Photos courtesy of Westgate New York Grand Central
The stylishly revamped Midtown hotel is an ideal base to enjoy all the Big Apple has to offer on a getaway near Westchester County.
Way before it was the Westgate New York Grand Central, it was the brick-clad 300-room Tudor City Hotel that served not only as lodging for tourists but also for laborers who needed a place to sleep in the late 1920s.
Officially built in 1927 and roughly a half-mile from GCT, the hotel saw several ownership and name changes since it opened: It has been a Crowne Plaza property and many different Hilton iterations until it was purchased by Westgate Resorts in 2018.
Shortly after the acquisition and debut under the Westgate umbrella, the hotel was forced to temporarily close due to the pandemic. “Rather than sit back and hold their breath, they did something,” says Sam Slack, regional director of resort operations. “We officially reopened on July 1.”
The “something” here is a slew of modern-meets-luxury renovations to every single guest room, the lobby, a fitness center with brand-new equipment, and a European-style bar.
In the rooms, guests can expect herringbone wood floors, Art Deco furniture, colorful and modern paintings, 51-inch TVs, mini-fridges, sizeable walk-in marble showers, and plush memory-foam mattresses to help you get cozy when you’re done exploring the city.
Besides all of the new furnishings and being centrally located, the Westgate is one of the few hotels in Manhattan that still has balcony suites. It’s a step up from their classic guest room that provides views of the East River, pops of green from several adjacent rooftop gardens, and sparkling city lights at night.
Nearby the hotel — as in a quick taxi or Uber ride — on the Lower East Side and the farther down East Village, are plenty of lively bars and restaurants to choose from. In Flatiron, Eataly will curb your carb addiction or hit up The Smith’s Midtown East location for sophisticated libations and upscale pub fare in a grown-up setting. If that’s not your scene, you’re not far from the bright lights of Times Square and the many fun activities that Bryant Park offers.
Should you be wiped out from the day’s activities, the Westgate’s new Stella Artois Bar is a topflight hotel bar. Aside from a perfect pint of the namesake’s pilsner, there’s serious mixology cred happening here. Think cocktail classics with a current twist, like a cherrywood-smoked Old Fashioned and the Bodega, a spicy, sweet, balanced, fresh-juice margarita.
Rooms starting at $240.
