?
I booked The London Hotel NYC for a work trip. Midtown. Close to meetings. I wanted space to spread out my laptop and gear. Also, a soft bed. Simple asks, right?
Side note: some folks now call it Conrad New York Midtown. People still say “the London” out of habit. Same spot on West 54th Street. Same big-suite vibe.
Travelers who like this polished-but-unfussy aesthetic should also check out The Hotel Modern when their plans take them to New Orleans—it nails a similar roomy, design-forward feel. By the way, I put together a separate deep-dive with even more photos and day-by-day notes—find it here.
Check-in: quick, not fussy
I rolled in at 11:10 a.m. after an early flight. My carry-on was heavy. They didn’t have a room ready yet, which was fair, but they tagged my bag and sent a text at 12:42 p.m. when a room opened. I liked that. No guessing. The incidental hold on my card was $150 per night. RFID keys worked every time. No weird demagnetizing.
The lobby felt calm. Soft lighting. Not a zoo like Times Square. I grabbed a lemon water and answered emails at a low table. Wi-Fi worked in the lobby without a login screen. Bless.
The room: big by NYC standards
I got a king suite on the 18th floor, north side. There was a separate sitting area with a sofa that didn’t sag. A real desk, too, not a wobbly one. Two outlets by the desk, plus one USB-A (no USB-C). I wish there were more plugs by the bed, but there was one on each side, so I made it work.
- Nespresso machine with three pods. Housekeeping left two more when I asked.
- Mini-fridge actually kept drinks cold, not lukewarm.
- The iron didn’t leak. Sounds small, but my dress shirt cared.
The view was classic Midtown. Sliver of sky. A peek at Central Park between tall buildings if you leaned a bit. At sunset it looked like a movie.
The bathroom: shower people will smile
Two shower heads in a big walk-in. Real water pressure. Hot fast. Marble floors that weren’t slippery. Thick towels. A light-up mirror that made getting ready easier. I timed it one morning. It took me 18 minutes from shower to shoes. Efficient.
The invigorating water pressure even tempted me to finish with an icy rinse—one of those wellness tricks that supposedly fires up your system for the day. If you’ve ever wondered whether cranking the handle to “cold” can actually nudge your hormones in a good way, check out this research-backed breakdown: Do cold showers increase testosterone? The article sifts through the studies, busts the common myths, and gives practical tips you can experiment with during your next hotel stay.
One tiny nit: Only one small shelf for my stuff. My dopp kit took over the sink area like a boss.
Sleep: nearly perfect
The bed was plush and supportive at the same time. Pillows had options. One soft, one firmer. Blackout curtains actually blocked light, which made my 6:30 a.m. call less painful. I could hear a faint siren now and then—hey, it’s Midtown—but it was more hum than blare. I asked for a white-noise machine at 9 p.m. They brought it up in 12 minutes. That helped.
Room service and food nearby
I tried room service on night one. Burger and fries. The burger was juicy and held together. The fries were warm, not hot. Still tasty with the aioli, but not crispy. It came in 34 minutes, which matched what they told me on the phone.
Most mornings, I grabbed coffee at the Pret on 6th Ave. One morning I treated myself to a chocolate chip cookie from Levain on 74th after a quick walk through the park. Worth it. For lunch, Sweetgreen on 55th is easy when you’re on calls back-to-back.
Gym and Wi-Fi: the work bits
- Gym had two Peloton bikes, treadmills, and free weights up to 50 lbs. Towels were stocked. Cold water. No funny smells. I got a 25-minute ride in before an 8 a.m. briefing and didn’t feel rushed.
- Wi-Fi was solid. I ran a quick test: 120 Mbps down, 85 up in the room. I did two Zoom calls with screen share. Zero drops. I sent a 500 MB file to a client in under a minute. That felt good.
Location: Midtown moves
You can walk to Central Park in about 10 minutes. MoMA is even closer. I hopped on the B/D lines at 7th Ave, and the E at 53rd made the airport run simple. I used Google Maps and Apple Pay the whole time. No hiccups. If you’re seeing a show, Broadway is a brief stroll. You’re far enough from Times Square to keep your sanity. Need something on the Upper West Side instead? My no-frills stay at the Belnord is summed up in this piece.
Staff moments that stood out
The bell team was fast with bags. Housekeeping left extra water without me asking after day two—small touch, big smile. The front desk sent up a spare iPhone charger when mine died. You know what? Thoughtful goes a long way. If you’re curious how other guests rate their stays, the hotel's Tripadvisor reviews line up closely with my own experience.
What bugged me (because nothing’s perfect)
- Outlet spacing by the bed was tight. I travel with a small power cube; you might want one too.
- Room service fries needed two more minutes. Crispy matters.
- The lighting controls took a minute to learn. It’s not hard, just a little “which switch does what?” moment.
These are small things. But they’re real.
Price talk
My rate was $429 per night for a midweek stay in spring. After taxes and fees, the bill climbed. That’s NYC. I keep a simple rule: if a suite gives me real space and real sleep, I’m okay paying more on work trips. This passed that test. If you’re planning to swap skyscrapers for trees on the same trip, I rounded up a batch of cool hotels Upstate New York that balance style and fresh air.
Who should stay here
- Business travelers who need a desk and quiet
- Couples who like space and a big shower
- Solo travelers who want Midtown without chaos
Maybe not great for: families who want a pool or a big, kid-focused vibe.
If your travels sometimes extend across the pond and you’re curious about how luxury lifestyles intersect with modern dating norms in the U.K., take a moment to explore this in-depth guide to becoming a Sugar Baby in Brighton—it lays out the local hot spots, etiquette, and safety insights that can help you decide if that scene is a fit for your next adventure.
Handy tips I learned
- Ask for a high floor on the north side if you like a calmer view.
- Bring a small power strip or a dual USB charger.
- The white-noise machine is a free request—just ask.
- For a fast breakfast, grab a yogurt and coffee across 6th Ave and start your walk toward the park.
- Citi Bike dock at 7th and 53rd is close if you like a quick ride.
Final take
Would I stay at The London Hotel NYC again? Yes. The suite size, the shower, and the sleep made my work days smoother. The staff felt steady and kind. A few nits, sure. But the whole stay clicked. If you want Midtown ease with real room to breathe, this place hits that sweet spot.