This is the area of Manhattan west of the Broadway Theater district, Penn Station and the Port Authority. The boundaries are between 34th St. to 59th St. and from Eighth Ave. to the Husdon River. I first explored the area when I first stayed at the Yotel. This is a good area from which to focus on Broadway or to easily get to Chelsea and the High Line. Here is what I recommend:
The Yotel is at 42nd and 10th Avenues and is the European chain’s first non-airport hotel. Just opened, this is a sleek hotel, with a very contemporary vibe. They want to provide a first class experience at an affordable price. Check in is handled by computer, the rooms are called cabins since they are smaller than most hotel rooms but include all of the amenities including safe, flat screen TV and iPod/MP3 player, free WiFi, computers to check emails or print boarding passes and a gym. The staff was really friendly and helpful. There is a club lounge, free continental breakfast, a sleek restaurant with really good food and reasonable prices and a huge terrace which is the largest outdoor hotel terrace in NYC with two bars and cabanas. I had a great experience there and it is an easy walk to all the Broadway theaters.
Another good hotel option is the Tryp Hotel just north and west of Penn Station. This is a good, inexpensive option near Penn Station and Hell’s Kitchen. It is the first Tryp Hotel in the US which is a Wyndham brand. It has a contemporary vibe with sleek lobby, bar, restaurant, and rooms. I did have a noise issue with an adjoining room but they corrected it immediately. The breakfast buffet was also very good. It is a perfect place from which to explore NYC, go to a Broadway show or attend a convention at the Javits Center. 345 W. 35th. I took the train from Newark Airport to Penn Station and walked to the hotel. It was so simple.
Ink48: The new Kimpton Hotel at 653 11th Ave. in Hell’s Kitchen at 48th. Set in a former printing house, this 222 room, boutique hotel has a contemporary design. The Press Lounge, the hotel’s popular rooftop bar, has great views of Midtown. The area is more of an emerging area but is an easy walk to nearby restaurants and the Theater District.
Gotham West Market: 600 11th Ave. between 44th and 45th. This is a great concept in a 15,000 sq. ft. space that has six restaurants, two bars, a coffee shop and a cook-ware and grocery store. Here you will find Blue Bottle Coffee for great coffee. The Cannibal featuring small plates, house-made charcuterie and cured meats and a rotating list over 200 global beers and bourbons and whiskeys. Chozo Taqueria has really good Mexican specialties including tacos, burritos, tamales, tortas and ceviches. I enjoyed a combination of lamb, shrimp and chicken tacos, rice and beans and a wonderful iced Mexican hot chocolate. Court Street Grocers Sandwich Shop serves hand-crafted sandwiches. Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop features classic ramen and rice bowls. Genuine Roadside serves tacos, sandwiches, burgers, shakes, wine, beer and cocktails. El Colmado is a traditional Spanish tapas restaurant. There is also a bike store NYC. Velo and The Brooklyn Kitchen which sells kitchenware and specialty grocery items. They also offer cooking classes.
They offer special events including ping pong on Mondays, wine and food events, sports watching events for World Cup soccer and the Tour de France and movies.
Birdland Jazz Club: This is a great spot for live jazz. You can hear such famed performers as Oscar Peterson, Pat Metheny, Diana Krall, Michel Legrand, Maynard Ferguson, Marian McPartland, John Pizzarelli and Kurt Elling. 315 W. 44th.