The Knickerbocker

"Times Square, the St. Cloud rooftop, the central-Manhattan meeting hub."

Our editorial scores across three headline criteria. See the full methodology.

Why book The Knickerbocker for business?

Book The Knickerbocker when your meetings cluster around Times Square and you want a historic address at the literal center of Manhattan. The hotel occupies the 1906 Beaux-Arts building at the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway, commissioned by John Jacob Astor IV and reopened as a luxury hotel in February 2015 after a major restoration; it had spent most of the 20th century as offices. It holds 330 rooms, and the marquee asset is St. Cloud, the rooftop bar on the 16th floor with one of the few Times-Square-from-above terraces in the city.

For business, the pitch is geography plus a great rooftop. The building sits within walking distance of the Midtown broadcast and media cluster, and St. Cloud is a natural after-meeting room where the view of Times Square at night does part of the conversational work. The honest trade-off is that the rooms and service are hotel-grade rather than palace-grade, and the setting is as touristy as New York gets. For a high-stakes positioning meeting you would choose Aman or the Mandarin Oriental; for a media-district work trip with a memorable place to host drinks, the Knickerbocker is a smart, better-value pick.

What are the rooms like?

The best room to request is a high-floor King or a Junior Suite for the extra sitting space; the four Tribute Suites, named the Caruso, Cohan, Martini and Parrish, are the flagships if you want a statement room. Guest rooms benefit from the old building's bones: 12-foot ceilings, large windows and a restrained, classic palette that feels calmer than the neon outside. There are 27 Junior Suites in the mix, useful when you want to take a small meeting in the room.

The caveat is that this is a full-size Times Square hotel, not an intimate boutique, so standard rooms are comfortable rather than expansive, and there is no private-terrace or plunge-pool product. Ask for a room on a higher floor and away from Broadway if noise matters to you, since a central Times Square address comes with the sound of the city. Book around twelve weeks out for popular months, when the better rooms and suites go first.

Where is it and how connected is it?

Location is the Knickerbocker's strongest card. Standing at 42nd and Broadway, it is arguably the most central hotel address in Manhattan, with the Times Square and 42nd Street subway hub, one of the busiest in the system, directly outside the door. That puts nearly the entire city within a short ride and makes cross-town meetings simple, whether they are in the theater district, the media cluster or Midtown offices.

For arrivals, it is roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car from the major airports, traffic depending, and Penn Station and Grand Central are both quick hops for regional rail. The flip side of such a central position is the crowds and noise of Times Square itself, which is a genuine consideration for anyone who prefers a calmer base.

How does it compare to other New York business hotels?

The Knickerbocker is the value-and-location pick among Manhattan's business hotels rather than a top-tier palace. This table places it against three alternatives so you can weigh location against polish.

The short version: choose the Knickerbocker for the central Times Square address and the St. Cloud rooftop at a sane rate; step up to Park Hyatt New York for a quieter, more upscale base; and to the Baccarat when a client meeting has to look the part.

What do guests consistently say?

Across recent verified reviews, the praise centers on three things: the location, repeatedly called unbeatable for reaching the theater district, offices and transit; the St. Cloud rooftop, a highlight for its Times Square views; and the historic building, with guests appreciating the high ceilings and the sense of old New York. Staff are frequently described as friendly and helpful.

The criticisms are predictable for the address. The most common note is noise and crowds from Times Square, both around the hotel and, on lower or Broadway-facing floors, in the rooms. Some guests also feel the rooms, while comfortable, are not as luxurious as the lobby or the price sometimes implies, and that food and drink prices are high. These are the honest costs of a landmark Times Square location.

What are the drawbacks?

The Knickerbocker is not the choice for a traveler who wants calm, cutting-edge luxury or a large suite. The Times Square setting is crowded and loud, standard rooms are solid rather than palatial, and service, while warm, is not the white-glove standard of the city's top-tier hotels. There is no spa of note and no private outdoor space beyond the rooftop bar.

If you want a quieter, more refined base at a similar or slightly higher price, book the Conrad New York Midtown or step up to Park Hyatt New York. The Knickerbocker earns its place for the traveler who values a truly central address and a standout rooftop over hushed luxury.

Frequently asked questions

How many rooms does The Knickerbocker have?

330 rooms, including 27 Junior Suites and four Tribute Suites, in the restored 1906 building.

Where exactly is it?

At the corner of West 42nd Street and Broadway in Times Square, at 6 Times Square (1466 Broadway), with the 42nd Street subway hub outside.

What is St. Cloud?

The hotel's rooftop bar on the 16th floor, one of the largest in New York, with open-air terraces overlooking Times Square.

Knickerbocker or Park Hyatt for a work trip?

The Knickerbocker for the central Times Square location and rooftop at a lower rate; the Park Hyatt for larger rooms, a spa and a quieter, more upscale base.

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