Times Square is a lot. Honestly, for most New Yorkers, it’s a place to sprint through while dodging Elmos and tourists with giant suitcases. But if you’re visiting, you want to be in the thick of it. You want the lights. You want the Broadway energy. The problem is that most hotels in this five-block radius feel like factory lines—gray, crowded, and surprisingly loud. That’s where the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel sits, perched right above the chaos at 714 Seventh Avenue. It’s a weirdly perfect middle ground. It manages to be right in the center of the world's most frantic intersection while feeling like a private club where the noise just... stops.
The Reality of Staying at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel
Look, let's be real about the location. You are at 48th and 7th. When you walk out the front door, you are hitting a wall of humanity. But the clever thing about this specific Marriott property is the "R Lounge." Most hotels put their lobby on the ground floor. Here, you head up. The elevators whisk you away from the street-level madness and drop you into a space with floor-to-ceiling glass that looks directly over the TKTS booth. You see the red steps. You see the giant billboards for Wicked and The Lion King. But you don't hear a single horn honk. It’s silent.
The design isn't your typical "corporate beige" either. After a massive renovation a few years back, they leaned into this dark, moody, "indie-boutique" vibe that feels more like a Chelsea loft than a Times Square giant. Blue velvet, gold accents, and hardwood floors in the rooms. It feels expensive, which is good, because let's face it: Manhattan real estate isn't cheap, and you're paying for the privilege of the zip code.
What the Rooms are Actually Like
Standard hotel rooms in NYC are notoriously tiny. We’re talking "can't-open-your-suitcase-on-the-floor" tiny. The Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel actually gives you a bit of breathing room. The Terrace Rooms are the ones people fight over. They come with private outdoor spaces. Think about that for a second. Having a coffee on a private balcony while looking at the New Year's Eve ball? It’s a flex.
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The beds are consistently ranked high by frequent travelers—classic Marriott bedding but with better linens. And the bathrooms? They actually have enough light to see what you're doing. No weirdly dim "mood lighting" that makes it impossible to shave or put on makeup.
- Pro Tip: Ask for a room on a higher floor facing North or South. The East-facing rooms are fine, but you lose that iconic "canyon" view of the city.
- The Soundproofing: This is the most underrated feature. They used heavy-duty acoustic glass. You can watch the neon lights pulse outside your window in total silence. It’s trippy.
Eating and Drinking Without Leaving the Building
You’re in Midtown, so you have ten thousand restaurants within a ten-minute walk. Most of them are tourist traps. Don't eat at the chain places on the street level unless you really want a $25 burger that tastes like cardboard.
The R Lounge inside the hotel is actually a destination for locals too. That’s rare. Usually, New Yorkers avoid hotel bars in Times Square like the plague. But the cocktails here are legit. They have these "Discovery Hours" where they bring in local musicians or mixologists to do something different. It doesn't feel forced. It feels like a genuine attempt to keep the place from feeling like a transit hub. The breakfast is a standard buffet/a la carte situation, but honestly, you're better off walking two blocks over to a local bagel shop if you want the "real" New York experience.
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Why This Place Beats the Competition
There are bigger hotels nearby. The Marriott Marquis is just down the street. It’s massive. It has a revolving restaurant. But it also feels like an airport terminal. The Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel is smaller. It’s more intimate. The staff actually remembers your name, which is a miracle in a neighborhood that sees 300,000 people a day.
The "Navigator" Secret
Most hotels have a concierge. Renaissance has "Navigators." It sounds like a marketing gimmick, but there’s a difference. Instead of just handing you a brochure for a Gray Line bus tour, these people are trained to know the "underground" stuff. They can tell you which speakeasy in Hell's Kitchen actually has a table open on a Tuesday or which Broadway show is doing a secret lottery for front-row seats.
- Check the daily board: They post local events that aren't on TripAdvisor.
- Ask about the neighborhood walks: Sometimes the staff leads small groups to nearby spots like Bryant Park.
- Use the app: You can chat with the front desk directly. It’s way faster than calling down for extra towels.
The Logistics Nobody Tells You
Getting to the hotel can be a nightmare if you take a yellow cab during rush hour. 7th Avenue is a parking lot from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you're coming from JFK or LaGuardia, take the train if you can, or tell your Uber driver to drop you a block away and walk. It’ll save you twenty minutes of sitting in traffic staring at the hotel entrance from three cars back.
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The fitness center is decent. It’s not an Equinox, but it’s got enough LifeFitness equipment to get the job done. It's open 24/7, which is great if you're jet-lagged and wide awake at 3:00 AM.
Is it Worth the Price?
NYC hotel prices fluctuate wildly. During UN General Assembly week or New Year's, the rates are astronomical. But during the "off-season" (think February or late August), you can snag a room here for a steal compared to the luxury boutiques downtown. You get the reliability of a big brand with the personality of a smaller hotel. That’s the sweet spot.
How to Maximize Your Stay
If you've booked your stay, don't just sit in the room. Even if you hate crowds, the hotel is a gateway. Walk west. In ten minutes, you're in Hell's Kitchen, which has some of the best Thai and Italian food in the city (check out 9th Avenue). Walk east, and you’re at Rockefeller Center.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit:
- Join Marriott Bonvoy: Even if you aren't a "loyalty person," the free Wi-Fi and mobile check-in at this property make life much easier.
- The "Secret" View: Head to the R Lounge at sunset. Most people go after dinner. If you go at 5:00 PM, you can snag the corner table that looks directly down 7th Avenue as the lights start to pop.
- Skip the Street Coffee: There’s a Nespresso machine in the room. Use it. The carts outside will charge you $5 for "New York's finest" dirt water.
- Late Checkout: This hotel is usually pretty booked, but if you have any status with Marriott, ask for the 2:00 PM checkout. It gives you one last morning to wander Central Park (which is only a 12-minute walk north) without rushing.
The Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel isn't trying to be a quiet Zen retreat in the woods. It’s a high-energy, stylish, incredibly well-located hub that understands exactly what it is. It’s the place you stay when you want to feel like you’re at the center of the universe, but you still want a high-thread-count pillow to crash on at the end of the night.