The Radio Hotel has got to be one of the most striking New York buildings north of central park. Looking at the eight different colored sections stacked like Lego toys, with the green one atop proclaiming ‘Radio Hotel’ adds a massive splash of much-needed color to the journey along the congested Cross Bronx Expressway. Even truckers who hate journeying into New York will have a little joy injected into their day.
Why stay at the Radio Hotel?
The Radio Hotel is modern, clean, has a really good restaurant and won’t set you back anywhere near as much as the average hotel south of Washington Heights. Is it central? No, but it is good value. This is your chance to spend time in a Manhattan neighborhood that’s a far cry from the Hop-On Hop-Off bus route, away from the chaos.
What are the rooms like at the Radio Hotel?
Colourful, to say the least. The unfinished ceilings give this place a little bit of edge, but it being the Radio Hotel, all the bluetooth speakers are shaped like little radios—antenna and all—and are powerful enough to be heard even if you’re enjoying the (surprisingly spacious for a Manhattan hotel) shower.
And while this place is comfortably removed from the bustle of more central neighborhoods in Manhattan, you are still in Manhattan, meaning the cacophony of car horns is unavoidable (even from the very top floors). Still, you’re close-by to landmarks like the George Washington Bridge, Highbridge Park, and the Harlem River.
What is the food like at the Radio Hotel?
Jalao NYC is the Radio Hotel’s Dominican restaurant. It’s fitting as Washington Heights is home to New York’s Little Dominican Republic, and the restaurant gets its name from a Dominican dessert of coconut balls with honey. It’s a little fancier than most of the restaurants that you’ll find in the area. Not fine dining, but definitely date night worthy, and it does a brunch menu with more trendy food options—such as avocado on toast.
The Radio Hotel also has El Patio (the same menu as Jalao), a large courtyard that you can only access through the hotel. You can drink and dine in this two-level space on evenings during the week and all day on weekends, and you should definitely try the ceviche morir soñando and morir soñando, the popular non-alcoholic Dominican drink. For the latter, the two main ingredients of orange juice and evaporated milk seem to be used 1:1, so it almost looks like a pina colada by the time it arrives at your table. It’s tangy, but the sweetness will pull through.
The ceviche is served in a small bowl about half filled with morir soñando and topped with shrimp, watermelon radish, pomegranate seeds, and more cilantro than a bowl of pho. It’s a deliciously spicy plate.
What’s the service like at the Radio Hotel?
Hotel and restaurant staff are upbeat and know the neighborhood well (it’s almost as if some even live there) which distinguishes it nicely from the bigger and more famous hotels south of 100th Street.
Feeling like you’re in local hands really makes this experience feel a little more personal, particularly because you’ll be spending quite a lot of time stepping out of the hotel, and having people who know the area around where you’re staying is a rarity in Manhattan. If the person handing you your room key suggests walking to 182nd and St. Nicholas for habichuelas con dulce, maiz caquiao, and other types of Dominican street food, listen to them!
Oh, and there’s a parking garage around the corner that, while not affiliated with the hotel, will cost you less than half of what you’ll pay below 100th Street.
What are the pools and facilities like at the Radio Hotel?
While there’s no pool, there is a gym with enough equipment that you won’t need to go on Google Maps to find the nearest Planet Fitness. They have yoga mats, a multi-stack Hoist machine, dumbbells up to 50 lbs, and the cardio machines face the patio, so it’s decent.
What’s the area like around the Radio Hotel?
You may be in Manhattan, but don’t expect to see skyscrapers and high-rise luxury condos like you do below Central Park. Instead, you’ll see a lot of the pre-war apartment buildings that dominate the landscape—it’s a different side to New York, but it’s still very much New York. Keen to explore Midtown? You can head straight to 181 St station and board the 1 train all the way to Times Square.
If you think of NYC attractions as hit singles and B-sides, there are enough of the latter within walking distance to keep a curious traveler occupied for a weekend. While not a museum, the Birthplace of Hip Hop is a popular place of pilgrimage for music fans. And at less than one mile on foot across the Washington Bridge (not to be confused with the one beginning with ‘George’), you’ll get some exercise and see a less-visited part of The Bronx. The George Washington Bridge, which connects Washington Heights with Fort Lee, New Jersey, is also within walking distance of the hotel.
Sure, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is atop everyone’s list, but when in Washington Heights, take advantage of your surroundings and grab a Citi Bike from the docking station along Amsterdam Ave. Whether you walk or cycle across the GWB, chances are you’ll be moving faster than most of the cars are able to.
Why you should book a stay at the Radio Hotel
This is your chance to have a Manhattan neighborhood experience in a clean and modern hotel at a more than reasonable price (by New York’s standards). You’ll be in close proximity to Dominican street food, the oldest house in Manhattan, Little Red Lighthouse, and other B-side attractions, as well as having good connections to those blockbuster spots in more central neighborhoods.
DETAILS
Address: 2420 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY
Price per night: Standard rooms from $175; Suites from $370
Closest transport: LaGuardia Airport is a 25-minute drive
Book now: Via Booking.com
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