This hotel really blends into its setting on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Situated on a sleepyt side street, the voco The Franklin New York is the first voco property in the United States, but its building dates back to 1929 and its past life has always involved hosting guests before becoming an IHG hotel property in 2021.
With its name in bright red, capital letters on exterior signage looking like a movie marquis, walking inside this hotel is like stepping into a high end New York City apartment building, smack dab in the glamorous Upper East Side. Here’s why.
Why stay at voco The Franklin New York?
Upon entering The Franklin, you’ll spot two framed versions of blueprints of the building hung on each side of the inner walls, but it otherwise feels not like a hotel, but instead, a private, classy New York City residence.
Adjacent to the reception desk, the hotel’s lounge area has two large street facing windows amid soft couch seatings. A large white display case is adorned with books and home decor reflecting the voco brand’s mascot birds theme (a finch, an owl and a flamingo). Framed wall art of black and white New York scenes coincide with vibrantly colored furnishings, and it feels clean, and welcoming.
But the hotel’s Old New York vibe mingling with current New York City is the bedrock of this place. The building still has its original Otis elevator, with an elegant chassis and riding up as far up as the ninth floor. Upon check in, you’re given a coupon for your first coffee or latte and a packaged cookie. Tea and hot chocolate and dispensed water are all complimentary.
What are the rooms like at voco The Franklin New York?
voco The Franklin New York has 49 rooms in total across four categories—a single king bed, a single queen bed, a single double bed and two double beds. Unfortunately, due to obstruction by surrounding buildings, the hotel’s rooms don’t provide city views from their windows.
Rooms look small but they are cozy, adequate and well-laid out. My comfy queen room held a shower and tub with full-size bottles of Apotheke body and haircare products with the sink in a separate section. Amenities extended to a Nespresso machine, complimentary water, a flat-screen TV, a small desk, an air conditioning unit, a desk clock, and wall lamps with wooden bases containing USB ports. Sure, it’s quintessentially compact for this part of Manhattan, but for a reasonably-priced Upper East Side stay, these rooms have everything you need.
The hotel is also a corner away from the subway’s 4, 5, and 6 train lines and has an adjacent 24-hour parking garage.
What are the best places to eat and drink nearby voco The Franklin New York?
While there’s no restaurant at voco The Franklin New York, its Upper East Side location is near many options for getting breakfast, lunch and dinner and even drinks or a late night snack.
Whole Foods, Shake Shack, Ole & Steen and La Pain Quotidien all have branches nearby, if you’re after something familiar, but head east to find lots of other places to eat dotted along 3rd, 2nd and 1st avenues. The diner crowd will enjoy EJ Lunchonette, Gracie’s Diner, Green Kitchen and Midnight Express Diner. Upper East Side’s Yorkville section was once a German-populated area and you can experience remnants of that by paying Heidelberg, a German restaurant, and Schaller & Weber, the old school German meat market and butcher shop, a visit.
Need a caffeine hit? Good spots in this part of town include Birch Coffee, La Bomboniera, Mellow Yellow, and Patis Bakery. There’s also branches of the popular Levain Bakery and Maman. Other good spots are Stella & Fly, Jones Wood Foundery, The Drunken Monkey, Heidi’s House by the Side of the Road, THEP Thai Restaurant and The Penrose Bar. You clearly won’t be short on local options staying here.
What is the service like at voco The Franklin New York?
The reception staff are very friendly and polite (surprisingly so, for NYC) and are also trained in using the barista machine stationed across from their desk. Place an order with them and enjoy your cuppa Joe out on the courtyard.
Instead of an onsite restaurant here, there’s a large grab-and-go section with merchandise coolers and shelves stocked with drinks and packaged snacks and over-the-counter remedies for purchase. You can also find and use a microwave and ice machine—the team will gladly assist you.
What’s the area like around voco The Franklin New York?
The voco The Franklin New York is not far from many top NYC attractions and restaurants and shops associated with the Upper East Side, so it’s a solid spot for first-time visitors.
First up, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, which—you guessed it—is home to lots of the city’s most renowned and visited museums. It includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and they’re adjacent to Central Park, so you can wander through it between culture stops.
Alternatively, take a roughly 15-minute walk to Carl Schultz Park. It’s home to Gracie Mansion, the residence of New York City’s mayor since Fiorello LaGuardia in 1942, and public tours are bookable through the Gracie Mansion Conservancy’s website—if you’re after an overlooked NYC attraction, this is the one to visit.
Why you should book a stay at voco The Franklin New York
The voco The Franklin New York provides a quiet and comfortable stay as a place to return to after a day or evening out. It’s a step back from the buzz of Midtown but still offers guests a flavor of classic New York. During my stay, I ran into guests who were families and couples, but this hotel can even suit solo travelers, and anything you need is just a street or two away. If you’re craving the proper Upper East Side experience, this place is a reasonably priced stay.
DETAILS
Address: 164 E 87th St, New York, NY 10128
Price per night: From around $300
Closest transport: Via subway, 4, 5 and 6 and Q lines, at 86 Street station; by MTA bus, the 3 Av/E 87 Street stop
Book now: via Booking.com.
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