The Shelburne Sonesta New York
First Impressions Walking into The Shelburne Sonesta New York, you immediately get that classic Manhattan hotel vibe — polished but not stuffy.
First Impressions
Walking into The Shelburne Sonesta New York, you immediately get that classic Manhattan hotel vibe — polished but not stuffy. The lobby has this timeless elegance that feels authentically New York without trying too hard. I mean, you’re right in the heart of Murray Hill, and honestly, the location alone makes this four-star property worth considering. There’s something reassuring about a hotel that’s been part of the neighborhood fabric for years.
Location & Neighborhood
Here’s what I love about Murray Hill — it’s got that perfect balance of being central without the Times Square chaos. You’re on Lexington Avenue, which means you’ve got the 6 train practically at your doorstep, and Grand Central is just a few blocks south. The area feels more like where actual New Yorkers live and work, you know? Couples especially seem to get this (they rate the location 9.2, which honestly makes sense). You can walk to Midtown East for business stuff, hop over to the Village for dinner, or catch a show without feeling like you’re fighting tourist crowds right outside your hotel door.
The Room Experience
The rooms here are what you’d expect from a solid four-star place in New York — well-appointed without being flashy. What really stands out, though, are the beds. I’m not usually one to go on about hotel mattresses, but guests consistently rave about getting actually good sleep here, which in Manhattan is sort of a minor miracle. The room layouts make smart use of space (because let’s be real, this is NYC), and the windows give you decent city views depending on which side you’re on.
Dining & Amenities
The breakfast situation is straightforward American fare — nothing revolutionary, but it gets the job done when you need fuel before tackling the city. What I actually appreciate more is that they have private parking available, which anyone who’s tried to drive in Manhattan will tell you is basically like finding gold. The restaurant serves reliable food, and the staff generally knows what they’re doing without being overly formal about it.
Why Guests Love It
Look, this isn’t the trendiest hotel in the city, and it’s not trying to be. What it does well is give you a solid base in an excellent location without the premium you’d pay closer to Central Park or in SoHo. The 8.4 rating reflects what you actually get — dependable comfort in a neighborhood that feels authentically New York. Business travelers appreciate being close to Grand Central and the corporate corridor, while leisure visitors love having easy subway access to everywhere else. It’s the kind of place where everything just works, which in a city that can be overwhelming, is actually pretty valuable.
Our Rooms
Double Room with Two Double Beds - Disability Access
Max. people: 2Guest Reviews
Good
What could be improved: I was not given the room I booked and ended up in a very dark room with no windows
Great hotel certainly worth a visit !
Hotel is so well placed to access all parts of manhattan on foot and close to grand central station for transport links. It is also a bit quieter than some areas
What could be improved: We didn’t discover the rooftop bar until our last day which was a pity as its excellent
Comfortable, friendly, near main attraction
Very close to main attractions and near subway stops. The employees are very friendly and helpful.
What could be improved: The bathroom didn’t have any hooks to put towels
Good
Location, spacious bed
What could be improved: Tabac smell in the room and the shower didn’t have the hose, only a static shower, not very comfortable to use.
Overall it was alright and comfortable.
It’s clean and room service is very efficient.
What could be improved: The front desk staff is inconsistent with the information that they’re telling us. When we first came to the hotel the front desk staff stated that each day of our stay we get 3 free things it could be drinks or snacks. On our last day when we tried to get our 3 free drinks, staff said we only get two and we might be getting charged for the other drinks that we got before but we weren’t getting charged at all.
Great, friendly hotel close to the main attractions.
From checking in with the friendly, knowledgeable staff to the time we left, we have had such a lovely, positive experience with this hotel. All staff were always on hand if we needed them. Comfortable rooms. It was great having a small kitchenette with a fridge. Location in the city is perfect.We had a week of pure comfort staying here.
What could be improved: The reception for cable TV channels was quite poor at times. Room was dusty in some places- i.e. under bathroom sink, the top corners of rooms or the window frame although this did not affect our stay at all.
Wonderful
Excellent location and spacious room! Great value for money! The room was clean and i had a great view outside the window!
Comfortable and spacious rooms.
Clean, spacious rooms. Neighbourhood felt very safe and was a good base for travelling around as a tourist. Would definitely recommend.
What could be improved: There were no utensils in the kitchenette, but we didn’t reception for any, so maybe they would have provided. It wasn’t a big deal. Having the sink and fridge was really useful though.
Great Experience!
It was very good to stay here! We enjoyed the rooftop that is surely a strength point with an amazing view of the city and the Empire State Building. The room was big and you are 6 minutes by walk from the grand central station and 10 minutes from Park Bryant. The staff is kind and helpful.
What could be improved: There aren't many things to discuss but some suggestions/requests. Please renovate the showers, cause we had the one with the curtain and it's horrible; then I know that in New York is complicated to offer a breakfast inside the hotel but it could be something that u can add if u wanna reach a perfect review!
Excellent hotel. Would happily stay there again any time.
Every member of staff we dealt with was incredibly polite and helpful - the front desk, housekeeping, the doorman, eveyone. Nobody grumbled about anything and they all did everything they could to help us.
What could be improved: I can't point to anything we didn't like.
Location
Surroundings
What's nearby:
- Bryant Park950 m
- St. Vartan Park650 m
- Chrysler Building400 m
- East River Greenway700 m
- Empire State Building900 m
- Tudor Grove Playground800 m
- Mary OConnor Playground800 m
- Morgan Library & Museum300 m
- Robert Moses Park Dog Run1 km
- Marcus Garvey Memorial Park850 m
Restaurants & cafes:
- Restaurant Delectica150 m
- Restaurant Dun Huang50 m
- Restaurant Lucid Cafe50 m
Top attractions:
- Central Park4.5 km
- Brooklyn Bridge5 km
- Top of the Rock1.6 km
- Flatiron Building1.6 km
- Strawberry Fields3.7 km
- The Highline Park3.1 km
- Rockefeller Center1.5 km
- Museum of Modern Art1.8 km
- One World Trade Center5 km
- Metropolitan Museum of Art4.3 km
Natural Beauty:
- Peak Kings Bluff (31m)5 km
- Lake Conservatory Water3.4 km
Public transit:
- Train Grand Central Station550 m
- Train New York Penn Station1.7 km
- Subway Grand Central - 42nd Street450 m
- Subway33 Rd Street Irt Lexington Avenue Line500 m
Closest Airports:
- La Guardia Airport12 km
- Teterboro Airport16 km
- New York Skyports Seaplane Base2 km
The Shelburne Sonesta New York
New York, United States
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