InterContinental New York Barclay by IHG

One thing I wish had happened at check-in was some acknowledgment of my IHG Platinum status. I know early arrival, late checkout, and upgrades depend on availability, and none of those benefits were offered proactively this time. Even so, our family had a wonderful vacation stay. The staff, from the front desk to the lobby bar, were welcoming and consistently kind, and the service team helped everything go smoothly. The welcome fruit in the room was a thoughtful touch. The hotel is centrally located, with convenient connections around the city and easy access to major sights. The breakfast buffet was about $50 per person, but the range and quality made it worth the cost. This is a high-end hotel that delivers comfort and hospitality, and I’d recommend it to families looking for a well-located place in New York.

Sophy at reception handled everything with such kindness and professionalism, always with a real smile. And Anthony at the bar made each visit memorable with his welcoming manner and seriously good cocktails. They both made the stay feel special, and I can’t wait to return. The hotel itself was elegant and comfortable, but the people are what made my time at the InterContinental New York Barclay wonderful.

Mario made the lobby bar a particularly good part of our weekend. He mixes the cocktails you already love, but can also introduce you to less familiar spirits and talk through their flavors and how they might change one of your usual drinks. You can tell he enjoys his work and wants guests to have a great time. Before that, Kit in reservations was a joy to deal with. He made sure we knew where things were, what amenities we could use, and that the room matched the preferences we’d selected when booking. We had a great experience two weeks ago.

The pre-visit team was lovely and got in touch beforehand to help customize our stay. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the size was good for New York. The location is convenient for public transit and within walking distance of major attractions. It’s also in a quieter part of Midtown, and could be a reasonable option if you want somewhere comfortable and accessible. The in-person service didn’t live up to that first impression. Staff were terse, and requests seemed to get an eye roll. I had to convince a guest service representative that robes and slippers weren’t already in the room. Breakfast felt limited for $50 per person, and the busy waitstaff gave little attention or finesse. I also found an unexpected charge: an extra breakfast tip had been entered by mistake on top of the automatic gratuity. It took the front desk half an hour to reverse it while I was trying to leave for the airport, and they blamed my handwriting instead of really apologizing. For clean rooms, comfort, and a good location, there are much cheaper choices. At this price I’d expect warmer hospitality, so I’d look elsewhere for that.