We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities
The Park Terrace NYC 4x3

Alyssa Powell/Business Insider

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  • Many people visiting New York want to stay in Midtown Manhattan, near Times Square. Nearby Bryant Park is a more relaxed option to consider, and home to the boutique four-star Park Terrace Hotel.
  • Only a year old, the Park Terrace is an amenity-rich, sophisticated hotel with many complimentary perks that help offset a starting price of $300 per night, such as free breakfast, amenities, and health and wellness options.
  • I spent a night in a Studio View room, and recommend it to those who prefer boutique hotels over large chains, and want something cheaper than a five-star hotel, but more stylish than a budget option.
  • Read all Insider Picks hotel reviews here.

Many hotels near Times Square in Manhattan are big brand chains, where the lobby can feel just as crowded as Times Square itself. And while that serves a purpose for some (hello loyalty points), the Park Terrace Hotel offers a refreshing alternative. It's a great base when you want to be near Times Square, but not actually thrust into the center of it.

Directly overlooking Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, and just steps to Times Square, Grand Central, and other major Midtown Manhattan attractions, the Park Terrace is a four-star boutique property for discerning grownups.

There are no large tour groups like in the high volume hotels, nor are there big families. Rather, the newish hotel (open just a year) seems to attract mostly couples, business types, and tourists who favor a well-appointed stay, bt don't need all the bells and whistles (or inflated price tag) of a five-star luxury hotel.

With rooms starting around $300 per night for classic options, rising to $500 and up for suites, the Park Terrace is comparable to other high-end New York hotels, but also comes with added perks like free gourmet breakfast, complimentary water and amenities, and a Peloton-equipped gym.

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I spent a night in a Studio View room and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends and family looking to stay in Midtown.

For more New York hotel tips, read our list of the 20 best hotels in New York City.

Keep reading to see why I was so impressed by the Park Terrace Hotel.

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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities
We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

Walk quickly by the Park Terrace and you'll miss it. The lobby is small and unassuming, filled with just a few velvet-backed chairs and a small check-in desk. It more resembles a stylish apartment building than a high-end hotel. I was a bit surprised by this, given the high premium it costs to stay here. However, much like other sleek boutique types, the hotel aims for understated elegance over a splashy first impression.

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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

Check-in was friendly, prompt and easy, even at prime time. I also had the option to check-in via the hotel's mobile app, which offers a digital key. I ended up only using the app to check-out when I was in more of a rush, and it couldn't have been easier.

We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities
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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

My Studio View room was outfitted with a very comfortable king bed and was spacious, but not gigantic. As a top-tier suite, I couldn't help but wonder how small entry-level Classic and Deluxe Rooms were, which have smaller queen beds to boot.

The room struck me as the kind of place you book when you're a first-time visitor to New York, or in town on business or to visit friends, and plan to spend the majority of your time out of the room, but want a stylish space to rest upon returning.

Speaking of, I slept quite well despite concerns that traffic from nearby busy avenues would keep me up. I used a pair of earplugs from the provided amenity closet and slept soundly (the duvet and pillows were SO soft).

We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

The room included a plush seating area with Nespresso machine, and wide closet housing a robe, hairdryer, iron, and yoga mat. Wi-Fi was free and fast. You may also buy many items in the room during your stay. The robe is available to monogram and keep, and the yoga mat can be purchased, or used for on-demand yoga and wellness programs available from the big screen TV.

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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

The bathroom was small but sleek, an opaque cube comprised of a marble sink, toilet, modern lighting, and walk-in shower. The shower was glam, but the pressure a bit lacking for my taste. Though, if you prefer a softer, more relaxing rainfall experience, you'll love it.

The bathroom was stocked with one of my favorite brands, Malin + Goetz. As the Park Terrace practices sustainable efforts, all toiletries are full-size. You also have the option to buy and will be charged approximately $30 to keep the coveted products.

We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities
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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

Inside the Terrazzo Lounge is a glam bar, where daily free breakfast is hosted for all guests. It included an impressive spread of New York brands such as Zucker's Bagels, Doughnut Plant, La Colombe Coffee, as well as abundant meat, cheese, fruit, and other assorted treats. It's absolutely worth waking up for, though even on a Monday morning, it was incredibly crowded. I waited in a long line and by the time I got to the front, many items needed to be replenished, and there were no open tables. I imagine it's even more competitive on weekends. As the hotel grows in popularity, the staff may need to come up with a better strategy to more adequately serve so many hungry guests.

We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

Outside, the terrace is a gorgeous respite to take in city views, equipped with plush couches, tables, and heat lamps. Coffee, drinks, and light bites are served, but no full meals. The bar's take on an Old-Fashioned was fantastic, but pricey, at $18 per cocktail.

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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

In addition to the goodies stocked in my room, I was free to grab anything from an amenity closet, available to guests on every floor. This included mini mouthwash, toothbrush, razors, lens cleaner, earplugs, contact lens cases, combs, and more. There was even a makeup mirror or curling iron to borrow. This was pretty cool and definitely a fun perk that felt like an added bonus to staying here.

Similarly, each floor had a hydration station and plastic bottles to refill (and then recycle) for unlimited purified water, eliminating the need to dole out $10 a water bottle when you're parched and succumb to an expensive mini-bar. There was also an option to purchase a S'well water bottle to use and keep, which is Insider Picks' choice for best water bottle for design lovers.

We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

One of my other favorite amenities was the hotel gym. Located in the basement, at first, it seemed like most other windowless, fluorescent-lit hotel gyms I typically avoid. But the Park Terrace highly embraces health and wellness, and as such, this was not a standard hotel gym.

In fact, there was a Peloton bike, which retails for $1,995. I ran up in glee, but my excitement was met with horror when I saw the headphone jack was not a fit for my Apple headphones. Surprisingly, the hotel offered a basket with complimentary standard headphones and literally saved the day. These kinds of thoughtful touches, combined with the amenity closet, water stations, sauna, and more, really made the hotel stand out.

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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

With Bryant Park at the doorstep and Times Square a five-minute walk away, the Park Terrace is right in the heart of bustling Midtown. It's near every major subway line, incredible restaurants, and live theater. If you need recommendations, the Park Terrace's app offers local suggestions.

In winter, Bryant Park transforms into a lovely holiday market and skating rink sell with food vendors and artisan crafts for sale.

Check flight prices to New York on Expedia
We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

Reviews online for the Park Terrace are glowing. Rated 12 out of 507 hotels in Manhattan, users on Trip Advisor rave about the excellent staff, location, and terrace. Complaints are mostly related to small room sizes and overcrowding at breakfast. On Booking, it has a 9.2 out of 10.

Compare reviews and prices on Trip Advisor
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We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

Who stays here: A mix of young and older couples, families with older children, friends, and some business types.

We like: The stylish room with a super soft bed for excellent snoozing, plus the gorgeous terrace bar.

We love (don't miss this feature): The amenities! From the amenity closet to the Peloton in the gym, unlimited water, and impressive breakfast bounty, these little touches made the hotel really special.

We think you should know: You can sleep in; checkout is a very generous 12 p.m.

We'd do this differently next time: Arrive at breakfast earlier (unless we sleep in, see above) and with more time to enjoy it so the crowd wouldn't feel so chaotic.

We spent a night at the boutique Park Terrace Hotel in Bryant Park and loved the well-appointed room, free breakfast, and free amenities

If you prefer boutique hotels and want to be in Midtown, you'll likely love the Park Terrace Hotel. It has more personality than a big chain and is less stuffy than an ultra-luxury offering. It feels like you've discovered a hidden local gem, and isn't that we all want when we travel?

Book the Park Terrace Hotel starting at $300 per night
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