Excelsior Hotel New York City, New York City - Reviews, Room Options & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

45 West 81St Street, New York City, New York, United States of America, 10024

Excelsior Hotel, a 3-star property overlooking the Rose Center for Earth and Science, features spacious fitness and business centers, a relaxing lounge, and a weekend brunch restaurant in New York City's Upper West Side.

Refined Room Features

Rooms at the Excelsior Hotel showcase suede-upholstered headboards and geometric patterned pillows. Each accommodation features French doors, a seating area with flat-screen cable TV, and a private bathroom with bathrobes.

Cuban Dining Experience

Calle Ocho, the hotel's restaurant, serves Cuban fusion cuisine for dinner. The wood-paneled lounge doubles as a breakfast area, maintaining the lobby's refined aesthetic.

Comprehensive Fitness Facilities

The fitness center features cardio equipment, weight machines, and natural lighting through large windows. A business center, conference room, library, and children's play area complete the facilities.

Cultural Hub Location

The Excelsior sits 0.1 miles from 81st Street Museum of Natural History subway station and 9.5 miles from LaGuardia Airport. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, and Central Park's hiking trails are within walking distance.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Premium Deluxe Suite

Max:

4 persons

19 m²

Bed options:

2 Double beds

Heating

Bathtub

room details

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Superior Junior Suite

Max:

4 persons

19 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Heating

Bathtub

room details

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Premium Deluxe King Suite

Max:

4 persons

19 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Heating

Bathtub

room details

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Price and Room Availability Calendar

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Getting around

A guide to all available transportation options

City Center

New York City 5.2 mi

Airports

LaGuardia (LGA) 9.2 mi

Teterboro (TEB) 13.7 mi

Train

Grand Central Station 2.1 mi

Metro stations

81st Street - Museum of Natural History IND Eighth Avenue Line1000 ft

Bus

Bus stop400 ft

Facilities

Experience a variety of amenities at the boutique hotel, crafted to ensure your comfort and unforgettable moments

Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi in rooms

Parking

Parking lot

Baggage storage

24-hour services

24-hour reception

General

Non-smoking property
Free Wi-Fi
Parking
Safe deposit box
24-hour reception
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Wheelchair access
Elevator
Ice machine

Sports & Fitness

Fitness center
Fitness studio

Services

Paid shuttle service
Dry cleaning

Dining

Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area

Business

Business center

Children

Cribs

Room features

Free Wi-Fi in rooms
In-room air conditioning
Heating
In-room safe
Sitting area
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Hair dryer
Free toiletries

Media

Flat-screen TV
Cable/ Satellite television
Telephone
AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

45 West 81St Street, New York City, New York, United States of America, 10024

Map view

street view

45 West 81St Street, New York City, New York, United States of America, 10024

City landmarks

Parks

Central Park

2900 ft

Museums

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

3800 ft

Square

Times Square

1.9 mi

Landmark

Rockefeller Center

1.7 mi

Museums

Guggenheim Museum New York

5200 ft

30 Rockfeller Plaza Enter on West 50th Street

Top of the Rock

1.7 mi

Gallery

Frick Collection

1.1 mi

Museums

The Jewish Museum

1.1 mi

20 West 34th Street

Empire State Building

2.5 mi

Church

St. Patrick's Cathedral

1.7 mi

Parks

Bryant Park

2.1 mi

2788 Broadway

New York bagels

1.4 mi

Broadway Theatre

Broadway

1.6 mi

Museums

The Museum of Modern Art

1.5 mi

W. Park Dr. and W. 72nd St.

Strawberry Fields

3500 ft

Museums

Neue Galerie New York

4700 ft

2 E 91st St

Cooper Hewitt

1.1 mi

Tower

Trump Tower

1.4 mi

Columbus and Amsterdam Ave. between 63rd and 85th Streets

Upper West Side

2300 ft

Castle

Belvedere Castle

2400 ft

Parks

The High Line

3.1 mi

E 79th St East Side of the Turtle Pond

King Jagiello Monument

2500 ft

2109 Broadway

The Ansonia

2600 ft

Zoo

Central Park Zoo

1.4 mi

School

The Julliard School

1.1 mi

Nearby

Museums

American Museum of Natural History

1200 ft

Museums

Children's Museum Of Manhattan

1900 ft

Planetarium

Hayden Planetarium

1200 ft

American Museum of Natural History

Rose Center for Earth and Space

2000 ft

Restaurants

Starbucks

400 ft

267-275 Columbus Ave

Levain Bakery

3100 ft

167 W 74th St At Amsterdam Avenue

Andy's Deli

500 ft

418 Columbus Ave

Lenwich

600 ft

459 Columbus Ave

Famous Original Ray's Pizza

600 ft

462 Columbus Ave

Shake Shack

1400 ft

366 Columbus Ave

Columbus Deli and Food

800 ft

476 Columbus Ave

Primo Pizza 84

1200 ft

57 W 84th St

Joe Coffee Company

1400 ft

514 Columbus Ave

Made In New York Pizza

1400 ft

421 Amsterdam Ave At 80th Street

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

86%

enjoyed the hotel and would happily stay again

8.6/10

Great

Rooms

6.4

Location

8.2

Service

5.6

Dining

5.8

4/5 based on 2370 reviews

#307 of 528 hotels in New York City based on Tripadvisor

Taylor

United Kingdom, January 2025

5.4/10

My stay at the Excelsior Hotel was a mixed bag. While I appreciated the convenient location near Central Park and the subway, the overall experience was marred by issues with the staff and amenities. The room felt small for the price I paid, and the dining options left much to be desired.

Rooms

6.0

The room I stayed in was smaller than expected and lacked some necessary amenities. It felt a bit cramped, especially when accommodating three adults.

Service

5.0

I encountered a rude check-out staff member that really put a damper on things. The door staff, however, were quite friendly and helpful.

Location

7.0

The location is excellent for accessing the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is just a short walk to the subway. This made it very easy to explore New York City.

Dining

5.0

I found the dining options to be lacking. It felt overpriced for what was offered, and I didn't get to enjoy the meals as much as I hoped.

Facilities

5.0

The hotel lacked essential facilities like a gym and the plumbing was questionable. This was disappointing given the price I paid for the stay.

Benjamin

United Kingdom, December 2024

5.6/10

During my stay at the Excelsior Hotel, I enjoyed the perfect location near Central Park and the Museum of Natural History, making it easy to explore the area. However, the service at check-in was less than welcoming, and my room had a broken heater that took a while to get resolved. Overall, while the hotel has great potential, it could use some improvements in facilities and staff training.

Rooms

5.0

My room was spacious enough and had good facilities, but the heater wasn't working, which made my stay uncomfortable. The decor was slightly old-fashioned, though the room was clean and well-maintained.

Service

5.0

The service at check-in was grumpy, and I felt left in the dark about the hotel's amenities. Thankfully, one staff member, Nicole, provided the really good help I needed, making my experience a bit better.

Location

10.0

The location was fantastic, right next to Central Park and near the subway station. I loved that I could easily walk to many attractions, including the Museum of Natural History.

Dining

5.0

The dining options were decent with plenty of choices, but I didn't feel they matched the hotel standards or the price. Some meals felt disproportionately costly for what they offered.

Facilities

5.0

The hotel offers some nice facilities like dry cleaning and a paid shuttle service, but they could enhance the overall experience with better amenities for guests.

Christian

United Kingdom, December 2024

6.2/10

My stay at the Excelsior Hotel had its ups and downs. While the room was spacious and accommodating for three adults, I encountered significant issues with the check-out service that left a sour note. The location was excellent for exploring Central Park and nearby attractions, yet overall, I found the experience below my expectations given the price.

Rooms

8.0

I had a suite that was unexpectedly spacious and bright, perfect for three adults. The bathroom setup was great, giving us some privacy away from the bedroom. However, I felt that my experience would have been better if the beds were larger.

Service

6.0

Most of the staff were helpful and responsive, particularly in the hotel. Unfortunately, one receptionist was unkind when I sought assistance regarding my bill. This marred my overall impression of the service quality.

Location

9.0

The location was fantastic, right near Central Park and the Natural History Museum. It offered a quieter environment compared to mid-town, while still being within reasonable walking distance of great restaurants and shops on Broadway.

Dining

7.0

The breakfast buffet was decent and filled me up, but it was not available on Mondays and Tuesdays, which was inconvenient. I appreciated that free coffee was always provided.

Facilities

8.0

Facilities like dry cleaning and a paid shuttle service were available, which added convenience to my stay. I managed to park my car for just $30 a day across the street, which felt like a steal in NYC.

Bob

United Kingdom, November 2024

7.2/10

I had a rough experience during my stay at the Excelsior Hotel in New York. While the location is convenient for visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park, the service and facilities left much to be desired. The staff, with a few exceptions, were quite curt, and the room amenities were quite lacking.

Rooms

5.0

The room was spacious and clean, though we had persistent issues with the toilet blocking and the heater being broken. I also found the lighting too harsh for a cozy atmosphere.

Service

5.0

Most of the staff were rude and dismissive, which made for an unpleasant check-in experience. However, I did find the doorman to be courteous and helpful.

Location

5.0

The hotel is ideally situated near the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park, making it easy to explore that part of the city. It's a safe and quiet area, but not very close to Times Square.

Dining

5.0

I found the dining options terrible, with limited availability and no coffee or tea facilities in the room. The only place to grab drinks was a vending machine.

Facilities

5.0

I was disappointed by the lack of basic facilities, like a fridge or kettle in the room. Also, the phone barely worked, which makes it inconvenient.

Henry

United Kingdom, October 2024

7.4/10

My stay at the Excelsior Hotel was truly enjoyable. the location was perfect for exploring the city, and the service was overall friendly. The room was comfortable, but I did notice a slight need for updates in some areas. I'd definitely consider returning, as the atmosphere felt much more intimate compared to the bustling parts of Midtown.

Rooms

8.0

The room was very comfortable, and I appreciated the quiet ambiance. However, some areas felt a bit dated and could use a sprucing up.

Service

7.0

Most of the staff were polite and friendly, especially Victor and Beata. though I did find the morning coffee service to be somewhat functional rather than warm and welcoming.

Location

10.0

The location was really good, just a half-block from Central Park. I enjoyed walking around the vibrant Upper West Side, which felt so much more relaxed than Midtown.

Dining

7.0

Dining options were all fine with a good mix of hot and cold choices, though I found it a bit pricey. I wish more options were available on Monday and Tuesday.

Facilities

8.0

The hotel offered useful services like dry cleaning and a paid shuttle. it added to the overall convenience of my stay.