Some hotels you choose because they are practical; others because staying there feels like part of the trip. The Empire Hotel gave our family both.
We stayed at this landmark hotel during a family trip to New York City. To my children, it was simply a beautiful hotel in a great neighborhood. To me, it was the Empire Hotel from Gossip Girl. The connection meant absolutely nothing to my kids, but seeing that glowing red sign above the building felt iconic to me. Sometimes parents deserve to include something on the itinerary simply because it makes us happy, too.
Fortunately, the hotel offered much more than a nostalgic television connection. Its location, family-size room options, seasonal outdoor pool, and competitive rates make it worth considering for a New York City trip with kids.
A Fantastic Location Near Central Park and Lincoln Center
The Empire Hotel is located at 44 West 63rd Street, directly across from Lincoln Center. It sits near where the Upper West Side meets Columbus Circle, giving families easy access to some of Manhattan’s best-known attractions.
Central Park is only a short walk away. That is a major advantage when traveling with children because the park gives everyone room to move, play, and take a break from crowded sidewalks and busy attractions. Columbus Circle, the Shops at Columbus Circle, and the southwest corner of Central Park are also nearby.
The 66th Street-Lincoln Center subway station is about a two-minute walk from the hotel, while the 59th Street-Columbus Circle station is only a few minutes away. Between walking and using the subway, we could reach most of the major New York City attractions without making transportation the hardest part of the day.
The surrounding neighborhood also has plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and places to pick up something quick. When you are traveling with kids, having options close to the hotel matters. After a long day of sightseeing, nobody wants to travel across Manhattan just to find dinner.
A Beautiful Hotel with a Little NYC Glamour
The Empire Hotel has the kind of atmosphere that makes arriving feel exciting. The bold red sign outside is instantly recognizable, and the hotel’s rich colors and dramatic design give it an old-school New York feeling.
Our accommodations were nice, and the hotel itself was beautiful. It felt special without being so formal that we worried about bringing our children through the lobby. The front desk staff members were wonderful and added warmth to the experience. Helpful hotel staff can make an enormous difference during a family trip, especially when you are coordinating luggage, room arrangements, and plans for several people.
The hotel is stylish enough to feel like a memorable part of a New York getaway, yet practical enough to serve as a comfortable home base between adventures.
Family Dining at Rosa Mexicano
We also enjoyed Rosa Mexicano, the lively Mexican restaurant at the hotel. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere made dinner feel fun instead of merely convenient.
Having a good restaurant right there was a gift after a full day in the city. We could sit down for a real meal without navigating another subway ride or organizing a long walk with tired kids. The bright, energetic setting worked well for our family and made the evening feel like another experience rather than a stop we simply needed to get through.
An Outdoor Hotel Pool in Manhattan
One of the hotel’s most unusual family-friendly features is its seasonal rooftop outdoor pool. Hotel pools are not nearly as common in New York City as they are in many other destinations, and outdoor pools are especially limited.
For families visiting during the warmer months, pool time can add a welcome break to a busy sightseeing schedule. Kids may be thrilled to trade museums and subway platforms for an hour in the water, while parents get a chance to slow down. The rooftop setting also gives the experience a distinctly New York feel.
The pool is seasonal, and dates, hours, and access rules may vary. If swimming is important to your family, confirm that the pool will be open during your visit before booking.
Room Options for Larger Families
Finding one hotel room for a family of six in New York City can be difficult. Many standard rooms accommodate only two to four guests, which may force larger families to reserve two rooms and dramatically increase the cost.
The Empire Hotel has offered larger room and suite configurations that can sleep up to six people, including junior-suite-style options on some booking platforms. When I searched well in advance for non-peak dates, I found options for our family for as little as about $220 per night. That is a strong price for accommodations sleeping six in this part of Manhattan.
Rates change by date, demand, room configuration, taxes, and fees, so that price will not be available for every stay. It is worth checking several sets of dates and booking early, especially if you need space for five or six guests. Always confirm the listed occupancy, bed arrangement, and total price directly before reserving. Even when the lowest rate is unavailable, the hotel is competitively priced compared with other properties in the area.
The Gossip Girl Connection
Fans of Gossip Girl will recognize the Empire Hotel as the hotel associated with Chuck Bass in the series. That detail gave our stay an extra layer of fun for me, even though my children were completely unmoved by it.
There’s something amusing about having a personal pop-culture moment while your kids are simply wondering when they can swim or what is for dinner. The hotel’s television fame does not need to matter to the whole family to make the stay more memorable. It was my little piece of the trip, and I loved it.
Is the Empire Hotel a Good Choice for Families?
For our family, the Empire Hotel combined several things that can be hard to find in one New York City property: a convenient location, beautiful surroundings, helpful staff, family-size accommodations, a fun restaurant, and a seasonal outdoor pool.
It placed us close to Central Park, Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, and convenient subway service. It also felt like more than a place to sleep. The hotel became part of our New York City story.
My kids may not have cared that we were staying at a hotel made famous by Gossip Girl, but I certainly did. They appreciated the family-friendly features and comfortable accommodations, while I enjoyed my own iconic New York moment. That sounds like a successful family hotel stay to me.
Hotel amenities, pool availability, room occupancy, and prices can change. Confirm current details with the Empire Hotel before booking.
