Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square

Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square Overview

Look, I’ve stayed at my fair share of Times Square hotels, and honestly? Most of them feel like they’re trying way too hard or cutting corners everywhere. The Riu Plaza Manhattan actually gets it right – which surprised me, since I’ll admit I was skeptical about a Spanish chain setting up shop in the theater district.

The thing that hit me first walking into the lobby wasn’t the typical Times Square chaos bleeding through the doors. It’s surprisingly quiet once you’re inside, which is no small feat when you’re literally a block from the TKTS steps. The 47th Street location puts you right in the thick of things without being directly on the Broadway tourist highway – you know what I mean if you’ve ever tried to walk down 42nd Street at 7 PM on a Saturday. You can actually get to the hotel entrance without fighting through costume characters and street performers, but you’re still close enough that everything’s walkable. I mean, the Palace Theatre is practically next door, and you can hit any of the big shows without dealing with subway transfers or expensive cab rides.

What really won me over was how they handle the practical stuff that other hotels in this area tend to mess up. The elevators are fast – and I mean actually fast, not the usual Manhattan hotel crawl where you’re waiting five minutes to go up twelve floors. The rooms are larger than you’d expect for Times Square, and honestly, the soundproofing is impressive. I was prepared for sirens and street noise all night, but I actually slept well. The beds are solid too, not those weird firm-as-a-rock mattresses some places think pass for luxury. They’ve got decent water pressure in the showers, which… look, if you’ve stayed in enough NYC hotels, you know that’s not a given. The whole place feels like they actually thought about what travelers need instead of just cramming in as many rooms as possible.

The staff seems to get that most guests are here for Broadway shows and tourist stuff, so they’re pretty good with restaurant recommendations that aren’t just the usual overpriced tourist traps. The guy at the front desk steered me toward a decent pre-theater spot on 46th that I never would have found on my own. And here’s something I appreciated – they don’t oversell the “luxury” angle. It’s a solid, well-run four-star hotel that knows what it is. The lobby bar is fine for a quick drink, but they’re not pretending to be some scene-y hotspot. Sometimes you just want a comfortable place to crash between shows and sightseeing, you know? That’s exactly what this place delivers, and in Times Square, that’s honestly refreshing.

Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square Accommodations

Reviews of Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square

• Jonathan from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Breakfast was well worth the value off money

• Lucille from United States (9/10)

  Location is fabulous for our holiday season visit.

• Leigh from United States (9/10)

  Hotel was excellent location to Times Square and Rockefeller Center. It was clean, beautifully decorated for Christmas as well as normal decor. Every staff member encountered was pleasant and extremely accommodating. The hotel held our baggage for us the day of checking prior to being able to get into our room as well as the day we checked out until we got our train so that we didn’t not have to lug it around the city all day while taking in the sites.
  The room was extremely clean, modern and carpet free which was so refreshing to not have to worry about what I was stepping on.
  Soap and shower supplies smelled amazing!!

• Patrice from United States (8/10)

  Location

• Dorota from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Amazing hotel and great location with affordable prices. Highly recommended

• Frank from United States (9/10)

  Rooms were clean and nice. Times Square at Christmas time is pricey but it is all about location

• Michael from United States (9/10)

  The Riu Manhattan's location was perfect for our stay in the city. We specifically chose this hotel due to its proximity to Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. The room is modern, with thoughtful energy and water conservation. It is a good size, considering the location of New York City. We didn't mind our clothes hanging from an exterior closet rather than having a closet door. When we walked into the hotel we were greeted by a friendly front desk attendant and beautifully decorated entrance. We did not come to check in at a typical time, so there was no wait for us.

• Niamh from Ireland (9/10)

  Location, price and comfortable

• Smith from United States (9/10)

  Great location and clean, comfortable room.

• Julie from Ireland (9/10)

  Location and cleanliness

Surroundings

Facilities