If you want to be as centralized as possible during your time in New York without the fervent hustle and bustle of Times Square, Union Square is a great area to camp out in. And the W provides a calm oasis in the madness.
Steps away from the nearest subway, the hotel features a restaurant, gym and pet-friendly amenities. Both the lobby and the rooms give off a lounge-y vibe, with leather banquettes, jewel-tones throw pillows and walls with primary stripes of blue and orange. You can begin a nice evening at first-floor eatery Irvington, serving perfectly moist duck, a $19 burger that’s hefty indeed and ceviche and oysters for lighter fare. The daily happy hour from 5–7pm offers draught beers for $6, glasses of wine for $9 and cocktails for $12—not a bad deal in these parts.
Upstairs in your room, you can have a lovely view of the park below and the city stretching out around you in the distance—you only need go up a few floors to see above the treetops, and it’s a lovely sight indeed, especially at sunrise. When you’re ready to venture into the night, both the East Village and the West Village—perfect for whatever adventure you’re looking for—are just a 15- to 30-minute walk away. For New Yorkers, that’s no time at all.