Intercontinental Hotel New York Times Square

Rising 36 stories above the New York skyline, the InterContinental New York Times Square is in the heart of the world-famous Theater district – the epicenter of the theatre,[end] dining, fashion, media, and business worlds. The Intercontinental makes for a great pre-/post-cruise property thanks to its central location and comfortable accommodations. The hotel has 607 guestrooms and suites that deliver panoramic views over Times Square, the Hudson River and the city via floor-to-ceiling windows and large spa-inspired bathrooms with walk-in rain showers.

What They Say:

Situated in the Times Square neighborhood, the hotel brings the InterContinental touch to one of New York City’s most popular areas. Located on Eighth Avenue and 44th street, the hotel is close to thousands of restaurants including those on “Restaurant Row” and the Times Square office district with leading media, law, fashion, publishing and financial companies. Adding to the neighborhood diversity, the hotel borders the Clinton district also known as historical “Hells Kitchen.” Known for its Off Broadway theaters, chic restaurants, trendy bars and home to a number of broadcast and music-recording studios, Clinton provides a fascinating detour for guests.

The hotel is close to every major transportation center in Manhattan and is easily accessible by bus and subway, including a subway station accessible beneath the hotel, making it a convenient base to explore the vibrant city.

Drawing upon natural elements, the 607 guestrooms are designed to evoke the feeling of a chic Manhattan residence and offer dramatic panoramic views over the city, Times Square, and the Hudson River. The oversized bathrooms offer a spa-like experience with walk-in rain showers accentuated with midnight blue mosaic tile designed to resemble sparkling water. Appealing to both the business and leisure traveler, all rooms feature a convenient work area, a 42-inch High-Definition flat screen television, wired and wireless internet options and other technological amenities. Each guestroom is created to be a warm and inviting respite from the hustle of the city.

Located on the corner of each floor are Avenue Studios, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows capturing north, south and east exposures offering dynamic views of the New York skyline. The rooms feature a separate seating area making the suites a perfect option for entertaining friends or holding small business meetings.

Mirroring New York City’s dynamic and international culinary scene, dining is a pleasurable, multi-faceted experience at the InterContinental New York Times Square. Located adjacent to the hotel is the restaurant Ça Va, a new French brasserie from celebrity Chef Todd English.

Ça Va serves French brasserie fare as well as playful, contemporary interpretations of the classics. With English’s signature prix-fix menu, diners will experience a variety of Ça Va favorites, served family style, within a more succinct dining time. Accommodating up to 56 diners, Ça Va’s private dining room overlooks a relaxing courtyard garden in the midst of bustling midtown Manhattan. Diners can choose from a selection of Todd English’s most popular brasserie creations, as well as custom menus.

Ça Va Lounge complete with a working fireplace and a warm, inviting interior makes it a destination for visitors and locals alike. The Ça Va Lounge will offer guests a unique beverage program developed by acclaimed mixologist Francesco Lafranconi. It will include signature drinks and a well-curated wine list as well as a wide selection of draft artisan beers served alongside Brasserie Bar Bites. Both the lounge and the restaurant have a separate entrance on 44th street and are open to hotel as well as outside guests.

Ça Va Marché, a quick-service market and café located adjacent to the main dining room, will offer an array of authentic French delicacies for breakfast and lunch.

What We Say:

Our room located on the 34th floor of this new property was large, comfortable and spotlessly clean. The 42" HD TV was one of the largest and nicest we have seen in any hotel. A large desk provided an excellent workspace. The king-sized bed was comfortable with quality linens and plush pillows. The bathroom was well designed, contemporary and large enough to accommodate 2 people getting ready in the morning, something you don't see in many NYC hotels. Our only "nit" to pick would be the crashing sound of adjacent room doors slamming shut, a pet peeve of ours. Otherwise, the room was eerily quiet (a good thing) and offered a serene getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We found the Intercontinental's location to be perfect for us. We were able to easily walk to the heart of Times Square, the shops of 5th Avenue, and the quirky restaurants of Hell's Kitchen. We found the staff to be unobtrusive and polite. The Concierge was more than willing to map out a walking route for us to spend a day shopping in New York.

The Ça Va restaurant is a comfortable spot for breakfast, even though I personally would like to see them open a little earlier than 7am (I am an early riser). We did not try Ça Va's interesting lunch or dinner menus. After all, this is New York, restaurant capital of the world. However, with a longer stay in NYC, I would not hesitate to see what Todd English has come up with.

Too our surprise, this property does not offer a Concierge lounge, something we have enjoyed in other ICH properties around the world. Nevertheless, anyone looking for a comfortable, well-situated hotel in New York City should consider Intercontinental Times Square. This was our fourth trip to NYC and I can honestly say that Intercontinental New York Times Square is our new favorite home away from home while visiting the Big Apple.

Originally posted on: 5/22/2013