There really isn’t much to Hilton New York Fashion District.
It’s a simple, unfussy hotel that happens to hide one of the “best-kept secret” rooftops in the area. Rooms are comfortable but undorned, and the lobby is so distinctly lacking in any notable features that the nighttime journey from door to room is barely noticeable.
And yet there’s a great deal of value to be found in New York’s once vibrant and enormously popular Garment District. This is an area that has frayed edges and confused zoning, on a steady decline since the 1950s. And yet it hides some very well-balanced properties that answer the problem of New York’s increasingly unaffordable accommodation.
With just 280 guestrooms, Hilton’s fifth Manhattan hotel has been operating since 2010, when the company reflagged the fresh-faced Fashion 26 Hotel. It’s boutique-adjacent when compared with some of Hilton’s many other hotels dotted around the grid, and you’re unlikely to be overwhelmed by other guests throughout your stay.
But the most notable thing about this hotel is the price. According to TripAdvisor, the average price sits around AU$242, which is frankly unheard of in Manhattan. The hotel is a hidden gem in that sense, and it’s much easier to swallow the lack of modern amenities or even personality when you’ve just found a hotel… in Manhattan… that actually leaves you with enough money to buy food (crazy, I know).
For anyone who needs a more functional place to stay in Manhattan that’s both affordable and well-located, it’s incredibly tough to find anything even close to what Hilton New York Fashion District offers.
Location
I might disgust any locals when I write this, but I genuinely enjoy staying in Times Square. As I wrote in this piece on Santa Monica Pier, I love cliché landmarks because I love how excited tourists get, especially when they’re seeing New York unfold for the very first time.
Every time I go to New York, I like to stay for as long as I can. Two weeks is the sweet spot for me, and I run through every borough constantly. Access is everything in New York City, even if the Subway system smashes through the tyranny of distance. That’s because every second in this sprawling metropolis matters. Close doesn’t mean “close” in New York City, it means “too far”.
I enjoy staying in Times Square because 42nd Street Terminal is so perfectly connected to everything. Staying at this hotel is like staying in Times Square without the blinding lights, instead hiding on West 26th Street, edging into Chelsea. The hotel is a 14-minute walk from both the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building.
Which means it’s also a quick walk to S&P Lunch, which is one of Manhattan’s classic sandwich diners.
And while the Fashion District may have lost its vibrancy long ago, you’ll still find some of New York’s legendary ateliers around. If you want to get a custom piece made from scratch, this hotel is perfect. There are also several affordable dry cleaners around, and quite a few barbershops.
Design
This is not a hotel chasing Instagram clout. The design leans contemporary and practical, with clean lines, muted tones and a business-meets-leisure sensibility. Public spaces are compact but well-kept, with enough seating to work on a laptop or regroup before heading back out.
There’s a subtle nod to the surrounding fashion district in the aesthetic. But it’s tailored and subtle, rather than flamboyant. Nothing feels over-designed, but nothing feels neglected either. It mirrors the neighbourhood itself: creative but grounded.
Almost all of the colour is saved for the Sandbar Rooftop, which is empty on my visit. Imagination is key when you’re reviewing hotels in low season, though. I could imagine this as the most playful and sociable rooftop space in the area, with its gorgeous Hamptons-style riot of blues, whites and yellows, where beach decor is served with a tongue in cheek and swinging lounges are made from reclaimed wine barrels.
The rooftop bar adds personality when open, offering skyline views that remind you exactly where you are. It’s not the highest perch in Manhattan, yet watching the light fall across Midtown from here still delivers that classic New York moment.
Rooms
For Manhattan, the rooms are surprisingly generous. I stayed in a king room and didn’t feel like I was navigating around the bed sideways, which already puts this property ahead of many competitors. The layout is intuitive, with a proper desk, comfortable seating and enough floor space to unpack without turning your suitcase into permanent furniture. It’s an old look, but one that’s highly functional and offers much more than the price point promises.
The bed is classic Hilton comfort. Crisp linens, supportive mattress, reliable blackout curtains. After long days walking the grid, that matters more than dramatic decor. Windows in higher rooms frame slices of the skyline, not postcard-perfect but enough to keep you oriented in the city.
Bathrooms are modern and functional with walk-in showers in many rooms, decent water pressure and well-lit mirrors. Storage is adequate rather than abundant, but for a city stay of three to five nights, it’s more than sufficient.
Sound insulation is respectable. You’ll still hear the occasional siren in the distance – you’re in New York, mate – but internal noise from corridors and neighbouring rooms is minimal.
Food & Drink
The hotel’s Chelsea Table + Stage gives the property its very own bandroom, which is exceedingly rare in this area. And it’s great to know that you can head on down for ticketed live music on weekends, while the space also handles the hotel’s breakfast and dinner. Down here, things dance with a sharper edge, featuring an expensive-looking lighting rig that would work very well on a night of live music (there was none during my stay).
Sandbar Rooftop keeps things more casual with cocktails, pizza and charcuterie, but I would imagine guests are in it more the vibes than any culinary mastery.
Amenities
The hotel has a well-stocked gym, but that’s about the extent of typical guest amenities at a four-star hotel. There’s no spa, no pool, no members’ lounge. Just a nice, mid-sized 24-hour gym that benefits from the hotel’s relative quiet.
Service
Arrival is straightforward. The exterior is modern and functional rather than theatrical, but the lobby feels polished and efficient. Check-in is smooth, Hilton Honors members move through quickly with their extra perks (like being able to use your phone as your room key) and staff operate with that brisk New York confidence that suggests they’ve done this a thousand times and still care enough to get it right.
Verdict
The hotel, as straightforward as it may be, is one of the most affordable Hilton properties in the city. That means a great deal for Hilton Honours members looking to rack up (or spend) points without blowing their entire budget on accommodation.
But it’s also just a great find for anyone visiting New York City. More travellers are avoiding the city altogether because of rising living costs across the board. I certainly wouldn’t be able to even function in this city if I weren’t there for work, and so leisure visitors need to be smart about what they will, and won’t, compromise on.
Hilton New York Fashion District feels dated, but not dilapidated. It’s a fine, well-kept hotel that lacks the excitement and design-forward experience of some of Hilton’s other nearby hotels, like the art-filled Hilton New York Times Square or the wellness-focused Tempo by Hilton.
That’s not a compromise, especially when considering most Manhattan hotels would easily come in at double the price and run you dry, forcing you to cancel that reservation at Torrisi simply because you can barely afford some Matzo ball soup at S&P Lunch.
In fact, the price makes this hotel remarkably well-suited for just about any traveller looking to stay in New York City. Even for the luxury set, who are increasingly diverting their considerable budgets towards considerable experiences that have nothing to do with where you lay your head at night.
There’s so much value in knowing there are still affordable hotels in Manhattan. It takes away the dread from all the prospective financial grief and leaves room for the one thing that defines being a tourist in New York City: excitement.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Hilton New York Fashion District
Address: 152 W 26th St, New York
Contact: +1 212-858-5888
Rates start from around AU$242 a night.
Chris Singh stayed as a guest of Hilton New York Fashion District and explored as a guest of New York Tourism.
