I used to think staying in Queens was a compromise. If you’re coming to New York, you want the neon, the noise, and the $400-a-night shoe-box rooms in Midtown, right? Wrong. Honestly, once you spend a night at the Boro Hotel Long Island City, the idea of squeezing into a generic Times Square hotel feels kind of ridiculous.
It’s about the concrete.
Most hotels try to hide their bones behind floral wallpaper or beige drywall, but the Boro leans into its industrial DNA. We’re talking massive floor-to-ceiling windows, cinder block walls that actually look chic, and some of the best unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline you’ll ever see without paying a mortgage-sized rate. It’s located in a part of LIC that still feels a little gritty—in a good way—surrounded by warehouses and film studios, but it’s basically ten minutes from the 59th Street Bridge.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Location
People see "Long Island City" and assume they’ll be spending half their vacation on a subway platform. They won’t. The Boro Hotel Long Island City sits in this sweet spot near the 39th Ave (N/W) and Queensboro Plaza stations. You can get to Central Park faster from here than you can from many parts of Brooklyn or even Upper Manhattan.
It's quiet.
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That’s the thing no one tells you about Manhattan hotels: they are loud. All night. At the Boro, you get that eerie, peaceful silence of a neighborhood that goes to sleep, but you’re still looking at the Chrysler Building through your window. It’s a weird, beautiful contrast. The surrounding area isn't a tourist trap. You’ve got local spots like Dutch Kills for world-class cocktails or Casa Enrique for Michelin-starred Mexican food just a short Uber or a decent walk away.
The Aesthetic Isn’t for Everyone (And That’s Good)
If you want gold leaf and velvet curtains, you’re going to hate it here. The design, spearheaded by Grzywinski+Pons, is "brutalist light." It’s a lot of raw materials. Think poured concrete floors, custom plywood furniture, and metal accents. It feels like a gallery. Some folks might find the concrete floors a bit cold on the feet, but the hotel compensates with high-end bedding and a layout that feels incredibly airy.
The rooms are huge. By NYC standards, they are massive.
Most rooms feature balconies. Do you know how rare a balcony is in New York? Having a private outdoor space to drink a coffee while watching the sun hit the Empire State Building is a game-changer. It changes the "vibe" of your trip from frantic sightseeing to actually enjoying the city.
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The Logistics of Staying at the Boro
Let’s talk about the lobby because it’s basically a massive communal living room. It’s got a cafe that serves actually decent espresso—none of that watered-down hotel lobby swill—and a fireplace that makes the concrete feel warm.
- The Check-in: Usually pretty painless. The staff doesn't wear stiff uniforms; they're helpful but casual.
- The Food: Beebe’s is the on-site restaurant. It specializes in crispy, thin-crust pizzas and seasonal New American fare. It’s popular with locals, which is always a sign that a hotel restaurant doesn't suck.
- The Rooftop: This is the crown jewel. The rooftop bar at the Boro Hotel Long Island City offers a 360-degree view. You see the bridges, the skyline, and the deep stretches of Queens. It’s less pretentious than the rooftop bars in Williamsburg but has a better view.
If you’re driving, parking in LIC is a nightmare, but slightly less of a nightmare than Manhattan. The hotel offers some solutions, but honestly, just take the train or a Lyft. The G, N, W, 7, E, M, and R trains are all accessible within a reasonable radius, making this a strategic base camp for exploring both Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Why Business Travelers Are Snagging the Rooms
LIC has become a tech and film hub. With Silvercup Studios nearby and the growing "Amazon-effect" (even without the HQ2), the Boro Hotel Long Island City has become a go-to for people who aren't on vacation. The desks in the rooms are actually functional. The Wi-Fi doesn't drop out when you're on a Zoom call.
The "Manhattan View" rooms are worth the extra $50. Just do it. Don't be cheap. If you book a room facing the other way, you’re looking at rooftops and industrial yards. It’s fine, but you’re missing the magic. Seeing the city lights flicker across the East River while you're laying in bed is why you come to New York in the first place.
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The Reality Check: What to Watch Out For
It’s not perfect. No hotel is. Because the building is so much concrete and glass, sound can occasionally travel in the hallways if you have a particularly rowdy group of neighbors.
The neighborhood is transitioning.
If you walk two blocks in the wrong direction, you might feel like you’re lost in an industrial park. Because you kind of are. There aren't pharmacies or convenience stores on every single corner like there are in Chelsea. You have to plan a little more. If you need a late-night snack, you might be relying on the hotel’s offerings or a delivery app.
But that’s the trade-off for the space and the view.
Actionable Tips for Your Stay
- Request a High Floor: The higher you go, the more the Manhattan skyline opens up. The lower floors are fine, but the 10th floor and above is where the "wow" factor lives.
- Explore Vernon Boulevard: Don't just stay in the hotel. Walk down to Vernon Boulevard for a huge selection of restaurants and bars. It’s the heart of LIC’s social scene.
- Use the Queensboro Bridge Path: If the weather is nice, you can actually walk across the bridge into Manhattan. It’s a bit of a hike, but the views are incredible and it lands you right in the East 60s.
- Breakfast Hack: While Beebe’s is great, check out some of the local bakeries in the neighborhood for a more "New York" morning experience.
- Check the Event Calendar: The rooftop occasionally hosts private events. If you’re banking on a sunset drink, call ahead to make sure it’s open to guests that evening.
The Boro Hotel Long Island City isn't just a place to sleep; it's a way to experience New York without the claustrophobia. It’s for the traveler who wants to see the city, but doesn't necessarily want to live inside the engine room of it 24/7. You get the scale, the industrial history, and the skyline, all while having enough room to actually breathe.