voco Times Square South New York by IHG

I’ll be honest – when I first heard about voco Times Square South New York by IHG, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this relatively new brand. But after staying there a couple times, I’ve got to say it’s become one of my go-to spots when I need to be in the Theater District without dealing with the absolute chaos of Times Square proper.

The location on West 36th Street is actually pretty brilliant – you’re far enough south that you miss the worst of the tourist madness, but close enough that you can still walk to shows without breaking a sweat. Hell’s Kitchen has really transformed over the years, and this spot puts you right in the sweet spot where you’ve got incredible restaurants (seriously, try Kashkaval Garden around the corner) mixed with enough grittiness to remind you that you’re in real New York. The four-star property sits in what used to be a pretty unremarkable stretch, but honestly, that works in your favor – the rates are more reasonable than what you’d pay closer to Broadway, and the subway access is actually better. The B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains are all within a few blocks, which means you can get pretty much anywhere in the city without much fuss.

What I really appreciate about this place is how they’ve managed to feel distinctly New York without trying too hard. The lobby has this industrial-chic thing going on that actually works – exposed brick, dark wood, lots of metal accents that somehow feel warm instead of cold. The rooms aren’t huge (this is Manhattan, after all), but they’re smartly designed with plenty of outlets, good lighting for getting ready, and blackout curtains that actually block out the street noise. Speaking of noise – yeah, you’re in the city, so there’s going to be some, but it’s not the honking nightmare you might expect. The building does a decent job of buffering the sounds, though I’d still recommend requesting a higher floor if you’re a light sleeper. The fitness center is small but functional, and the business center actually has a decent printer if you need to handle work stuff. Check-in is usually pretty smooth, though I’ve noticed they can get slammed during peak theater season – basically September through January, you might want to build in a little extra time. One thing that surprised me was how good the coffee situation is in the lobby; it’s not just hotel coffee, it’s actually drinkable, which is more than I can say for a lot of places in this price range. You know what really sold me on this place though? The staff genuinely seems to know the neighborhood. Ask them about restaurants and they’ll steer you toward the spots locals actually go to, not just the touristy places with terrible food and inflated prices.

Hotel in New York booking should be done early, especially during holiday seasons when the city hosts internationally celebrated events and concerts at Madison Square Garden and other iconic venues.