voco The Franklin New York, an IHG Hotel

voco The Franklin New York, an IHG Hotel Overview

Honestly, when I first walked into the voco Franklin, I wasn’t expecting much – I mean, it’s tucked away on East 87th Street in a neighborhood that feels more residential than hotel-y. But you know what? That’s actually its biggest strength. You’re right in the heart of the Upper East Side without all the tourist chaos, and I can’t tell you how refreshing that is after dealing with Midtown madness.

The building itself has this understated elegance that just works. It’s not trying too hard to be flashy, which I appreciate. The lobby feels like stepping into a well-appointed friend’s apartment rather than some sterile corporate space. Check-in was smooth – no drama, which honestly can be hit or miss in New York. The staff actually seemed to know the neighborhood, too. When I asked about good coffee nearby, the desk person didn’t just point me to Starbucks but mentioned this little spot on Lexington that locals actually use.

What really sold me on this place was the location, though. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Central Park – not the crowded southern end where everyone takes selfies, but the quieter northern section where you can actually think. The 86th Street subway stop is right there, so getting downtown is easy, but when you come back at night, you escape into this calmer residential bubble. I stayed during a busy week in fall, and while the streets near Times Square were absolutely insane, walking back to the Franklin felt like exhaling. The rooms are solid – nothing groundbreaking, but thoughtfully done with good lighting (which you’d be surprised how many hotels mess up) and bathrooms that actually function properly. The beds are comfortable enough that I didn’t wake up feeling like I’d been wrestling with the pillows all night, and the blackout curtains actually work, which in a city that never sleeps is kind of crucial.

I’ll be real with you – it’s not the cheapest option in the city, but for what you get, especially considering you’re avoiding the tourist trap pricing of hotels near major attractions, it feels fair. The 8.5 rating makes sense to me. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s going to give you exactly what you need: a comfortable, well-located base that doesn’t stress you out. Perfect if you want to experience New York like someone who actually lives here rather than just checking boxes on a tourist list.

voco The Franklin New York, an IHG Hotel Accommodations

Reviews of voco The Franklin New York, an IHG Hotel

• Maria from US Virgin Islands (9/10)

  Employees very nice and helpful!

• Kris from Portugal (8/10)

  Location, proximity to subway. Very cosy hotel.
  Very clean rooms and confortável beds. Staff is amazing!
  We booked a room with city view but at arrival we were looking at a wall. Wrong information from booking.com. Fortunately the hotel gave us upgrade to room with view.

• Camilla from France (9/10)

  The staff were all smiles.
  The location perfect.
  The cleanliness exceptional!

• Kicki from United States (9/10)

  Location great, very nice place, clean, friendly.

• Thomas from United States (8/10)

  In NYC once month. Prefer the Franklin due to location & quiet area.

• Michelle from United States (9/10)

  Clean, great location, generally helpful staff.

• Robert from United States (8/10)

  Helpful happy staff.

• Elisabet from Argentina (9/10)

  location

• Ivy from United States (9/10)

  It was such a fun and unique property! The staff was great and the room was clean and large!

• John from United States (8/10)

Surroundings

Facilities