Pros
- Well-equipped rooms with comfy beds
- Popular bars draw young professionals
- Free Wi-Fi for SPG members (free to join)
- 24-hour room service
- Well-equipped but small gym
- Two-minute walk from 8 subway lines
See MorePros
Cons
- Daily fee for Wi-Fi
See MoreCons
Bottom Line
W Hotels' 270-room Union Square property greatly resembles other Ws in New York: comfortable beds, modern rooms, an excellent gym, and plenty of business travelers in the chiclobby. The difference: this one's downtown, near the bar-filled East Village and media-mecca Flatiron.
See MoreBottom Line
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Cribs
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pets Allowed
See More Amenities
Oyster Awards
- Best Boutique Hotels in Gramercy and Murray Hill, New York City
- Best Party Hotels in Gramercy and Murray Hill, New York City
- Best Party Hotels in New York City
- Five Best Workout Spots for Celebrity Sightings
- Best Hotels for People Watching in New York
- Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in New York City
Oyster Hotel Review
W New York – Union Square
Hotel Class:Upscale
Scene
Business travelers congregate in the offbeat, David Rockwell-designed lobby. Like other W hotels, a boisterous evening crowd of young professionals spills out into the lobby from the bars.
The W chain of hotels is the younger-leaning, more stylish arm of the Starwood Hotel group (which also operates Sheratons and Westins). W has properties all over the world, including five in Manhattan. The hotels are known for their purple, silver, and black color scheme,and an unhealthy obsession with, yes, the letter "W" -- signs read "Welcome" at the front desk, "Whatever/Whenever" at the concierge, and "Woof" by the dog bowls at the entrance. Despite the Sesame Street-style alliteration, Ws around the city often draw decent crowds of young professional New Yorkers to their lobbies. The Irvingtonrestaurant and Living Room at the W Union Square, the most "downtown" of all the Ws, is no exception: It's hip but not exclusive.
The public areas feel are sleekand comfortable, with black leather tufted sofas and pops of color -- as seen in the blue bench with green alligator detailing. The large windows let in a lot of sunlight and afford some incredible people-watching opportunities.
See MoreScene
Location
One block from a major hub, the W is a 10-minute walk from East Village bars. It also borders well-heeled, residential Gramercy and the media- and tech-heavy Flatiron commercial district.
Fittingly, the W Union Square sits on the northeast corner of Union Square, a park in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. In the daytime and evening, the immediate area witnesses heavy foot traffic. Everyone from skateboarders to dog walkers to well-dressed media types pass through. By midnight, though, the square's well lit but the park and its surrounding side streets thin out considerably.
A major subway station servicing eight trains (the L; the N, Q, R, W; and the 4, 5, 6), Union Square is surrounded by commercial properties, including a Regal movie theater, a Whole Foods, and a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Several dormitories and buildings of New York University and the New School lay nearby. Students tend to hit the area nightspots, and activists and artists often set up shop in Union Square park, but the hub and the shopping bring people from just about every New York walk of life to the area, making for a crowded and busy daytime scene that thins out at night.
See MoreLocation
Rooms
Rooms feature great beds, extensive minibars, and high-end Bliss bath products. Much-needed renovations in 2012 revitalized the dark guest rooms.
Rooms were renovated in 2012. The room décor has a bright palate and tones, with modern furnishings. Renovated rooms have bright pops of color and striking accent walls that give a much more contemporary look to the space.
- Basic rooms are known as Wonderful Rooms, and come at a standard 225 square feet, and are available with one king or two queen beds. The slightly larger Spectacular Rooms are about 300 square feet.
- Mega Rooms are between 345 and 375 square feet, and have an oversized arm chair. Fabulous Rooms are between 355 and 380 square feet, and have an ergonomic desk.
- Studio Suites start at 440 square feet and have a pullout sofa. Cool Corner Suites are 480 square feet and have a spacious sitting area. Fantastic suites have Union Square Park views and a sectione off sitting area. Wow Suites are about 650 square feet and include Bliss Slippers.
- Extreme Wow Suites, the highest end accommodations and the largest at 1,000 square feet, have in-room Jacuzzis, Bose sound system, and park views.
- 42-inch flat-screen TV with DVD player and movies available on demand. The hotel has a DVD library for movie loans.
- Signature W Beds have pillow top mattress and 350-thread count linens
- Bliss bath amenities and terry-cloth robes
- iPod docking station
- Stand-along showers or bath/tub combos are available
- W-Fi internet, for a daily fee
- 24-hour room service
- Minibar, with an assortment of hard liquors, beer, wine, and mixers, and Muchie Box full of snacks
- Rooms have stand alone showers or bath/ tub combos
See MoreRooms
Features
The W Union Square has two requisite amenities for its price range -- a great fitness center and a business center -- but there's no spa.
- FIT, the W chain's brand of fitness centers, as high-end machines, and there are fresh apples, a large flat-screen TV, and plenty of towels available for guest use
- Business center offers standard services such as fax, mail, and photocopies, as well as paid Internet access
- A luxury house car and driver are on hand for free rides around the city, but reservations must be made through the concierge in advance
- There's no spa at the W Union Square, but the hotel offers in-room treatments.
See MoreFeatures
Family
OK for families, with a children's DVD library and a kids menu for room service. But street noise and a bar scene in the lobby doesn't make it an ideal family pick.
Available through the concierge, the DVD and video library features some kids movies. The room-service menu also includes children's options like mac and cheese, crispy chicken fingers, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The hotel offers cribs on request and also can arrange babysitting services through the concierge.
Solid family amenities notwithstanding, the hotel generally caters to business professionals, plus Union Square isn't ideally located for visiting kid-friendly New York attractions such as the museums around Central Park.
See MoreFamily
Pets
The W welcomes pets, but there's a weight limit and it can get pricey . Owners pay an additional fee per night above their daily room charge and a nonrefundable cleaning deposit.
With two dog bowls filled with treats and water at its entrance, the W Union Square opens its arms to pets. There's even a room-service menu for them. What's more, the park adjacent to the hotel features a popular dog run.
See MorePets
All-Inclusive / Food
Upscale Mediterranean-inspired cuisine from Irvington; 24-hour room service, and bar scene in the Living Room
The on-site restaurant Irvington serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes for all three meals.
The Living Room serve co*cktails and small bites.
Around Union Square, there's a host of options in almost every direction.
See MoreAll-Inclusive / Food
Weddings
Great food, attentive service, and a beautiful reception space that blends classic architecture and modern design.
- Wedding Size: Up to 150 guests; only one wedding at a time
- Ceremony Location: The Great Room
- Food and Drinks: Price vary (depending on specific menu choices and the day of the week) for a five-hour open bar, four hot and four cold hors d'oeuvres, and a three-course plated dinner. Kids', kosher, vegetarian, and gluten-free menus available upon request.
- Honeymoon Suite: The Wow Suite is free for the bride and groom on their wedding night.
See MoreWeddings
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W New York – Union Square
Read More Articles
Things You Should Know About W New York – Union Square
Also Known As
- w Hotel Union Square
- w New York City
- w Hotels Union Square
- w Union Square
Room Types
- Extreme Wow Suite
- Fantastic Suite
- Mega Room
- Penthouse Room
- Spectacular Room
- Wonderful Room
- Wow Suite
Address
201 Park Avenue South, New York City, New York 10003, United States
Phone
(212) 253-9119
Website
Oyster Hotel Review
W New York – Union Square
Hotel Class:Upscale
Scene
Business travelers congregate in the offbeat, David Rockwell-designed lobby. Like other W hotels, a boisterous evening crowd of young professionals spills out into the lobby from the bars.
The W chain of hotels is the younger-leaning, more stylish arm of the Starwood Hotel group (which also operates Sheratons and Westins). W has properties all over the world, including five in Manhattan. The hotels are known for their purple, silver, and black color scheme,and an unhealthy obsession with, yes, the letter "W" -- signs read "Welcome" at the front desk, "Whatever/Whenever" at the concierge, and "Woof" by the dog bowls at the entrance. Despite the Sesame Street-style alliteration, Ws around the city often draw decent crowds of young professional New Yorkers to their lobbies. The Irvingtonrestaurant and Living Room at the W Union Square, the most "downtown" of all the Ws, is no exception: It's hip but not exclusive.
The public areas feel are sleekand comfortable, with black leather tufted sofas and pops of color -- as seen in the blue bench with green alligator detailing. The large windows let in a lot of sunlight and afford some incredible people-watching opportunities.
See MoreScene
Location
One block from a major hub, the W is a 10-minute walk from East Village bars. It also borders well-heeled, residential Gramercy and the media- and tech-heavy Flatiron commercial district.
Fittingly, the W Union Square sits on the northeast corner of Union Square, a park in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan. In the daytime and evening, the immediate area witnesses heavy foot traffic. Everyone from skateboarders to dog walkers to well-dressed media types pass through. By midnight, though, the square's well lit but the park and its surrounding side streets thin out considerably.
A major subway station servicing eight trains (the L; the N, Q, R, W; and the 4, 5, 6), Union Square is surrounded by commercial properties, including a Regal movie theater, a Whole Foods, and a Barnes & Noble bookstore. Several dormitories and buildings of New York University and the New School lay nearby. Students tend to hit the area nightspots, and activists and artists often set up shop in Union Square park, but the hub and the shopping bring people from just about every New York walk of life to the area, making for a crowded and busy daytime scene that thins out at night.
See MoreLocation
Rooms
Rooms feature great beds, extensive minibars, and high-end Bliss bath products. Much-needed renovations in 2012 revitalized the dark guest rooms.
Rooms were renovated in 2012. The room décor has a bright palate and tones, with modern furnishings. Renovated rooms have bright pops of color and striking accent walls that give a much more contemporary look to the space.
- Basic rooms are known as Wonderful Rooms, and come at a standard 225 square feet, and are available with one king or two queen beds. The slightly larger Spectacular Rooms are about 300 square feet.
- Mega Rooms are between 345 and 375 square feet, and have an oversized arm chair. Fabulous Rooms are between 355 and 380 square feet, and have an ergonomic desk.
- Studio Suites start at 440 square feet and have a pullout sofa. Cool Corner Suites are 480 square feet and have a spacious sitting area. Fantastic suites have Union Square Park views and a sectione off sitting area. Wow Suites are about 650 square feet and include Bliss Slippers.
- Extreme Wow Suites, the highest end accommodations and the largest at 1,000 square feet, have in-room Jacuzzis, Bose sound system, and park views.
- 42-inch flat-screen TV with DVD player and movies available on demand. The hotel has a DVD library for movie loans.
- Signature W Beds have pillow top mattress and 350-thread count linens
- Bliss bath amenities and terry-cloth robes
- iPod docking station
- Stand-along showers or bath/tub combos are available
- W-Fi internet, for a daily fee
- 24-hour room service
- Minibar, with an assortment of hard liquors, beer, wine, and mixers, and Muchie Box full of snacks
- Rooms have stand alone showers or bath/ tub combos
See MoreRooms
Features
The W Union Square has two requisite amenities for its price range -- a great fitness center and a business center -- but there's no spa.
- FIT, the W chain's brand of fitness centers, as high-end machines, and there are fresh apples, a large flat-screen TV, and plenty of towels available for guest use
- Business center offers standard services such as fax, mail, and photocopies, as well as paid Internet access
- A luxury house car and driver are on hand for free rides around the city, but reservations must be made through the concierge in advance
- There's no spa at the W Union Square, but the hotel offers in-room treatments.
See MoreFeatures
Family
OK for families, with a children's DVD library and a kids menu for room service. But street noise and a bar scene in the lobby doesn't make it an ideal family pick.
Available through the concierge, the DVD and video library features some kids movies. The room-service menu also includes children's options like mac and cheese, crispy chicken fingers, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The hotel offers cribs on request and also can arrange babysitting services through the concierge.
Solid family amenities notwithstanding, the hotel generally caters to business professionals, plus Union Square isn't ideally located for visiting kid-friendly New York attractions such as the museums around Central Park.
See MoreFamily
Pets
The W welcomes pets, but there's a weight limit and it can get pricey . Owners pay an additional fee per night above their daily room charge and a nonrefundable cleaning deposit.
With two dog bowls filled with treats and water at its entrance, the W Union Square opens its arms to pets. There's even a room-service menu for them. What's more, the park adjacent to the hotel features a popular dog run.
See MorePets
All-Inclusive / Food
Upscale Mediterranean-inspired cuisine from Irvington; 24-hour room service, and bar scene in the Living Room
The on-site restaurant Irvington serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes for all three meals.
The Living Room serve co*cktails and small bites.
Around Union Square, there's a host of options in almost every direction.
See MoreAll-Inclusive / Food
Weddings
Great food, attentive service, and a beautiful reception space that blends classic architecture and modern design.
- Wedding Size: Up to 150 guests; only one wedding at a time
- Ceremony Location: The Great Room
- Food and Drinks: Price vary (depending on specific menu choices and the day of the week) for a five-hour open bar, four hot and four cold hors d'oeuvres, and a three-course plated dinner. Kids', kosher, vegetarian, and gluten-free menus available upon request.
- Honeymoon Suite: The Wow Suite is free for the bride and groom on their wedding night.
See MoreWeddings
Amenities
Air Conditioner
Airport Transportation
Babysitting Services
Basic Television
Business Center
Cable
Concierge
Cribs
Dry Cleaning
Fitness Center
Internet
Jacuzzi
Kids Allowed
Laundry
Meeting / Conference Rooms
Mini Bar (with liquor)
Pets Allowed
Poolside Drink Service
Rental Car Service Desk Onsite
Room Service
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
Smoking Rooms Available
Swim-Up Bar
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
