Sofitel New York Review November 2025

My view from my room was pretty nice 

Sofitel New York 

45 West 44th Street 

New York, NY 

Classification : Four Star

Room Category : Luxury Room, 1 King Bed, City View

Room Size: 350 square feet 

Month of Stay :  November 2025
Resort Fee: $51.64 per night 

Wi-Fi Included: Free Wi-FI and wired internet 

Mini Fridge: Can use the mini bar fridge to store items 

Coffee Maker in Room: No 

Fido Allowed: Yes 

Refundable Deposit: $150.00 per room, per night 

Trip Advisor Ranking 224 of 516 (as of 12/26/2025)

HISTORY 

Construction began in 1997 and the hotel opened in 2000 as part of the Accor Hotels group. After construction the building was awarded the 2000 Emporis Skyscraper Award, for architectural excellence regarding the design of buildings and their functionality. The hotel went through a major renovation in 2025, the rooms, lobby and restaurant have all had a make-over and it looks very refreshed. 

LOCATION  

I would say this location is one of the best. You are close to so many destinations, easy to walk everywhere. Subway is near at Bryant Park if you use it. I prefer to walk if I can, or take a cab. 

LOBBY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE   

I love the lobby of this hotel because it's really large, and if you just want to hang out there is plenty of room. There is a Gregory's coffee across the street, you can bring one back and enjoy in the lobby area. Customer service was very good with my prior stays, this one did not impress. The staff was not overly friendly, and I did not receive a welcome back gift. This was my 4th stay, and I booked direct as the price was $100 less than hotels.com. 

THE ROOM 

The renovation is very nice, and was needed. The bathroom which is very large, was not touched at all. I had a king bed, which made the room very cramped. It would have been better with the queen bed which I will try to remember for next time if I stay here again. I was given a room with a view of the Empire State Building. The room was very quiet, I could not hear the other guests in rooms next to me. They gave you a water bottle as there are water filling stations on each floor. The only issue I had was the water was not cold, I put it in the fridge to get colder, but it was a bit disappointing. 

ALL IMPORTANT BATHROOM  

This is one of my favorite bathrooms as very large especially for NYC. The rainfall shower was perfect, warm water every time as well as in the sink. There is lots of space for your toiletries which is very welcome. 

CLEANLINESS HOTEL AND ROOM  

There were no problems with the cleanliness of the hotel nor the room. Everything was top notch, and the maid brought me fresh towels each morning. 

RESTAURANT

The restaurant, Social 45, a restaurant/lounge was quite a highlight. It was a very nice space, all brand new with seating area for dining and bar. I had a lobster roll which was amazing, creme brulee for dessert. I would come back here to dine for sure when in the area and would recommend to anyone to give it a visit. 

ROOM SERVICE  

I had breakfast on Thanksgiving Day, as did not want to go out with the crowds for the parade. I was told it would be 45 minutes due to being so busy, but they actually delivered within about 15 which was unexpected. The food was good, could have been warmer but I was on the 15th floor. It was nice having breakfast with the Empire State Building. 

BEST PART OF STAYING HERE 

The location for sure. Broadway is 5 minutes away, as well as Bryant Park, NY Public Library - Rockefeller Center is about 6 minute walk. Grand Central Terminal is 3 minute walk. If it is a nice day, you can pretty much walk wherever you wish to go in the city. Subway station is at Bryant Park if you are looking to go Downtown or Upper East or West Side. 

OVERALL IMPRESSION

I was excited to return to this hotel, having last stayed in 2018. This was my fourth visit, but unfortunately, it did not live up to the high standards of my previous stays. In the past, I received a welcome gift and a room upgrade, but neither was offered this time.

Upon arrival, my room key did not work in the elevator. I had to go back to the front desk for a new key. While I appreciated that my room was ready by 10:30 a.m., I was shocked to find the room still occupied—someone else’s shoes and clothes were inside. I had to return to the front desk for a second time to be reassigned to a vacant room. This experience left me uneasy about the hotel’s service and security.

Although I was given a corner room with an Empire State Building view, I had originally paid for a city view room. It felt more like an apology than an upgrade. On a positive note, I dined at the new restaurant, and the food was excellent—I would gladly return there.

As for the hotel itself, I am uncertain. If offered a very good rate, I might consider staying again, but I believe other hotels in the area provide better service and value. Frequent travelers can easily compare experiences, and in this case, the service fell short of expectations. I was so excited to come back to this hotel, and unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations from prior visits. 

Nearby Attractions: Broadway, Grand Central Terminal, Morgan Library and Museum, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue shopping, Bryant Park, NY Public Library, many cafes and restaurants 

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10 

Please be sure to follow me on Instagram for lots of photos and activity of my travels to NYC. I would be delighted to see you there, be sure to say "hi" 

Conclusion: 

Hotel prices are at their lowest in the months of January and February; their highest September and October. Sunday nights are the lowest prices for hotel rooms, in most cases. My go to places for checking prices for hotels are Trip Advisor, and Hotels.com. Always remember to check the hotel's website itself, they are really trying to have you book direct and sometimes offer specials or a discount with AAA that is cheaper than the websites I mentioned above. I am also finding that if you book on your mobile device, you can save some money as well. I actually got a better rate via my mobile phone than using my AAA discount online direct at the hotel. You should really do some research on your price for hotel a few different ways, and ALWAYS book a room that you can cancel, you never know what may happen in the future. You also want the ability to change hotels if you should find a better option closer to your date of arrival. 

Disclosure: This stay was paid for by me. I will always state at the end of each review whether my stay was paid for by myself or if I was hosted by the hotel. I will honestly tell you about my experience at this hotel, not being swayed in any way by complimentary services. I know you trust my opinion, & it is important to me to be as honest as possible.  All opinions are my own. Thank you so much.

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Bryant Park Hotel Review

The Bryant Park Hotel 

40 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Classification : Four Star

Room Category : Deluxe Room Queen Bed Park View - 355 square feet - 

Month of Stay :  May 2023
Resort Fee: $33.00 per night 

Trip Advisor Ranking 3 of 533 (as of 06/02/2023)

What kind of history goes with this hotel? Wonderful plaque outside the hotel talks about the American Standard Building which is a designated Landmark of New York. Lots of history here. 

When you arrived, how was the lobby and customer service? Customer service was very good. My room was ready by 11:30am and I was able to enjoy an upgraded room with the view of Bryant Park. The lobby area is very small, they do offer muffins/coffee in the morning and cold fruit water during the afternoon. 

How fantastic or not so fantastic was the room? Thrilled with my upgrade with the views as is the room I have wanted to stay in for a long while. Thought it seemed small even though over 300 square feet. I wasn't thrilled with the minimalist decor, I like something a bit more, but some of you may like it. I felt the room could also use a bit of a re-fresh, paint shipping 

The cleanliness of the hotel and room itself ? Hotel and room were clean, no issues 

Were you able to have sweet dreams with the comfy bed? The bed was very comfy and there was a blanket in the room that I added on top for a bit more warmth with my air conditioning flowing high. 

The All-Important bathroom subject? Bathroom was a good size, however, I had an issue with shower water very hot and couldn't get it medium temperature. My bathroom had the shower with tub together and the tub was very high to get into for me being a short person. There was lots of room for your bath products which you do not always enjoy. 

What kind of shower treats awaited you? Coffee maker in the room? Molton Brown bath products were wonderful as one of my favorite brands. No coffee maker in room and tried to request one but not available. They offer coffee/muffins in the morning in the lobby. I like to have the coffee maker, even if I want a cup of tea at night in the room. 

Did room service blow your mind or was just okay?  I did not order room service, the menu was not available in the room which was odd. Breakfast in the hotel restaurant was available but I enjoyed elsewhere. 

Everyone wants to know, is Wi-Fi included? Yes, but my own phone worked fine in the room. I do not use public wi-fi for security reasons. 

Is Fido allowed come with you? No, Fido cannot join you on vacation 

Location is key, how does this hotel measure? The location here is a 10+ You have wonderful breakfast spots right next door, as well as restaurants, the park right across the street, subway lines if you wish to use them. So many places are within walking distance, you really do not need the subway. 

What was the best part of staying here? The location and customer service of the staff 

Would you change anything? I would love a coffee maker in the room, the room decor to be less minimal, larger lobby. 

Is this hotel worth it and why? This hotel is worth a stay. I would stay again most definitely, hopefully the shower water temp will be fixed. I will be sure to ask them however the correct way to adjust the temp in case I was doing something wrong. The location is worth every penny, I love being able to walk everywhere, NYC is a walking city after-all. 

                                              Views from the room at night are just lovely 

Overall Rating: 8/10 

Conclusion: Upon wanting to stay at this hotel for years, I was glad to finally get the opportunity to do so. I will definitely be back to stay here, hopefully the water temp in the shower will not be an issue again. The hotel is very lovely, not my most favorite, but in the top hotels of where I have stayed in the city. Regarding the room design, depending on your taste, you may love it. I just like a room with a bit more character. I look forward to my next stay at the Bryant Park Hotel. 

Cold water all day in lobby and coffee/muffins in the morning 

The room views are just amazing 

Please be sure to follow me on Instagram for lots of photos and activity of my travels to NYC. I would be delighted to see you there, be sure to say "hi" 

Hotel prices are at their lowest in the months of January and February; their highest September and October. Sunday nights are the lowest prices for hotel rooms, in most cases. My go to places for checking prices for hotels are Trivago, Trip Advisor, Hotels.com and Travelzoo. Always remember to check the hotel's website itself, they are really trying to have you book direct and sometimes offer specials or a discount with AAA that is cheaper than the websites I mentioned above. I am also finding that if you book on your mobile device, you can save some money as well. I actually got a better rate via my mobile phone than using my AAA discount online direct at the hotel. You should really do some research on your price for hotel a few different ways, and ALWAYS book a room that you can cancel, you never know what may happen in the future. You also want the ability to change hotels if you should find a better option closer to your date of arrival. 

Disclosure: This stay was paid for by me. I will always state at the end of each review whether my stay was paid for by myself or if I was hosted by the hotel. I will honestly tell you about my experience at this hotel, not being swayed in any way by complimentary services. I know you trust my opinion, & it is important to me to be as honest as possible.  All opinions are my own. Thank you so much.

La Pecora Bianco NoMad

One of the spots I checked out in the city before the pandemic started was La Pecora Bianco in the NoMad district. Since that time, they now have locations in Midtown, Soho, Bryant Park and the Meatpacking district. This place is really wonderful for Italian food, and my friend and I enjoyed our late lunch. 

Everything tastes homemade because it is and you can really tell the difference. 

There is nothing like enjoying fresh pasta, it just melts in your mouth. 

Walking around the NoMad area, you see this wonderful view of the Gibson Girl and the Empire State Building against a very blue sky, all is right in the world. 

There are so many new spots opening up in the city that I will be telling you about, and this place is no exception. If you are in any of these areas, and desire great Italian fare, this is the spot for you!! 

La Pecora Bianco NoMad 

Midtown Location

Soho Location

Bryant Park

Meatpacking District

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A Marvelous Mrs. Maisel NYC Tour

B Altman building 5th Avenue and 34th Street 

I was very thrilled to hear from On Location Tours that they were going to be starting a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel tour of New York City. This show has just taken off like crazy, for good reason, the writing, the fashion, the actors and NYC! I am a huge fan of these tours and they are a great way to see the city and see many famous spots from this Amazon hit show. If you are not watching the show, you really must. It is gold. 

The tour takes you to areas of Gramercy, NYU and Bowery and the fabulous Greenwich Village. A good example is the photo above of the old B Altman building, which I never knew it was there at 5th and 34th Street. The store was before my time so I never shopped there, but probably walked past a zillion times and never realized what it was! This is where Midge works in Season One and you will recognize the entrance as she is going up the steps. 

My photo during the exhibit at the Paley Center last year 

Old Town Bar and Restaurant 45 E 18th Street 

This bar originally opened in 1892 under the name Viemeister’s, later taking on the name Craig’s Restaurant to survive Prohibition. It has been used in many shows and movies. This is where Joel hangs out with his friend and everyone keeps calling him there! I have walked past here a few times as well and never really looked closely. 

It gives you an old time feel for sure, and not very big. 

I loved the old time cash register 

I will be back here for sure for a bite to eat when in the area 

McSorleys 15 E 7th Street

Many of the interiors were created in a Brooklyn studio, but for outside shots there are many unchanged places in New York City. McSorley's is one of them, which opened in 1854 and didn't allow women inside until the 1970's! This is where Midge took her doctor boyfriend Ben called the Cedar Tavern ( a real place that has closed) to meet the artist Declan Howell. I had never been here so this was quite interesting for me. 

The inside is very old school, and not a very big place. The floors have sawdust on them. It really felt like I was stepping back in 1854! 

The menu is quite inexpensive and they had quite a few people at the bar and sitting at tables to dine. 

The doors looked pretty original too and can you see the sawdust on the floor ? 

We were treated to one of New York City's best desserts, a mini black and white cookie! It was so good and a nice treat in the middle of the tour. You are allowed to bring drinks with you or a sandwich if you wish on the bus. 

Albanese Meats & Poultry 238 Elizabeth Street 

"We got the rabbi !" Albanese Meats is the famous place where Midge and her Mom are buying meat for the Rabbi coming to Yom Kippur. This butcher shop located at Little Italy’s Elizabeth Street – renamed Lutzi’s for the show, though the real name made an appearance in The Godfather Part III .  This would be a fun spot to get your photo taken, but trying not to get in the way of the paying customers. This place was way cool, we did not go inside but I may come back. 

The Up and Up Cocktails 116 Macdougal Street 

How great does our tour guide look ? She was easy to spot when I was looking for the bus as well! This was another place to recognize quickly, the steps going into the Gaslight on the show. 

The actual Gaslight where Lenny Bruce and Bob Dylan hung out has been gone for a while, so they use the steps below at Up and Up Cocktails as the exterior. It was located at 116 Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village between 1958 and 1971. I think it works pretty well!  

Washington Square Park (architect Stanford White) 

Midge ends up in a rally in Washington Square Park with Jane Jacobs who was actually born in Scranton, Pa in 1916 which is where I work. It really is a small world folks. This is a wonderful park to see in person, so much history here and this is where the tour becomes a walking one which is perfect. 

We really lucked out for a 50 degree day in December, it was perfect for walking around and enjoying all the neat village spots! 

The Music Inn 169 West 4th Street 

This is where Susie brings Midge to hear some of the underground comics. The shop is extremely tiny but has so much character. I loved all the musical instruments from the ceiling! 

Records galore! Yes, I said records ! They are for sure making a comeback! 

                                                                 La Bonbonniere 28 8th Ave

The last stop fills in for The City Spoon, Midge's favorite diner and where Joel proposes to her in the street. This place takes cash only and would be very neat to stop in for breakfast, lunch or a snack.

I cannot recommend this tour enough to everyone. It is a great way for those who enjoy the show to see some familiar spots in the city, explore other areas of the city (and then go back on your own), hear some behind the scenes history of the show. One of the stories I loved was that for Season 3, a society lady named Carmela "Rose" Harper  hat collection was donated to the show by her family. I just found it so wonderful, what a great way to pass on your vintage fashion than to a show where millions can enjoy! Do consider this tour, or many of the other wonderful tours offered by On Location Tours as you cannot go wrong with any of them!

Mrs. Maisel’s Marvelous Tour of New York City meets on 34th Street and 5th Avenue on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at noon, and lasts for a total of two and a half hours. Tickets are $52 for adults.


FTC Disclosure:
**I was provided with 1 ticket for this tour mentioned in this post free of charge. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post & was not obligated to give a positive review of the product. All opinions expressed here are mine. **

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