Hotel Review: Virgin Hotels NYC - International Traveller

A look inside Virgin Hotels New York City.

There are more great hotels in New York City than in entire countries, so can the famous Virgin brand make an impression in this hotly contested hotel scene?

Virgin Hotels NYC back story

The seventh in the Virgin Hotels portfolio (the first opened in Chicago in 2015), the New York outpost launched in early 2023.

Virgin Hotels NYC plays to the Richard Branson brand’s strengths; a vibrant colour aesthetic that adds an energetic ambiance to the rooms, bars, restaurants and lounges yet avoids becoming a caricature of an ageing billionaire’s struggle to remain relevant (and youthful) by just trying a little too hard to be edgy.

the living room at the Richard's Flat, Virgin Hotels NYC — Virgin Hotels NYC plays to the Richard Branson brand’s strengths.

The signature experience for guests (and us) is falling asleep gazing at an illuminated Empire State Building, pinching yourself and then waking to the same daylight view and realising it was not a dream.

Virgin Hotels NYC is perfect for solo travellers, couples and the bleisure traveller (business and leisure – yes we hate the term too but it has become accepted terminology despite our resistance). In short, despite the very cluttered New York hotel scene, Virgin Hotels NYC is a welcome addition.

sunset view from the Penthouse, Virgin Hotels NYC — You’ll pinch yourself as you look out over the city.

First impressions

The striking Virgin logo towers over the entrance and being New York, you probably miss the slim silver 39-level tower which houses the 460 guest rooms and suites as the Uber or taxi deposits you at the curb on W30th St.

the Virgin Hotels NYC building exterior — Spot the striking Virgin logo outside.

The lobby is compact and relatively low-key. Three standalone check-in desks in front of a large digital artwork greet guests at the entrance. A few lounges are available for those waiting for other guests but as there is no food and beverages available in the lobby, it is largely a pragmatic transient space, accentuated by a check-in agent who is a little disinterested.

a digital artwork on display at the junction of Virgin Hotels NYC — A large digital artwork greets guests on arrival.

The real Virgin personality is found on level three at Everdene, the social centre of the hotel. Deep lush velvety red and blue sofas accompany a carefully curated colourful bar, restaurant and lounge; during the day it is a relaxed modern eatery and by night, a lively NY restaurant and bar.

the Everdene bar and restaurant at Virgin Hotels NYC — The vibrant Everdene is on the third floor.

The room

Chambers if you please! Like all Virgin experiences, Virgin Hotels give the mundane a more distinguished and inviting tongue-in-cheek name – Upper Class for business class on Virgin Atlantic and Sailors for passengers on Virgin Voyages.

the city view from Chamber King room, Virgin Hotels NYC — Soak up the city view from the Chamber King room.

Our Chamber King, on the 15th floor, makes the most of the modest space typical for Manhattan. The entrance leads to the bathroom facilities, storage, vanity and a snug makeup table with an illuminated mirror, referred to as the dressing room by the Virgin Hotel crew. The walk-in rainfall shower is spacious and great for a post-24-hour flight rejuvenating soak.

the bedroom suite with bathroom in the Chamber King room, Virgin Hotels NYC — The dressing room is a delightful space.

But it’s the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Sleeping Lounge that create a great sense of space and make the most of the Manhattan vistas. Split from the dressing room by a sliding full-length mirror door for privacy, it features a signature red mini SMEG fridge and a nifty lounge with a table joined to the bed base that forms a 1.5 seater sofa for working on a laptop or a lazy read.

the minibar at the Chamber King room, Virgin Hotels NYC — The minibar is complete with snacks and refreshments.

The king-size bed does dominate yet there is just enough room to move around the bed. And if you can secure the right room, you’ll have pinch-yourself views of the Empire State Building.

the living room at Richard's Flat — Take in incredible views of the city skyline from Richard’s Flat.

The facilities

Everedene serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and even a late-night sweet snack.

the bar and lounge at Everdene, Virgin Hotels NYC — Hit up Everdene any time of the day.

The breakfast menu traverses the healthy to the hangover cure and in our case, the Chef’s FV Breakfast Sandwich of poached eggs on bacon with melted cheddar and tomato relish was just the treat. It set us back US$20 ($30).

Equally, the nightcap with Burnt Fig Panna Cotta for US$11 ($16.75) is a sweet send-off to remember.

Everdene terrace at Virgin Hotels NYC — If the sun is shining, head outside to Everdene’s terrace.

The in-room mini-bar proudly declares the prices are “street", in other words, what you might pay at a corner store.

The spa was opening as we checked out and the rooftop pool was not on the agenda when the top temperature in January was 0°C… although we anticipate it being a splash of Virgin vivacious fun in summer.

Rooftop pool at Virgin Hotels NYC — While away the hours at Virgin Hotels NYC’s rooftop pool.

If your room doesn’t have the mesmerising views of the Empire State make a beeline for the 5th-floor gym and workout while gazing at NYC’s emblematic skyscraper.

the gym on the fifth floor of Virgin Hotels NYC — Make a beeline for the gym on the 5th floor.

The location

For NYC snobs, midtown is something to be poopooed but Virgin Hotels’ location on the southern edge of midtown and the western edge of uber hot hotel hood NoMad (north of Madison Square) made famous by the launch of ACE hotel in 2009, is really where you want to be.

the terrace suite at Virgin Hotels NYC — Admire the stunning NYC skyline from the terrace suite.

At the juncture of W30th and Broadway, Madison Square Gardens and Empire State are an easy stroll (and rooms on the eastern side of the hotel have magnificent views of the NYC icon).

sunset views from Virgin Hotels NYC — See the majestic NYC sunset from Richard’s Flat.

More importantly, the Herald Square subway station with access to eight different subway lines makes getting to most reaches of NYC relatively easy.

the times square view on top of Virgin Hotels NYC — Gaze at an illuminated Empire State Building from Virgin Hotels NYC.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Our rating

4 stars – this is a great base for a NY stay with the right amount of personality and energy for those who love the New York buzz but do enjoy some downtime.

the Virgin Hotels NYC signage at the third floor patio — Virgin Hotels NYC is a great base for a NY stay.

What we loved

The smart room (ahm sorry Chambers) design and everything Everdene.

What we’d change

A greater sense of arrival.

Details

Virgin Hotel NYC
1227 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(212) 213 0090

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Hotel review: Virgin Hotels New York City