The Knickerbocker – Hotel Review

Housed in a historic 1906 Beaux Arts property originally built by John Jacob Astor IV, The Knickerbocker is a heritage jewel, which glitters year-round from its position right on Times Square. Its location smack-bang in the hubbub of Manhattan means two crucial things: the city’s best sights are within walking distance and the views from the quietly luxurious rooms are worth pulling the curtains back for. Read on for the full review.

There are other notable drawcards to this flashy midtown multi-level. Renowned chef Charlie Palmer (of many Michelin-starred fame) directs the food offerings, and the rooftop bar, St. Cloud is one of the city’s indisputable gems, confirming The Knickerbocker as one of New York’s best luxury hotels.

Where is The Knickerbocker Hotel?

The hotel is on the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway. It’s around a 45- to-80-minute car ride from JFK and 30 to 50 minutes from LaGuardia, depending on time of day.

What’s near The Knickerbocker Hotel?

If you wanted to get any closer to Times Square, you’d have to be wearing a Spider-Man costume and posing for photos with tourists. It’s also a block from Bryant Park, close to multiple Broadway theatres and about a five-minute walk to the Empire State Building. And if you want to venture further afield, two subway stops sit a block away from the front door and cover much of the rest of Manhattan.

Room types

There are 10 room types at The Knickerbocker, all of which are sleek, earth-hued and minimalist in design. All the rooms are sizable — even the entry-level Superior King — and offer flat-screen TVs, fluffy robes and free bottled water and soft drinks. There are also 27 Junior Suites that include a king bed and a sleeper sofa if you’re travelling in a small group. If you’d like to greet the magnificent Manhattan skyline through your windows each morning, opt for one of the Premier City View rooms. 

Restaurants and bars

For casual dining, there’s the curved-ceilinged café Jake’s @ The Knick, just off the lobby, which serves La Colombe coffee, snacks and light meals from 7.30am to 2pm.  On the fourth floor, Charlie Palmer At The Knick refashions traditional American cuisine into a fine-dining experience — the Knick Burger is especially good, and as it’s rumoured the Martini was invented at the hotel, their Knickerbocker Martini is topnotch. For the piece de resistance, go straight to the top — St. Cloud is the envy of other rooftop bars, with a club room, lounge area and a series of private sky pods. On New Year’s Eve, you feel like you can almost reach out and touch the giant ball that falls in Times Square at midnight. 

Sustainability

The hotel uses fixed refillable shower dispensers with Diptyque products to reduce plastic waste from single-use containers. 

Travel for work

The Salon is a versatile meeting, event and hospitality space that can accommodate 160 people and is fitted out with cutting-edge audio-visual equipment. It features a meeting room, function room and bar.

Spa and gym

There’s not one but two fitness centres on the fourth floor — a large cardio space and a more compact weight room. Both are open 24/7.  

What you need to know

For the full Knickerbocker experience, splash out on one of their lavish signature suites — the Cohan, Martini, Parrish and Caruso — and you’ll feel like you’re living in your own luxury Manhattan apartment for a night or two.

SEE ALSO: The Hot List: The Best Hotels in Manhattan