The Central Park North

The Central Park North Overview

Honestly, when I first walked up to The Central Park North on 111th Street, I wasn’t sure what to expect – it’s tucked into this stretch of Harlem that feels like it’s caught between the tourist chaos of Central Park and the real neighborhood vibes that make this area actually interesting. The building itself has that classic New York brick facade thing going on, nothing flashy, but you know what? That’s sort of perfect for what this place is.

What really struck me about staying here was how it sits right in this sweet spot where you can walk to the park (and I mean actually walk, not that “walking distance” nonsense hotels usually claim), but you’re also surrounded by some of the best soul food and jazz history in the city. You’ve got Sylvia’s just a few blocks down on Malcolm X Boulevard, and honestly, the hotel staff will point you toward places the guidebooks miss entirely. The rooms are… well, they’re what you’d expect from a solid 3-star spot – clean, comfortable beds, decent WiFi that actually works, though the walls are a bit thin so you might hear your neighbors if they’re having a good time. I mean, it’s New York, right? The bathrooms are small but functional, and there’s something refreshing about a place that doesn’t try to pretend it’s fancier than it is.

Here’s the thing though – and this is why I’d recommend it to friends – the location gives you this authentic New York experience without completely destroying your budget. You’re literally across from Marcus Garvey Park, which most tourists never see but locals love, especially in the evenings when people gather for music. The subway situation is pretty decent too; you can catch the 2/3 at 110th Street or walk down to the 6 at 110th and Lex. Sure, it’s not Times Square (thank god), but you can be in Midtown in like 20 minutes, and when you come back at night, you’re in a neighborhood where people actually live and work, not just pose for Instagram photos. The front desk folks seem to genuinely know the area – they pointed me toward this amazing Ethiopian place on 116th that I never would have found otherwise. Is it perfect? No – the elevator’s a bit slow, and don’t expect a fancy gym or room service menu, but for the price point and that 7.5 rating, it delivers exactly what it promises without any pretense.

The Central Park North Accommodations

Reviews of The Central Park North

• Juris from Latvia (8/10)

  Affordable place and close to public transport.

• Caroline from Australia (8/10)

  We really appreciated the tiny kitchen facilities and were able to save a lot by cooking our dinners. The room was warm and comfortable even with four people.

• Mariusz from United States (8/10)

  Perfect location, clean and quite a big room, early check-in was available for me, and the staff was helpful too.

• Goddard from United Kingdom (7/10)

  I liked the cleanliness of the room.

• Joanna from Australia (7/10)

  Cleanliness was great, as were the facilities.

• Lena from South Africa (7/10)

  Easy access to Central Park and trams – spacious and nicely decorated room

• Christian from Germany (8/10)

  100 min central park for running!
  Good location to explore Harlem…

• Mitchell from Australia (6/10)

  was an alright location easy to get to train station and down into low parts Manhattan

• Oleksandra from Norway (7/10)

  Close to central park and subway

• Hazel from Australia (6/10)

  Location was good in terms of distance to downtown Manhattan. Beds comfortable. Hotel and rooms felt clean.

Surroundings

Facilities