TL;DR What makes this NYC boutique hotel special? Why should I stay here?

Unexpectedly boutique: hotel off Times Square
1920s Beaux Arts: building with modern comforts
Irish-inspired :bar hospitality
Timeless, intimate :vibes among the skyscrapers
Central but peaceful: small respite from Times Square chaos
Check prices here

We’ll be honest, Times Square isn’t exactly where we expected to find one of our top Manhattan boutique hotels.

And we doubt we’re alone in this. We invite you to join us for humble pie at the Public House bar.

Goes down great with a pint of Guinness on draft.

From the stone facade to the marble-topped bar and hardwood floors, everything feels more classic boutique hotel than Midtown tourist hub.

Indeed, finding a boutique this intimate, with such classic charm, in Manhattan isn’t easy.

This is no hyper-contemporary skyscraper; it’s a 1920s Beaux Arts gem elegantly outfitted with modern comforts.

It’s a timeless style, a tribute to Irish hospitality, with plenty of references to our favorite North Atlantic island.

Of course, be aware. We’re not working with modern soundproofing, and you’re less than a block from Times Square.

The hotel is a small respite from the chaos of the center, though it’s still always right outside the door.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 28
Historic building: with typically small but comfortable rooms
Room sizes: Queen Single ~200 sq ft, Studio King with sitting area 250–280 sq ft, adjoining rooms can form 500+ sq ft suite
Decor: classic blue & white, fully tiled bathrooms, excellent artwork
Amenities: HDTV, premium bedding, individual climate control, turndown service on request
View each room in detail here

If we’ve said this once, we’ve said it a hundred times. Historic building, small rooms. And this is New York. Don’t expect space.

They’re not even that bad, those two things considered. The smallest option, a Queen Single, comes in just under 200 square feet.

Others range from 250-280, the largest a Studio King with a sitting area and sofa bed.

You’re not going to find anything super large, but rooms are designed for comfort. Every attraction in the city will be calling you outside anyway.

There are a couple of adjoining rooms that can form a Suite, in case you really need to hit the 500+ square foot mark.

Decor is blue and white, nothing too stunning, but classic and built for comfort. The fully tiled bathrooms are lovely, and the artwork is excellent.

Every room has an HDTV, premium bedding, individual climate control and turndown service on request.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

On-site bar: Public House with elevated, Irish-inspired cuisine
Bar vibes: Upscale marble and brass. Not your local dive bar
Drinks: Beer-focused. 24 of them on tap
Facilities: Meeting and event spaces at the hotel, but not much else, no gym for example

The Public House is as much a draw as the rooms, in our opinion.

Irish bars worldwide run from divey to sporty, to don’t go there before 2 am when you’ve already lost your sense of taste or smell.

The public house, however, channels the spirit of open doors and friendly service.

They’ve lost the laid-back ease and the drunken regulars, though. This is decidedly upscale, with a shiny marble countertop and lots of brass.

The food is an elevated take on the Irish-American, and the 24 taps keep the malty spirit well alive.

That’s about it for the hotel itself, snug as it is. They offer meeting and event spaces, as well as business support.

We think they could do a little more to provide off-site amenities to guests, but if you don’t need a gym pass, you’ll be fine.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Central location: Times Square 2-minute walk, Broadway nearby
Nearby attractions: Empire State, MoMA, 5th Avenue, Carnegie Hall within walking distance
Midtown accessibility: 20-minute walk to all Midtown attractions
Transport options: multiple subway stations and cabs always available

Merrion Row is as central as you could imagine. Times Square is a two-minute walk, Broadway just a hop skip and a jump beyond.

If you’re a walker, this is a great spot. Empire State, MoMA, 5th Avenue, Carnegie Hall, all the greatest hits are nearby.

Sure, the West Village is still a 45-minute trek, but all the Midtown attractions are within 20 minutes or so.

And there are plenty of subway stations that will help you get where you need to go.

Brooklyn? Head to the Times Square station. Yankee Stadium? Rockefeller Center. They’re all just minutes away.

And, if you’re more of a cab person, rest assured, there will be no point in the day or night that one won’t be nearby.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“It’s a perfect location. We walked everywhere and it’s 2 mins to Times Square but far enough away from the madness. Staff were very helpful and lovely to chat with. The room was a good size. Beds were very comfortable and the bathroom large….”

“Beautiful, clean and high class. Small hotel but felt like home away from home. Lovely staff and excellent service. Jennifer in the pub was the BEST! Location was as wonderful as you could ask for. Adorable and comfy room….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”It wasn’t that i didn’t like it but the wall was adjoining a restaurant next door a little noisy at night.
The room was compact. I am not sure if that is the norm for a boutique hotel in the city….”

”The wardrobes were way too small and we ended up living out of the case for 5 days….”

Read all the reviews right here