Northern Lights Mansion

Northern Lights Mansion Overview

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Northern Lights Mansion on 122nd Street, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place in Harlem. But you know what? This spot actually surprised me in the best way possible. The building itself has this old New York character that you just can’t fake – I’m talking original moldings and these gorgeous tall windows that let in amazing light during the day. It’s tucked right into a residential block that feels authentically neighborhood-y, not touristy at all.

What really won me over was how the staff seemed to actually know the area. The guy at the front desk (I think his name was Marcus?) didn’t just give me the usual subway directions – he told me which car to get on the A train to avoid the crowds, and pointed me toward this incredible Dominican spot on Amsterdam Avenue that I never would’ve found otherwise. The rooms are… well, they’re what you’d expect for the price point, but honestly clean and comfortable. Mine faced the street and yeah, you’ll hear some traffic in the morning, but it’s not the kind of honking chaos you get in Midtown. Actually felt more like neighborhood sounds – people heading to work, kids walking to school. Sort of comforting, if that makes sense.

Here’s the thing about staying up here – you’re really in Harlem, not some sanitized version of it. Marcus Garvey Park is literally a five-minute walk, and if you time it right on weekends, you might catch some of the drum circles or pickup basketball games. The 125th Street buzz is close enough when you want it (about a 10-minute walk), but 122nd Street itself stays pretty quiet at night. Parking is actually doable on the side streets if you’re driving, which honestly shocked me. The subway situation is solid too – you’ve got the A, B, C, and D trains all within reasonable walking distance, so getting downtown is pretty straightforward. I mean, it’s not a luxury experience by any stretch, but for what you’re paying, Northern Lights Mansion delivers something you can’t get in those generic hotels near Times Square – you actually get to experience a real New York neighborhood. Plus, that 8.5 rating makes a lot more sense once you spend a night or two there.

Northern Lights Mansion Accommodations

Reviews of Northern Lights Mansion

• Yurii from Ukraine (9/10)

  A wonderful atmosphere, no issues with free street parking, very clean and cozy.

• Tiago from Brazil (9/10)

  The staff of the facility is amazing, always willing to help and give instructions. They will help with anything about NYC as well. The location is a little far north of Manhattan (where the major tourist sites are) but the building is between two major metro lines which will take you anywhere in new York in within some minutes. The house is old fashioned but the inside is really modern, which gives you the feeling of staying in a true new Yorker house. The kitchen is really really modern, which can save you a lot of money cooking your food or having your breakfast at home. They also have an amazing coffee machine and have water as courtesy, which was amazing, had coffee every morning there and could enjoy the rest of the day city walking. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the heater worked really fine even with a cold weather in NY. They had everything you needed, shampoo, conditioner, hair drier, clean towels everyday.

• Mary from United States (8/10)

• Sérgio from Portugal (7/10)

  Breakfast itens and water available for shared use, in shared full equiped kitchen. Amenities in the bathrooom. Confortable bed.

• Chiara from Italy (7/10)

  Not far from the city center (the metro Is 5 Min walking), nice room, quiet quarter

• Anne from Kenya (7/10)

  The room was okay. I stayed in it for one night so there's not much to say – I loved the room I was moved to, which was booked as my main stay.

• Anne from Kenya (9/10)

  The room was great and definitely worth the price. The room was VERY spacious – VERY. The staff was friendly – this was probably the best part of my stay. The location was AMAZING – a short walk from the train station and in a very safe environment.

• Lea from France (9/10)

  Very beautiful house with everything in the kitchen to make breakfast (toast, cream cheese, tea, coffee…). The bedroom was great and the private sauna was very a plus!

• Aylin from Germany (9/10)

  Gorgeous old townhouse with loads of character. Felt like home immediately. Ron made me feel so welcome and provided useful info in and around the house.

• Sue from New Zealand (7/10)

  A lovely character brownstone in Harlem, close to restaurants, public transport and an easy walk to Central Park. Very quiet.
  
  Guests can use the kitchen to prepare and eat meals.

Surroundings

Facilities