Grant Hotel

Such a cute, quiet, and safe place to stay, right in the middle of everything. The pastries with the coffee were amazing, and wherever you want to go or whatever you want to see is close by. 10 out of 10, I’d recommend it.

The location makes it easy to get around, with public transit nearby and a clean street. There’s coffee, tea, and hot water at reception around the clock, plus an ice machine and water dispenser. The room has an older house feel and the mattress was worn and not very cushy. You can hear a lot through the thin walls, too. Still, for a budget hotel, it works well if you mainly need somewhere to sleep between exploring the city.

Friendly staff, and I’d happily return for another no-frills stay. The building’s old-fashioned character was part of the appeal, including the small, slow elevator with its cool old-school sound. The room was clean and fine for sleeping, though the bed wasn’t as comfortable as I’d hoped. Breakfast came with pastries and coffee from 8-10, and there’s an ice and water machine in the lobby. I’d recommend it for a simple stay. The mattress is the reason I’m giving it four stars.

The room was a decent size, but not much else worked for me. The mattress was old and hard, and I had a hard time imagining getting a good night’s sleep. Street noise came through constantly, and the bathroom wasn’t very clean. At least the price is low, the front desk staff were friendly, and the hotel sits right on the north side of Union Square. The free morning pastries were good, too.