Originally Posted by alphabetsoup

The New York Edition

Stayed: July 14-16
Room Upgrade: Yes, from Guest Room to Loft Room
Early Checkin: Not used
Late Checkout: Offered, but not used
Daily Breakfast: Breakfast at the Clocktower Restaurant
Special Amenity: $100 USD food and beverage credit (used toward room service)
Promotion: 3rd night free

Overall, we had a very nice stay at the New York Edition. We were upgraded 4 categories from a base room to the loft room, which was a corner room on the 28th floor (this may also have been because we were Marriott Gold). Views of Madison Square Park and the city were great, and most importantly for us, the room was very, very quiet. The loft room was large for an NYC room, and the decor and finishes gave the room an airy feeling that felt like a junior suite. Bath products are from Le Labo, with a signature Edition scent (Noir 29), which we liked a lot. The prices to buy these outright at the store are eye-watering, so the use of smaller bottles in the shower/bathroom is understandable.

Breakfast is offered daily at the Clocktower restaurant, which had a solid selection of a la carte options available. One potential issue is that breakfast is officially only offered until 10 AM, which is a little too early in our opinion; 11 AM or 11:30 AM would've been even better. We did not have any problems getting seated at exactly 10 AM, and we saw others arrive 15-20 minutes after the closing time, so perhaps this is just a suggested cutoff time. Everything we ordered (lobster omelette, eggs benedict, french toast, pancakes) was tasty and prepared well, and service was friendly and efficient.

Our only reservations with the hotel are twofold: First, the room service menu pricing was incorrect for some of the beverages listed, so I would double check with the room service attendant before ordering. Second, and perhaps our biggest concern, is that the elevators can take a long time to reach your floor during peak times. As the hotel is located in a clock tower, the hotel is extremely vertical, with almost 300 rooms spread across 30+ floors. With fewer than 10 rooms per floor and 4 elevators servicing them all (including freight/staff), we had to wait 8 minutes at one point to hitch a ride down to breakfast (while running close to the 10 AM end time as well). Someone in another review said it took them 20 minutes to get an elevator ride when the hotel was fully booked and 2 of the elevators were out of service. Taking the stairs isn't really an option either when you're more than 10 stories up or carrying luggage. So, something to keep in mind, especially if the hotel appears to be packed.

Nevertheless, we still very much enjoyed our stay, especially in light of the upgrade, the excellent service, and the free night promotion. Also, the hotel location is ideal for us, so the occasional elevator wait isn't enough to deter us from coming back.