Club Quarters Hotel Grand Central: NYC Comfort And Location

Review of Hotel Boutique at Grand Central | 128 East 45th Street
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Kurt
Kurt 
Published
| 3 min read

A new type of hotel seems to show up every year lately. On a recent trip to New York City, I stayed at Hotel Boutique At Grand Central to see if my previous stay was a fluke. I had found this newcomer by the typical hotel search engine back in the spring of 2018. We stayed there with my in-laws, and both parties agreed this was a winner.

What's its name?

club quarters hotel grand central: nyc comfort and location | what's its name?
Source: Kurt Jacobson

It’s easy to get confused with this hotel’s two names. It goes by both Club Quarters or Hotel Boutique. The price can be slightly higher if booking under the Club Quarters brand, but you typically get a room higher up with a better view. At check-in, we weren’t sure we’d like this hotel due to its odd reception area on the second floor above Davio’s restaurant. Instead of a reception desk, there was only a podium and one worker manning the checking in of guests. They have since changed this location. Now they have a more traditional reception area on the ground floor near the corner of Lexington Avenue and 45th Street, directly across from a restaurant named Coco. This reception area seemed to be staffed by two persons each time we entered or exited the building. Our check-in process was quick and efficient. In no time at all our room on the 24th floor was ours for a four-day stay.

Some will think the rooms are small, but by New York City standards this size is average. What stands out is how new and functional these quarters are. Each and every component is engineered to maximize comfort and efficiency. In each room, there is an L-shaped seating area with a table. This table is excellent for working, or for two person in-room dining. A small, but useful armoire holds enough clothing for most travelers. The bathrooms are like the rest of the hotel: small, clean, practical, and efficient. None of the bathrooms come with a tub. Some rooms come with a fridge and microwave, and all have Keurig coffee makers, flat screen TV, hi-speed Wi-Fi, yoga mats, and fitness videos.

What a great view

NYC skyline view
Source: Kurt Jacobson

Where this hotel really shines is in the amenities and friendly staff. On the top floor (27th), find a living room-like space where free soda, chips, granola bars, fruit, and other snacks are offered 24 hours per day. A high-end complimentary coffee machine dispenses individual lattes, cappuccino, coffee, and hot water all day on the 27th floor. The living room is staffed, and we found this person to be most helpful with concierge-type questions.

Also on the 27th floor find two computers for guests to use free of charge. The living room extends to an enclosed balcony with excellent views of the New York City skyline. From this balcony get a view of the Helmsley Building’s top floors that would be hard to see from street level. You can also see the Historic General Electric Building built in 1931. Look closely at the top and see the spikey features said to mimic electric bolts.

Hotel Boutique At Grand Central has a Peloton exercise bike in the fitness room. This modern fitness machine is all the rage and features a gym-like workout with a real person on-screen instructing a bike class. They also have two elliptical trainers, free weights, an exercise machine, and two treadmills for your workout.

What's nearby

Restaurants across the street from Club Quarters Hotel
Source: Kurt Jacobson

The location of Hotel Boutique will appeal to many business and leisure travelers. On the basement floor is Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner this is a convenient dining option for those who don’t want to leave the hotel.

Across the street from the hotel’s entrance find several tasty restaurant options for take-out or dine-in meals. A five-minute walk takes you to the Food Hall of Grand Central Terminal where several more dining options are available. There’s also a food market at Grand Central Terminal with fruit stalls, seafood, meats, cheese and more. It’s easy to catch the Shuttle subway line at Grand Central Terminal to Times Square. This convenient subway line is a non-stop way to get to and from Times Square. You also have easy access to other subway lines and trains if needed.

Either way you win

Whether you opt for the Hotel Boutique At Grand Central or the Club Quarters Hotel Grand Central, you’ll get a great deal. I suggest trying a search for both name brands and see which price and room configurations suits you best. For a hotel stay usually under 250 USD per night, this is one of the best hotels in New York City.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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