Da Vinci Hotel

Please take this as a serious warning about Da Vinci Hotel. The building's old, dirty exterior is partly hidden on an equally dirty street, and doesn't match the prices. Online it looks like a fancy boutique hotel, but the lobby is shabby and there's a strong smell of the rat and cockroach repellent used in old New York buildings. With a basement restaurant and poor upkeep, pests reach the rooms. I found a fairly large cockroach in mine. I had booked the most expensive room category, yet the TV, which I'd paid a lot to have for relaxing, didn't work. Staff and management were arrogant about it. They said the maintenance person was “out of town” all day and evening, perhaps the next day too. On a Wednesday in Times Square? Booking.com tried to get my money back from management but couldn't, and gave me a voucher instead. One receptionist was particularly nasty, speaking my first name in a condescending way. Both receptionists were shockingly dishonest. Unless you pay for the top room category, your view will be of back walls and noisy restaurant fans. That isn't charming, and the top category can cost more than last-minute deals at nearby Hilton and Marriott hotels. I'm going to keep putting this review back on top of Google a couple of times a month because people look forward to their sometimes once-in-a-lifetime New York trip. Plenty of people don't leave negative feedback or forget to, and simply stay away. Do yourself a favor and choose another hotel nearby. Da Vinci Hotel doesn't deserve to be in business and probably won't be for much longer. You deserve a better New York experience.

We loved the price, the quiet street, and the friendly staff, who gave us plenty of suggestions, including the authentic Italian restaurant Joe G’s downstairs. The pillows at The DaVinci Hotel were firm and comfortable, so unlike the thin ones at many hotels, they didn't leave us with neck pain in the morning. The old building was also very clean. My husband and I came to NYC for our bucket-list trip to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. We're not sure when we'll be back, but we'll make arrangements to stay here again. Thanks to Phil and everyone else for being so kind and helpful.

After five nights at Da Vinci Hotel, I'd say the location is the real standout. It's on 56th between Broadway and 8th Ave, close to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Columbus Circle. Central Park and Times Square are an easy walk away, without being right in the middle of the chaos. There's plenty to eat nearby, plus Whole Foods and coffee shops within a couple of blocks. Getting around is simple with several subway lines close by, including N/Q/R/W, 1, and A/C/E.

For a single night, the price and location work well. The building and furniture are old, though, and the amenities aren't great. There's no fitness room or business center, and the bed and blanket smelled like old people. I wouldn't recommend it to families or couples.