You’re walking down 58th Street, just a few blocks from the southwestern edge of Central Park, looking for that famous neon yellow escalator. You remember the vibe: dim lighting, ivy-covered brick, and that unmistakable Philippe Starck "cool" that defined the early 2000s boutique hotel scene. But when you get to 358 West 58th St, things look different. There’s a weird silence. If you’ve been searching for the Hotel Hudson Nueva York lately, you’ve probably run into a wall of "currently unavailable" messages on booking sites.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a heartbreak for NYC veterans.
The Hudson wasn't just a place to sleep; it was a scene. But the reality of the New York real estate market is brutal, and the fate of this iconic property has shifted dramatically over the last couple of years. We need to talk about what actually happened to the Hudson, because it’s not just "closed for renovations" anymore. It’s becoming something else entirely.
The Rise and Fall of a Boutique Icon
Ian Schrager—the man basically responsible for the "boutique hotel" concept—teamed up with designer Philippe Starck to open the Hudson in 2000. It was a revolution. At the time, if you wanted luxury, you went to the Plaza. If you wanted cheap, you stayed in a dump. The Hotel Hudson Nueva York offered a third way: "cheap chic." The rooms were famously tiny—some felt like high-end wood-paneled ship cabins—but the public spaces were massive and gorgeous.
The Private Park was an outdoor oasis with actual trees inside a Midtown block. The Library Bar had a fireplace and a pool table. It felt like a private club where everyone was invited, provided you could get past the velvet ropes.
But maintaining that level of "cool" is expensive. Over the decades, the property changed hands. SBE Entertainment Group took over the Morgans Hotel Group (which owned the Hudson) in 2016. Then, the pandemic hit. Like almost every other hotel in Manhattan, the Hudson shuttered its doors in March 2020. Most people thought it was temporary.
It wasn't.
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The $287 Million Pivot
In 2022, the narrative changed for good. Cain International, the investment firm that held the debt on the property, took control. They didn't see a future for a 1,000-room hotel with 150-square-foot rooms in a post-COVID travel world. Instead, they saw an opportunity in the city's desperate need for housing.
The Hotel Hudson Nueva York is being converted into residential apartments.
CSC Coliving and other developers have been linked to the project, aiming to turn those tiny hotel rooms into "micro-apartments" or more traditional rental units. It makes sense, actually. If you've ever stayed there, you know the layout was always more suited for a minimalist studio than a luxury suite.
Why the Hudson Brand Still Matters
Even though you can't check into the original Hudson today, its influence is everywhere. When you walk into a CitizenM or a Moxy hotel today, you’re seeing the DNA of the Hudson. It proved that travelers would trade square footage for a killer lobby and a prime location.
The Hotel Hudson Nueva York was the blueprint for the "social lobby." Before the Hudson, lobbies were places where you checked in and left. After the Hudson, lobbies became workspaces, cocktail bars, and networking hubs.
- The Escalator: That glowing yellow tunnel was one of the most Instagrammed spots in New York before Instagram even existed.
- The Design: Starck used mismatched chairs and "shabby chic" elements that made the space feel curated rather than manufactured.
- The Price Point: It allowed people in their 20s to stay in Midtown without staying in a hostel.
Where to Stay Instead
If you were specifically looking for the Hotel Hudson Nueva York because of its vibe or location, you’re probably wondering where to pivot your trip. You want that same "Midtown-but-make-it-cool" energy.
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The Royalton New York: Also a former Morgans Hotel Group property, it retains some of that Starck-era moodiness, though it's a bit more "corporate-luxe" now. It’s on 44th Street, so you’re closer to the Theater District.
Moxy NYC Central Park: This is the spiritual successor to the Hudson. The rooms are tiny but functional, the lobby is a massive playground, and it’s only a few blocks away from the old Hudson site.
Empire Hotel: Right across from Lincoln Center. It has a legendary rooftop bar and a much more classic "Old New York" feel, but it hits that same Upper West Side/Midtown border that made the Hudson so convenient.
Public Hotel: If you want Ian Schrager’s current vision of what a hotel should be, go to the Lower East Side. It’s got the escalators, the great lighting, and the "luxury for all" ethos.
The Reality of New York Real Estate in 2026
The conversion of the Hotel Hudson Nueva York isn't an isolated incident. We're seeing a massive trend across Manhattan where older, large-scale hotels are being flipped into housing. The Roosevelt Hotel and the Pennsylvania Hotel (which was actually demolished) are part of this same era of transition.
For the Hudson, the transition to apartments is probably the most sustainable path forward. The building itself is a landmark of the West Side. Keeping the facade and the bones while updating the interior for long-term residents keeps the history alive, even if the "hotel" part of the name is gone.
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Is it a bummer for tourists? Yeah, kinda. There was something special about grabbing a drink in that ivy-walled courtyard after a long day of walking the park. But the city evolves.
What Travelers Should Check Before Booking
If you see a listing for the Hotel Hudson Nueva York on a random, third-party travel site that looks like it’s from 2012, do not book it. There are several "ghost listings" that still haunt the darker corners of the internet.
- Verify the address: 358 West 58th St is no longer an active hotel.
- Check the dates: Any review after 2020 is likely referring to a different property or is a fake bot-generated post.
- Look for "Hudson Central Park": This was the name used toward the end. If a site claims to have rooms there, it's outdated information.
Moving Forward Without the Hudson
The loss of the Hotel Hudson Nueva York as a lodging option marks the end of an era for New York boutique hospitality. It was the place where you might see a celebrity in the elevator or a fashion shoot in the lobby.
If you're planning a trip to NYC, don't let the closure of one icon ruin the itinerary. The West 50s are still the best place to base yourself for a mix of culture and convenience. You have the Aman New York nearby for ultra-luxury, or the Park Central for something more traditional.
But if you’re a fan of design history, it’s worth walking past the old Hudson building. Look up at the brickwork and imagine the parties that used to happen on the roof. It’s a monument to a specific moment in New York history when the city was reinventing itself for the new millennium.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Confirm Hotel Status Directly: Always check the official website of a New York hotel rather than relying on aggregated search results which can be slow to update closures.
- Search for "Residential Conversions": If you’re looking for long-term stays (30 days+), keep an eye on the 358 West 58th Street address, as the new apartment units may eventually hit the rental market.
- Explore the "New" Boutique Scene: Focus your search on neighborhoods like NoMad or the Lower East Side, where the spirit of the original Hudson lives on in newer properties like the Ace Hotel or Freehand New York.
- Monitor the Neighborhood: The area around Columbus Circle remains one of the most expensive and vibrant in the city; even without the Hudson, you'll find plenty of high-end dining and shopping at the Deutsche Bank Center (formerly Time Warner Center) right around the corner.
The Hotel Hudson Nueva York may be gone in its hotel form, but its impact on how we travel—valuing experience over square footage—is here to stay.