So, you’re looking into the Bristol Plaza Hotel New York City. First things first—let’s clear up a major point of confusion that trips up almost everyone. If you search for this place, you might find results for a beachfront motel in New Jersey or the world-famous Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue.
The Bristol Plaza is neither of those.
Located at 210 East 65th Street in the heart of Lenox Hill, this isn't your standard "check-in on Friday, check-out on Sunday" kind of joint. Honestly, if you try to book a room for just a weekend, you’re going to hit a wall. It’s an extended-stay residence. That means they have a 30-day minimum stay requirement. It’s basically the ultimate "try before you buy" for the Upper East Side lifestyle or a home base for executives who are sick of living out of a suitcase in a tiny Midtown room.
Why the Bristol Plaza Hotel New York City Isn't Just Another Hotel
Walking into the lobby feels less like a tourist hub and more like entering an exclusive club. You’ve got uniformed doormen and a concierge, sure, but there isn't that frantic energy of people dragging rolling luggage through the lobby every five minutes.
It’s quiet. Really quiet.
The building is a 50-story tower that went up in 1987. Half of it is dedicated to traditional condominiums where people actually live year-round, while the other half functions as these "hotel-style" luxury suites. This creates a weirdly charming hybrid vibe. You get the privacy of an apartment with the "white glove" service of a five-star hotel.
The Amenities: A Private Members Club Vibe
One of the biggest draws is the Health Club. It’s not some depressing basement gym with a single treadmill and a rusty dumbbell. We’re talking about a massive 50-foot indoor swimming pool enclosed in glass. In the summer, you can head out onto the landscaped sundeck and pretend you aren't in the middle of a concrete jungle.
- Daily Housekeeping: They don't just "freshen up" the room; it's a full hotel-style cleaning service.
- The Kitchens: Unlike a hotel "kitchenette" with a microwave and a mini-fridge, these are real, gourmet kitchens. Think gas ranges and enough counter space to actually cook a meal.
- The View: Because the building hits 50 stories, the floor-to-ceiling bay windows offer some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline that you can get without being in a helicopter.
The Reality of Living in Lenox Hill
Location-wise, you’re in the "fancy" part of the Upper East Side. It’s walkable to Central Park (about a 10-minute stroll) and surrounded by some of the city's best hospitals and boutiques. If you're staying here for a month, you're probably not hitting the M&M Store in Times Square every day. You're getting coffee at a local cafe and shopping at Bloomingdale’s, which is just a few blocks away.
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Most people staying here are either relocating for work, renovating their own NYC apartment, or visiting for long-term medical treatments at nearby facilities like Memorial Sloan Kettering.
It’s a specific niche.
If you want the "Eloise at the Plaza" experience with a gilded lobby and a million tourists, go to the other Plaza. But if you want a place where the staff knows your name and you can actually host a dinner party in your suite, the Bristol Plaza is the one.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Price
People see the "hotel" tag and expect hotel pricing. For a 30-day stay, you're looking at a significant investment. However, when you break it down by night, it often competes with (or beats) the price of a high-end suite at a place like the Ritz-Carlton or the St. Regis, especially when you factor in the extra square footage and the full kitchen.
How to Actually Get a Room
Since it’s not on your typical booking sites like Expedia for short stays, you usually have to deal with them directly or through corporate housing providers. They offer studios, one-bedrooms, and even massive three-bedroom units.
The application process is more thorough than a standard hotel. You’re essentially signing a short-term lease. But the payoff is a level of stability and luxury that you just can't find in a 400-square-foot hotel room in Midtown.
If you're planning a long-term stint in New York, your first step should be to reach out to their management office directly to check availability for your specific dates. Because it's a mix of condos and rentals, "vacancy" is a fluid concept there. Make sure to ask specifically about the higher floors; the difference in light and noise between the 10th floor and the 40th floor is night and day in Manhattan.
Check your dates, verify the 30-day minimum, and if it fits, get a virtual tour of the specific unit—each one can be decorated slightly differently since it’s a residential building.