Times Square is a chaotic mess. Honestly, most New Yorkers avoid it like the plague unless they’re catching a Broadway matinee or meeting a tourist friend who insists on seeing the M&M store. But then there’s the Renaissance NYC Times Square. It sits right at 714 Seventh Avenue, hovering above the neon madness, and it’s one of the few places in Midtown that manages to feel like a legitimate sanctuary instead of a tourist trap.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at hotels in this neighborhood. Most of them are cramped. Some are loud. A lot of them feel like they haven't been updated since the Giuliani era. The Renaissance is different because it was designed with a specific "R Lounge" concept that basically acts as a front-row seat to the Crossroads of the World without the elbowing and the "Elmos" asking for tips.
The View From the Renaissance NYC Times Square Is Unmatched
If you're booking a room here, you're doing it for the floor-to-ceiling windows. Period. While other hotels in the area might give you a glimpse of a brick wall or a sliver of the Hudson, this property is literally perched over the TKTS booth. You can sit in the lounge with a cocktail and watch the digital billboards flicker while the crowds move like ants below you. It’s hypnotic.
The hotel underwent a significant renovation a few years back to keep it from feeling dusty. They leaned into a "boutique" aesthetic, which is a bit of a gamble for a Marriott-branded property with over 300 rooms. But it works. The gold accents and dark wood tones feel sophisticated, not stuffy.
One thing people get wrong about the Renaissance NYC Times Square is thinking it’s just another corporate box. It isn’t. The elevators take you up from the street-level entrance—which is intentionally understated—to the lobby on the third floor. This elevation is key. It creates a psychological barrier between the grime of the street and the luxury of the hotel.
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What the Rooms Are Actually Like
Don't expect massive suites unless you're dropping serious cash. This is Manhattan. Space is the ultimate currency. However, the rooms here are cleverly laid out. The bathrooms often feature frosted glass, which allows natural light to filter through, making the space feel bigger than the square footage suggests.
- Soundproofing: Surprisingly good. You’re in the loudest spot on Earth, but the double-paned glass does heavy lifting.
- Bedding: It’s the standard high-end Marriott fare, which means high-thread-count linens and a mattress that won't kill your back.
- The Tech: Most rooms have updated plug-in points and smart TVs that actually work with your streaming apps.
Navigating the R Lounge and Dining Scene
The R Lounge is the heart of the Renaissance NYC Times Square. It’s where you’ll find the "Navigators," which is just the brand’s fancy word for concierges who actually know where the good food is located. Most hotel concierges just point you to the nearest Olive Garden. These guys usually have a lead on a speakeasy in Hell’s Kitchen or a decent bagel spot that isn't a 40-minute wait.
Dining in Times Square is usually a nightmare of overpriced burgers. At the Renaissance, the focus is more on the "Blue Ribbon" partnership they’ve had. Blue Ribbon is a staple of the NYC food scene, founded by Bruce and Eric Bromberg. Having that culinary pedigree attached to the hotel means the fried chicken and the small plates are actually edible—dare I say, good?
But here’s the reality: you shouldn’t eat every meal in the hotel. You’re steps away from 46th Street, also known as Restaurant Row. Walk three blocks west and you’ll find Joe Allen or Becco. Honestly, Becco’s unlimited pasta special is a better deal than anything you’ll find inside a hotel lobby, even one as nice as this.
Why the "Navigator" Concept Isn't Just Marketing
A lot of hotels claim to have "local experts." Usually, that means they have a stack of brochures for the Hop-On Hop-Off bus. The Renaissance brand tries to push its Navigators to find "off-the-beaten-path" stuff. In a place like Times Square, that’s a tall order. Everything is on the path.
However, they do a decent job of suggesting things like the Jimmy’s Corner dive bar—a legendary boxing-themed hole-in-the-wall that’s somehow survived the gentrification of 44th Street—or pointing people toward the Drama Book Shop on 39th. It’s these little nuances that make a stay feel less like a transaction and more like a visit.
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Logistics: Getting There and Staying Sane
Getting to the Renaissance NYC Times Square is either very easy or a total disaster depending on how you travel.
- The Subway: You are literally on top of the N, R, W, and Q lines. The 1, 2, 3, 7, and S trains are a two-minute walk. You can get anywhere in the city from here.
- The Car: Just don't. If you take an Uber from JFK, you will sit in traffic on 7th Avenue for twenty minutes just to move two blocks. If you must drive, be prepared for valet fees that cost more than a nice dinner.
- The Entrance: It’s on 7th Ave between 47th and 48th. It’s easy to miss because it’s tucked away. Look for the "R" logo.
The lobby can get crowded during check-in at 4:00 PM. That’s just a fact of life in midtown hotels. If you have Marriott Bonvoy status, use the mobile check-in. It saves you the hassle of standing in line behind a family of five who can’t find their passports.
The Sustainability Factor
Marriott has been pushing their "Connect BT" initiatives, and the Renaissance is part of that. You’ll see fewer single-use plastics. The lighting is mostly LED. It’s not a "green hotel" in the sense of a remote eco-lodge, but for a massive skyscraper in New York, they’re doing more than the bare minimum. They use large-format toiletries in the showers now, which some people hate because they miss the tiny bottles, but it’s objectively better for the planet.
Is the Renaissance NYC Times Square Right for You?
Let’s be real. This hotel isn't for everyone. If you want a quiet, leafy neighborhood where you can hear the birds chirp, go to the Upper West Side or Brooklyn Heights. This hotel is for the person who wants to feel the electricity of New York. It’s for the person who wants to walk out the front door and immediately be in the center of the action.
It’s also surprisingly good for business travelers. If you have meetings in the Theater District or near Bryant Park, the location is unbeatable. The WiFi is fast enough for Zoom calls, and the desks in the rooms are actually functional, not just decorative slabs of wood.
- Families: Good, but the rooms get tight with four people.
- Couples: Excellent, especially if you get a room with a view. It’s romantic in a "city lights" kind of way.
- Solo Travelers: Very safe. The 24-hour security and the elevated lobby make it feel secure.
Common Misconceptions About Staying in Times Square
People think staying here means you’ll never sleep. That’s not true at the Renaissance NYC Times Square. The hotel occupies the upper floors of the building, and the sound insulation is top-tier. You won't hear the sirens as much as you'd think.
Another myth is that everything nearby is a scam. While there are plenty of $20 hot dog stands, you're also a ten-minute walk from Bryant Park, which has some of the best public programming in the city. You’re also close to the New York Public Library—the one with the lions—which is free and stunning.
Actionable Tips for Your Stay
If you decide to book a stay at the Renaissance NYC Times Square, keep these points in mind to maximize the experience:
- Ask for a North-Facing Room: These usually have the best views of the "Duffy Square" area and the red TKTS steps.
- Skip the Hotel Breakfast: Walk a few blocks to a local coffee shop or go to Sullivan Street Bakery if you want something world-class.
- Use the Terrace: There is a small outdoor terrace area. It’s one of the few places in Times Square where you can breathe actual air without being bumped into.
- Check the Event Calendar: The hotel often hosts "Evenings at Renaissance," which features local musicians or mixology classes. It's usually free for guests and actually quite fun.
- Check Out the Gym: It’s not huge, but it has enough LifeFitness equipment and free weights to get a real workout in. It’s way better than the "closet with a treadmill" you find in older NYC hotels.
The Renaissance isn't trying to be the Ritz-Carlton, and it's not trying to be a hip Ace Hotel in Brooklyn. It knows exactly what it is: a polished, reliable, and visually stunning hub in the most famous intersection in the world. It provides a level of comfort that makes the chaos of the city feel like a performance you're watching, rather than a struggle you're participating in.
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Next time you're looking at the dizzying array of New York hotel options, don't just dismiss Times Square. If you pick the right building—like this one—you get the convenience of Midtown without the typical headaches. Just remember to pack comfortable shoes; you’re going to be doing a lot of walking, regardless of how nice your room is.