MOXY TIMES SQUARE
📍 485 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
from £149
Free Wifi
Air-Con
Gym
Pet friendly
Moxy hotels have been doing their thing across Europe for a good few years now, but they’re in a different league over here in New York.
Moxy Times Square, for instance, brings together a chilled warehouse style lounge, a fresh minimalistic modern room and a insta-worthy roof top terrace with one of the best views of the Empire State I’ve ever seen.
However, whilst it can be pretty affordable when travelling off peak, prices can get high here due to its super popular location so if you see a deal, I’d get that price locked in!
My Review of Moxy Times Square
I was lucky enough to go for a poke around Moxy Times Square on a recent visit to New York so here’s what I made of the rooms – but please note that I didn’t stay so I can’t speak to the service you’ll receive if you decide to book.
Room
I checked out an 18sqm Queen Room on the 9th floor as unfortunately, all the 14sqm Double Rooms were booked up! However, the styles are very similar so this should still give you a good feel for what you’ll get – and whether you should pay more for the Queen.
View
The room had 2 windows (quite something for New York) with a view of ‘The Horticultural Society of New York’ building and of the street below. It far enough away to not feel like anyone can see in or that your light is being blocked.
Decor
It’s very fresh and clean though I love how the leather headboard gives it a modern feel. The bright telephone and cartoony wall art give it some personality too.
Vibe
After rushing in from a warm day, the room feels like a tranquil haven – though perhaps that’s thanks to the aircon that’s on full whack! But it’s a really calming space and would be a lovely room to relax in after a busy day. I was also surprised at how much space there was in the Queen room.
Bed
A comfy Queen bed with crisp white sheets. My only note is that it’s pushed up against the wall which I know is a red flag for some! There’s just enough space that you squeeze along the front of it, but otherwise we’re talking a ‘roll over your partner’ jobby.
Desk & TV
The TV is pretty standard – it’s a modern flat screen at the end of the bed – however the desk is a little bit more ‘out there’. It can be folded away and is the reason why there feels like there’s so much space in the room! I think this is great if you wouldn’t use the desk anyway, but if you were there for work, I may feel a little shortchanged – especially as there doesn’t seem to be a proper chair. However, there’s ample space to work from in the communal areas so I’d just go there instead.
Storage
There’s pegs all along the wall with hangers that you can hang your clothes up on. It’s a cute idea but I’m not sure how practical it is. There’s also space for one slim suitcase beneath the bed, with a couple of shelves for small items. Basically, pack light!
Minibar
There’s no minibar but you can order things to your room using the Butlr app, or order from the bar downstairs.
Bathroom
I absolutely loved the playful swimming pool themed bathrooms! What’s more, by having the sink on the outside of the bathroom, it meant that it was really spacious in the shower cubicle. The glass may only be frosted but as it’s at the end of the room, it still has a level or privacy. Though I assume that with its sliding door, it wouldn’t be the most soundproof!
Mirrors & Plugs
There’s pin plug sockets by the bed and also two pin plug sockets underneath the sink where there’s a mirror on top too – perfect for drying your hair and the like. This is also close to the fold down desk if you wanted to plug in anything there too. As for the mirrors themselves, there’s two above the sink (one is a magnifying mirror) and a full length mirror on the wall so you can check your outfit before leaving.
Extras
There’s a safety deposit box, a hairdryer, and some FUJI waters left out that will only cost you $5 a pop… (PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD BUY THEM FROM A NEARBY CVS INSTEAD 😂). One thing that is really coo though is the clipboard of events they leave hung up in the room for you which is full of activities organised by the hotel – most of which are totally free! It would be a great way to meet people if you were travelling alone.
Wifi
As I only popped in, I couldn’t do a full test but after checking some reviews, it seems that the Wifi is free and pretty decent.
Other rooms
I was able to check out their ‘Twin Quad’ which was so cool and a great option for families – though again, I wouldn’t pack too much though there is an area before you come in where you could keep suitcases and hang things up on the pegs on the wall. Other rooms – I’ve grabbed official photos for these ones above – include a single room, a double (their cheapest room for 2), a double double, a superior queen with a single bed up top (great for 2 adults with a kid) and also a king. I do believe that if you’re feeling mega flush, there’s a studio suite too.
Accessibility
The Moxy Times Square does have facilities for disabled guests and you can find a full list of their accessibility credentials here.
Restaurants & Bars
The offering is more bar focused but there are some food options too. Bar Moxy has some light bites and a small entrée menu and Magic Hour rooftop bar and lounge serves light bites too, and has brunch at the weekend – though I’d absolutely book a table in advance as it can be very popular with people not staying at the hotel. Why? There’s a carousel and a magnificent view of the Empire State Building, that’s why!! There’s also Café D’Avignon pop up open daily between 7am – 11am for coffees, pastries and sandwiches.
Breakfast
There’s no traditional option here but there will be plenty to see you through at the Café D’Avignon pop up to get you started for the day.
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Remote Working
The lounge space on the first floor is perfect if you’re looking to get out of your room and do some work. Choose a comfy sofa, a seat overlooking reception or even prop yourself up at Bar Moxy.
Gym
I didn’t get to see this but there is a gym located in the basement and a complimentary 1 hour ‘sweat session’ every Thursday morning on their rooftop.
Customer Service
Again, as I only went in for a look around I couldn’t comment – though guests as they walked in were getting very warm welcomes! There’s a self service check in too if you were just hoping to get to your room quickly.
Offers
Being a member of the Marriott family, there are lots of perks if you have loyalty with them through their Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Programme. It’s also always worth checking out if they have any offers running online.
Location
You may have noticed that a fair few hotels claim to be in Times Square and yet they’re all quite far apart!! This one is an 8 minute walk from the iconic square itself, but you really are still in the thick of it here and in the right direction for the Empire State Building if that’s something you’re hoping to tick off. It is busy in this area, but it makes walking into the Moxy an even more tranquil paradise!
Transport
🚇 34th St – Penn Station | 1, 2, 3 Subway – 3 min walk
🚇 34th Street – Herald Square | B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W Subway – 5 min walk
🚇 Penn Station | Train services – 4 min walk
Nearby
📍 Macy’s – 3 min walk
📍 Empire State Building – 7 min walk
📍 Times Square – 8 min walk
Attractions
🗺 Grand Central Station – 19 min walk
🗺 Museum of Modern Art – 22 min walk
🗺 Central Park – 25 min walk
What were my overall thoughts?
I really loved how zen the rooms were and I’m always a big fan of a large lounge space should I need a place to do a few emails whilst on a trip. The rooftop bar with its plastic pink decor felt like a slight disconnect to the otherwise pretty chilled out vibe elsewhere for me, but I appreciate that it runs independently as a popular brunch and drinks spot and so offers something totally different. Plus, you can’t really argue with that view!!
As for staying myself, when I was there the rooms were around £102 for double which I think is excellent value and so if you see rates like this, it gets a huge thumbs up from me. However, as it’s in such a popular location, it is the type of place where the prices will really leap up if there’s little availability so watch out for that!
