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New York: The New York Botanical Gardens
🌿 A Garden Worth Crossing an Ocean For
When we lived in Westchester County, just north of New York City, we were a short drive from the Bronx — which, if you’ve never been, sounds considerably more alarming than it actually turns out to be. Tucked away up there, in the northern reaches of Bronx Park, sat one of our absolute favourite places on earth: the New York Botanical Garden. We went in spring when the flowers were doing their level best to impress, in summer when the whole place hummed and buzzed with life, and in winter — especially at Christmas — when they’d set up a model railway exhibition inside the great glasshouse conservatory. The kids loved it. If I’m honest, so did I, which says rather more about me than I’d perhaps like to admit.
Now that we no longer live there and merely visit like proper tourists with sensible shoes and a vague sense of mild jet lag, the NYBG remains firmly near the top of our New York list. Which is saying something, given the competition. New York, after all, is not exactly short of things to do.
📜 How It All Started
The story of the New York Botanical Garden begins, pleasingly enough, not in New York at all, but in London. In 1888, two American botanists — Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife Elizabeth — made the trip across the Atlantic to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, just along the Thames in west London. Kew had been open to the public since 1840 and was already, by the late Victorian era, the most important centre for botanical science in the world. The Brittons had a wander round, took in the great glasshouses, the vast collections, the sheer overwhelming scale of the place, and apparently went home to New York thinking: right, we need one of these.
Nathaniel wasn’t a minor figure by any means. He was a professor at Columbia College — the institution that would later become Columbia University — and he went on to become one of the most prolific botanists in American history, eventually describing and cataloguing more than 6,000 plant species over the course of his long career. Not bad for a day’s work. Elizabeth was no slouch either — she was a serious and respected bryologist, specialising in mosses and liverworts, since you ask, which are considerably more interesting than they sound, apparently. She was a formidable scientific mind in her own right and very much her husband’s equal in all the important ways.
Together they lobbied hard and persistently for New York to have a world-class botanical institution — a proper one, mind you, not just a few flowerbeds arranged around a fountain in a public park. Their argument was clear and straightforward: New York needed a place dedicated to advancing public understanding of plants, to housing rare and scientifically valuable specimens from around the world, and to driving original, serious botanical research. They were persuasive people, the Brittons.
The New York state legislature agreed, and the New York Botanical Garden was formally incorporated and established in 1891. The site chosen was the northern half of Bronx Park — 250 acres of surprisingly dramatic and varied terrain, with the freshwater Bronx River running through it, a proper rock-cut gorge, and no fewer than 50 acres of ancient old-growth forest that had somehow managed to survive completely intact since long before the city had swallowed everything around it. It was, and still is, an extraordinary and rather unlikely piece of land to find sitting quietly in the middle of one of the world’s great urban sprawls. New York doesn’t do things by halves.
🏛️ What It Looks Like Today
Today the Garden still covers those same 250 acres and holds the distinction of being the largest botanical garden within any city in the United States — a title it wears with quiet confidence. In 1967, it was designated a National Historic Landmark, which is America’s way of saying “please don’t knock this down and turn it into flats.”
Within its grounds, the NYBG encompasses 50 speciality gardens and living collections, with well over one million individual plants between them. There are the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, which handle much of the serious behind-the-scenes propagation and conservation work that visitors rarely see but which keeps the whole remarkable operation ticking over. And then there is the crown jewel: the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a vast and magnificent Victorian-style glasshouse and the finest surviving structure of its kind in the United States. It’s the building you’ll have seen in photographs — all soaring iron and glass and elaborate arching rooflines that look faintly like someone tried to build a cathedral and got distracted by tropical plants halfway through. It is every bit as impressive up close as it appears from a distance. It was built in 1902, modelled in no small part on the Palm House at Kew — those Brittons really never did get over that visit — and comprehensively and lovingly restored during the 1990s to its full original Victorian splendour.
It’s the sort of place that makes you feel slightly underdressed just walking in through the door. I usually am.
🌊 Mitsubishi Wetlands Trail
One of our favourite areas within the Botanical Gardens is the Mitsubishi Wetlands Trail, a quiet and somewhat forgotten corner of the grounds that takes you through stretches of swamp, marsh and open pond. Unlike many of the more manicured and structured areas of the Garden — where everything is arranged with the kind of precision that makes you afraid to breathe near the flowerbeds — the Wetlands Trail feels genuinely natural and a little wild, as though the Garden’s designers simply threw up their hands, declared “right, nature can sort this bit out,” and wandered off for a cup of tea. Which, frankly, was an excellent decision.
The trail winds through wetland habitats that have been carefully preserved and, in places, sensitively restored. Wetlands of this type were once enormously common across the New York region — the broader area around New York Harbour was historically one of the richest wetland environments on the entire eastern seaboard, home to vast populations of wading birds, amphibians and aquatic plants. Much of that was drained and built over during the great surge of urban development in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which makes pockets like this one all the more valuable and worth protecting. In spring and summer, the trail becomes a genuinely spectacular display of colour, with numerous native wildflowers coming into bloom in succession — wetland irises, pickerelweed, cardinal flower and great stretches of native grasses shifting gently in whatever breeze happens to be passing through. It’s very easy to forget, standing there listening to the frogs and watching a heron pick its way slowly and with great dignity along the water’s edge, that you are standing in the middle of the Bronx. That, in itself, feels like something of a minor miracle.
It is also, importantly, a very good place to escape the crowds. The main garden paths, particularly around the Conservatory and the rose garden, can fill up rather quickly on a fine weekend morning. The Wetlands Trail tends to attract the more dedicated and quietly enthusiastic visitor — the sort of person who actually reads the information boards and owns a decent pair of binoculars — rather than the large family groups who’ve accidentally wandered in while trying to find somewhere to eat their sandwiches. We prefer it greatly.
🌸 Formal Gardens
Just a short stroll from the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the Garden lays on a rather generous helping of what I can only describe as proper, unapologetic colour. The Gossett Plant Trail and the Rosen Seasonal Walk sit at the heart of this area, both planted up with seasonal displays that change throughout the year and are, in high summer, frankly quite difficult to ignore.
When we visited in mid-summer, the whole area was doing its very best impression of someone who’d upended several large tins of paint and decided the result was fine, actually. Borders packed with flowering perennials, ornamental shrubs in full bloom, and the kind of planting combinations that make you wonder why your own garden back home looks the way it does — which, in my case, is less “curated display” and more “controlled neglect with ambitions.”
What made it particularly pleasant was simply being able to wander freely among the plants rather than peering at them from behind a rope. You could get close enough to catch the scents properly — which, on a warm July afternoon, with bees going about their business all around you, was really rather lovely.
🌿 The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
The highlight of any decent botanical garden is almost always the conservatory, and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden is absolutely no exception. Built by the Lord & Burnham Company — who were, by the late Victorian era, the most celebrated greenhouse builders in America, responsible for grand glasshouses from Montreal to Washington — it was completed in 1902 and remains to this day one of the most impressive structures of its kind anywhere in the world. The great palm dome at its centre is particularly spectacular, the kind of thing that makes you stop walking and just stare upwards like a slightly bewildered tourist, which is exactly what I did.
Inside, the Conservatory is divided into a series of distinct climate zones, each one carefully maintained at its own temperature and humidity — which explains why you go from feeling pleasantly warm to quietly suffocating within about twenty feet. There are galleries dedicated to aquatic plants and climbing vines, lush tropical rainforest environments dripping with moisture, and stark cactus-filled desert sections that feel entirely at odds with the Bronx outside. It is, in short, several different worlds under one very elegant glass roof.
🎨 Don’t Miss the Special Exhibitions
Before you visit, it’s well worth checking the NYBG website to see whether any special exhibitions are running during your stay — and I mean actually checking, not just assuming there won’t be anything on because you couldn’t be bothered. We’ve learned that lesson the hard way in both directions.
Many years back we were lucky enough to catch a Dale Chihuly exhibition, which was frankly extraordinary. Chihuly is the American glass sculptor who produces those enormous, wildly colourful blown-glass installations — think giant molten sea creatures that have somehow found their way into a garden and decided to stay. Seeing his work set among the trees and pathways of the NYBG was something we still talk about.
During our most recent visit, the featured exhibition was KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature, a major retrospective of Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama’s work, installed throughout the gardens. Kusama — now in her nineties and still working, bless her — is known for her obsessive use of polka dots, repeating patterns and immersive sculptural environments. Some pieces were striking large-scale sculptures. Others were more playful and frankly a little bonkers, including trees wrapped entirely in what can only be described as very enthusiastic Minnie Mouse spotting. It was genuinely fascinating to see how many different materials and approaches she brought to a single outdoor setting, and how unexpectedly well it all sat within the natural landscape.
These exhibitions change regularly, so whatever’s on when you visit will almost certainly be different — but the NYBG rarely does anything by halves.
Planning your visit to the New York Botanical Garden
🌿 New York Botanical Garden (NYBG)
| 📍 Location | 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458 | 🕖 Opening Times | Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (closed Mondays) |
| 🌐 Website | nybg.org | 📞 Phone | (718) 817-8700 |
| 📞 Ticketing | (718) 817-8716 |
🚇 How to Get There
| Route | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| 🚂 Metro-North | Harlem Line from Grand Central Terminal — alight at Botanical Garden Station | Directly opposite the Mosholu Gate entrance; approx. 20 mins from Manhattan |
| 🚇 Subway | B, D or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd | Take Bx26 bus east or walk approx. 20–25 mins to Mosholu Gate |
| 🚌 Bus | Bx12-SBS, Bx19, Bx25, Bx26, Bx41 | Alight at Southern Blvd/Botanical Gardens — 2–3 min walk to main entrance |
🎟️ Entry Fees (All-Garden Pass)
| Weekday | Weekend | |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 Adult | $35 | $39 |
| 🎓 Senior/Student | $31 | $35 |
| 👶 Child (2–12) | $15 | $17 |
| 🍼 Under 2 | Free | Free |
ℹ️ On Wednesdays, grounds admission is free for all visitors between 10:00–11:00 AM, and free all day for NYC residents (proof of residency required). Tickets available online or at the gate. Members and Patrons enter free.
Entry fees may be subject to change; visitors are advised to check the NYBG website for current pricing before their visit.
Visiting New York City
✈️ Getting There
By Air
New York is served by three major airports. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), in the borough of Queens, handles the majority of transatlantic flights and is the largest of the three. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is situated in New Jersey, just across the Hudson, and is a popular and often cheaper alternative. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is the closest to Midtown Manhattan but handles primarily domestic routes.
All international visitors will pass through US Customs and Border Protection on arrival, regardless of which airport they land at. Be prepared for queues and have your documentation ready.
Entry Requirements & ESTA
Most visitors from countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Programme — including the UK, most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand — do not need a full visa for stays of up to 90 days, but they do need an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before travelling. The ESTA costs $40.27 and is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. It must be secured at least 72 hours before departure. Apply only through the official US government website to avoid third-party scam sites that charge inflated fees.
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of departure from the US. If you have previously visited certain countries — Cuba after January 2021, for example — you may not be eligible for ESTA and will need to apply for a B-2 tourist visa instead.
Getting from the Airport into the City
From JFK, the AirTrain connects to the subway system (the A line or the Jamaica Station hub for the Long Island Rail Road), giving you a relatively affordable route into Manhattan. Uber, Lyft, and licensed yellow taxis are widely available. Yellow taxis charge a flat fare from JFK to Manhattan.
From Newark, an AirTrain connects to Newark Penn Station, where you can board NJ Transit trains into Manhattan’s Penn Station.
From LaGuardia, there is no direct rail link; buses connect to the subway network, and rideshare apps are the most convenient option.
Be cautious of unofficial “taxi” drivers who approach you inside the arrivals hall. Always use the official taxi rank outside or book a rideshare through the app directly.
🚇 Getting Around
The Subway
The subway is the backbone of the city and the fastest, most affordable way to get around. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week — one of very few urban rail systems in the world to do so. Lines are identified by letters and numbers, and whilst the map can look daunting at first, the system is logical once you understand that express trains skip stops and local trains stop at every station.
The old MetroCard swipe system has now been phased out. The city has fully transitioned to OMNY (One Metro New York), a contactless tap-and-pay system. Simply tap your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or smartwatch on the reader at the turnstile. If you prefer, you can also purchase a physical OMNY card from vending machines in any subway station. A single fare costs $3, and there is a weekly fare cap — once you have paid for 12 trips in a seven-day period, additional rides are free for the remainder of that week. Children under 44 inches (roughly 112 cm) tall travel for free.
Note that if you are using an overseas bank card, your bank may occasionally flag the first transaction as suspicious. It is worth taking a short test ride when you first arrive to verify your card works smoothly.
Buses
MTA buses cover areas of the city not well served by the subway and use the same OMNY tap-and-pay system. They are a good option for crosstown journeys in Manhattan, where the subway’s north-south orientation can be less convenient.
Taxis & Rideshares
Yellow taxis are iconic and plentiful in Manhattan. Uber and Lyft are widely used and often convenient, particularly late at night or when travelling with luggage. Avoid pedicabs (cycle rickshaws) unless you agree a fixed price in advance — they are notorious for charging tourists eye-watering amounts.
Walking & Cycling
Manhattan’s grid layout makes it one of the most walkable cities in the world. Many neighbourhoods are best explored on foot. Citi Bike, the city’s dockless bike-share scheme, is popular and relatively affordable, particularly for short hops between neighbourhoods.
Cars
Hiring a car in the city is not recommended. Traffic congestion is severe, parking is expensive and scarce, and the subway and walking will get you where you need to go more quickly and cheaply. Consider a car only if you are planning to venture outside the city limits.
🏙️ Neighbourhoods to Explore
Manhattan offers an enormous variety of experiences within a relatively compact area. Midtown is home to many of the city’s most iconic landmarks — Times Square, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal, and the Museum of Modern Art. It is central, well-connected, and a natural base for first-time visitors.
The High Line, a repurposed elevated railway turned public park, runs through Chelsea on the west side, connecting to Hudson Yards at one end and the Meatpacking District at the other. Chelsea is also a hub for contemporary art galleries.
Greenwich Village and the West Village retain a bohemian character, with tree-lined streets, independent cafés, and a rich literary and artistic history. SoHo is known for its cast-iron architecture and high-end shopping. Tribeca, once an industrial area colonised by artists, is now one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the city.
Downtown’s Financial District contains Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and the Oculus — the striking transit hub and shopping centre near the World Trade Center site.
Uptown, Central Park divides the Upper West Side from the Upper East Side. The latter is home to Museum Mile, a stretch of Fifth Avenue that includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Frick Collection, and several others. Harlem, to the north, has a vibrant cultural identity rooted in African-American history and is well worth a visit.
Brooklyn’s neighbourhoods are increasingly popular with visitors. Williamsburg has a thriving food and nightlife scene. DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) offers spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline. Brooklyn Heights is one of the city’s most elegant residential areas.
Best Time to Visit New York City
🌸 Spring (March – May)
Spring is widely regarded as one of the most delightful times to visit New York City. Temperatures climb gradually from around 7°C in March to a pleasant 20°C by May, and the city shakes off its winter coat with a burst of colour. Central Park’s cherry blossoms typically peak in early April, drawing photographers and picnickers alike, while the High Line transforms into a ribbon of wildflowers and grasses above the streetscape.
Crowds are manageable in March and early April before the Easter holiday surge, making it an ideal window to visit popular museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Museum of Modern Art without the queues of summer. Hotel prices sit at a mid-range level — higher than winter, but far below the summer peak.
Rainfall is fairly consistent throughout spring, so a compact umbrella is wise. The weather can be unpredictable: a warm 18°C afternoon can be followed by a sharp drop at dusk, so layering is essential. Outdoor festivals begin to reappear — the Tribeca Film Festival typically runs in late April or May — and restaurant terraces start to fill up, giving the city an energised, sociable atmosphere.
What to pack: Lightweight layers including a cardigan and a light waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella, jeans or chinos, a couple of smart-casual tops for evenings out, and a light scarf for cooler mornings and evenings.
☀️ Summer (June – August)
Summer is New York City’s busiest and hottest season. Temperatures regularly reach 28–33°C, with high humidity making the heat feel more intense, particularly in July and August. The city buzzes with energy: outdoor cinemas, free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theatre, rooftop bars in full swing, and street festivals nearly every weekend. Coney Island and the Rockaway Beach become popular escapes for New Yorkers and tourists alike.
The trade-off is significant congestion. Hotels charge peak rates, queues at major attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building stretch long, and the pavements in Midtown can feel suffocating in the midday heat. Booking well in advance and planning sightseeing for early morning or evening helps considerably.
Despite the crowds, summer has an infectious vitality. The 4th of July fireworks over the East River are spectacular, and the city’s parks host free concerts and events almost continuously. New York Pride in late June brings a celebratory, welcoming atmosphere to the streets.
What to pack: Breathable cotton or linen clothing, shorts and lightweight trousers, a hat and sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, a light cardigan or layer for heavily air-conditioned restaurants and museums, and comfortable sandals alongside a pair of trainers for longer walks.
🍂 Autumn (September – November)
Autumn is arguably the finest season in New York City and is consistently the top pick among seasoned travellers. September brings warm, settled weather — often lingering in the low-to-mid 20s°C — without the oppressive humidity of summer. As October arrives, the temperature cools to a comfortable 14–18°C and the foliage in Central Park, Riverside Park, and Prospect Park turns to spectacular shades of amber, russet, and gold.
The city returns from its summer pace to full cultural gear. Broadway’s new season launches in September, galleries open major autumn exhibitions, and New York Fashion Week draws the industry’s eye in early September. The New York Film Festival runs through October. Restaurant Week (which actually spans several weeks) offers prix-fixe menus at some of the city’s finest establishments.
Halloween on 31st October is taken seriously here: the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is one of the most theatrical events in the city’s calendar. Thanksgiving weekend in late November is festive and memorable — the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a spectacle — though it does bring a surge of domestic visitors and raised prices.
What to pack: A mid-weight jacket or trench coat, knitwear and jumpers, smart-casual layers, ankle boots or sturdy walking shoes, a light scarf, jeans and trousers, and a compact umbrella for November showers.
❄️ Winter (December – February)
Winter in New York City is cold, but it is also deeply atmospheric. December is one of the most magical months: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree draws millions, ice-skating rinks open in Central Park and Bryant Park, and the shop windows along Fifth Avenue are dressed in elaborate festive displays. The seasonal markets — particularly those in Union Square and Columbus Circle — add a European flair to the city’s streets.
Temperatures average 0–5°C in January and February, with occasional snowfall that, when fresh, gives the city a cinematic beauty. Wind chill can make it feel considerably colder, especially in open areas such as the Brooklyn Bridge or along the Hudson River waterfront. After the holiday rush, January and February are among the quietest months for tourism, which means shorter queues, lower hotel prices, and a more authentic sense of everyday New York life.
February brings New York Restaurant Week again, and the city’s world-class indoor attractions — the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim, Lincoln Center — are all the more inviting when the cold drives you inside. Valentine’s Day sees the city at its most romantically charged.
What to pack: A warm, wind-resistant coat (ideally down or wool), thermal underlayers, chunky knitwear, a hat, gloves, and a scarf, waterproof boots with grip for potential icy pavements, thick socks, and smart layers for evenings at the theatre or a fine-dining restaurant.
🗽 Overall Best Time to Visit
If there is one season that stands above the rest, it is autumn — specifically late September through to late October. The weather is reliably comfortable, the city is alive with cultural events and culinary offers, and the foliage transforms Central Park into something truly breathtaking. Crowds are thinner than summer, prices are more reasonable than December, and the light — that particular low, golden autumn light — flatters the city’s skyline and brownstone streets in a way no other season can match. For those seeking a balance of comfort, atmosphere, value, and beauty, autumn in New York City is simply unbeatable.
Other things to do whilst in New York City
1. Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the United States, covering around 265 acres in the north of New York City. It opened in 1899 and is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which also manages several other zoos and aquariums across the city. The zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals from several hundred species, including big cats, gorillas, snow leopards, and Komodo dragons. Many of the enclosures are designed to reflect the natural habitats of the animals inside, with large open areas rather than small cages. It draws around 2 million visitors each year and is accessible by public transport, including a direct bus route from Manhattan. Entry prices vary depending on the time of year, and some areas within the zoo cost extra on top of the general admission fee. The zoo also carries out conservation work both on site and internationally, focusing on protecting endangered species and their natural environments.
2. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
3. 9/11 Memorial Museum
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum stands at the site of the former World Trade Centre in Lower Manhattan, New York. It opened to the public in 2014 and sits partly underground, beneath the footprints of the Twin Towers. The museum documents the events of 11 September 2001, when nearly 3,000 people were killed in co-ordinated terrorist attacks on the United States, as well as the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing. Visitors move through a series of exhibition spaces containing original artefacts, photographs, audio recordings, and personal belongings from those who died. The displays are organised to give a sense of how events unfolded on the day and to acknowledge the scale of loss felt by families, rescue workers, and communities. Outside, two large reflecting pools occupy the footprints of the towers, with the names of every victim inscribed around their edges. The site attracts millions of visitors each year and serves as both a place of remembrance and a historical record of one of the most significant events in recent American history.
4. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Standing on a small island in New York Harbour, the Statue of Liberty has been one of America’s most recognisable landmarks since it was unveiled in 1886. The statue was a gift from France and depicts a robed female figure holding a torch aloft, symbolising freedom. A short distance away sits Ellis Island, which served as the country’s busiest immigration processing centre from 1892 to 1954. During that period, millions of people arrived there by ship, mainly from Europe, hoping to start new lives in the United States. Officials would check their documents and carry out basic health assessments before allowing them to enter the country. For many, the sight of the statue as their vessel sailed into the harbour was their first glimpse of America. Today, both sites are open to visitors and are managed as part of a national monument, drawing large numbers of tourists each year. Ellis Island also houses a museum dedicated to the history of immigration, where many Americans can trace the arrival of their ancestors.
5. Central Park
Central Park sits at the heart of Manhattan, covering around 840 acres of landscaped grounds in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities. It was laid out in the 1850s and 1860s by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and has been a public green space ever since. The park contains open meadows, woodland paths, a boating lake, an ice-skating rink, several playgrounds, and a zoo. On any given day it is used by a wide mix of people — joggers, families, dog walkers, tourists, and office workers on their lunch break. In summer the lawns fill up quickly, and free outdoor concerts and film screenings are common. In winter the bare trees and quieter paths give it a quite different character. It is maintained by a partnership between the city and a private conservancy, and entry is free throughout the year.
Where to stay in New York City
1. Element Times Square
During our visit to New York, we stayed in the Element hotel which is in the Hells Kitchen district. For us, it was perfectly located and was only a 5-minute walk to Times Square. It was also very close to several metro stations and the main bus terminal. We were feeling a bit stingy and cautious due to the Covid-19 pandemic so we decided to walk from Penn Station to the hotel, which only took us 10-minutes, hauling our luggage.
The room was good, we had a little kitchenette and there were pots, pans, plates and silverware, so we were self-contained. We were lucky enough to be on one of the higher floors, so we had a view. It was also possible to see the Empire State building.
Breakfast is included but nothing to write home about, but there are plenty of places to eat in the area so it was not a problem for us.
2. Yotel New York
3. Freehand Hotel
Freehand is located in the former George Washington hotel, known as the home of many artists, and it has maintained its creative spirit. It has a partnership with Bard College and many artists take an active part in designing the hotel and in shaping its cultural life. Freehand features five restaurants and bars, and elegantly designed rooms with private bathrooms. The rooms sleep up to 6 people.
It is located on Lexington Avenue and in walking distance of Union Square, Midtown and Flatiron.
More to Explore
