You’re standing on a street corner in Midtown, looking for "Fairfield," and you’re probably confused. Most people are. Honestly, if you type Fairfield New York Manhattan into a search bar, you're likely looking for one of two very different things: a budget-friendly Marriott hotel or a massive real estate company that manages thousands of apartments. Or, maybe you're one of the thousands of commuters trying to figure out how to get from the posh suburbs of Fairfield County, Connecticut, into the heart of the city.
It's a bit of a local riddle. New York doesn't have a neighborhood called "Fairfield." There is no Fairfield Street in the West Village. But the name is absolutely everywhere in the city’s ecosystem.
Whether you’re a tourist trying not to get ripped off on a room or a renter looking for a "Manhattan-style" apartment in the burbs, you've got to know which Fairfield you're actually talking about. Let's break down the reality of these locations, the commute nightmares, and the property traps people fall into.
The Marriott Maze: Which Fairfield Inn Manhattan Is Yours?
If you’ve booked a room at a Fairfield Inn & Suites in Manhattan, double-check your confirmation email right now. Seriously. There isn't just one. There are nearly a dozen scattered across the island, and if you show up at the one in the Financial District with a reservation for Times Square, the front desk won't be able to help you.
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The most popular spot is the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Times Square South located at 338 West 36th Street. It’s a dual-branded property, which basically means it shares a roof with a SpringHill Suites. You walk in, and it feels like a standard, reliable mid-range hotel, but the location is the real draw. You're an eight-minute walk from Macy’s and a stone's throw from Penn Station.
But then there's the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Central Park on 58th Street. It sounds fancy, right? It’s solid, but "Central Park" is a bit of a stretch—it’s more like "Hell’s Kitchen north." Still, it’s a 4-star vibe for a 3-star price if you catch it during the off-season in February.
The "Other" Manhattan Fairfields
- Financial District: 161 Front Street. Great if you’re doing business at Goldman Sachs; ghost town on a Sunday.
- Penn Station: 325 West 33rd Street. Literally right next to the trains. Loud? Yes. Convenient? Unbeatable.
- Fifth Avenue: 21 West 37th Street. You aren't on 5th Ave, but you're close enough to hear the shoppers' credit cards swiping.
Why "Fairfield Properties" Might Not Be in Manhattan At All
Here is where the SEO keywords get tricky. If you are searching for Fairfield New York Manhattan because you saw a listing for a "Fairfield Estate" or "Fairfield Townhouse," you might be looking at Long Island real estate.
A company called Fairfield Properties owns a massive chunk of the rental market in the New York metro area. They love using the word "Manhattan" in their marketing. You'll see listings for places like Fairfield Estates at Woodmere that boast "Manhattan-style seating" or "Manhattan-style lobbies."
Don't be fooled. These properties are usually in places like Lynbrook, Woodmere, or Mineola. They are beautiful, sure. They’ve got the Tuscany-style cabinetry and the stainless steel appliances everyone wants. But they are a 40-minute LIRR ride away from the actual island of Manhattan. If you’re a transplant moving for a job at Hudson Yards, make sure you aren't accidentally signing a lease for a "Manhattan-style" apartment in the middle of Nassau County.
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The Fairfield County to Manhattan Commute: A Survival Guide
For a lot of people, the term "Fairfield New York Manhattan" represents a daily ritual of suffering—the commute. Fairfield County, CT, is the land of hedge funds and sprawling estates, but a huge portion of that population works in Midtown or the Financial District.
If you’re living in Fairfield, CT, and working in Manhattan, you aren't taking a "New York" train. You’re taking the Metro-North New Haven Line.
It’s about a 60 to 80-minute ride. In 2026, the fares haven't gotten any cheaper, and the "quiet car" is still a myth where people definitely still take Zoom calls. You'll pull into Grand Central Terminal, which is arguably the most beautiful way to enter the city, but by the time you hit the 4/5/6 subway line to get to your final destination, that "suburban peace" starts to feel pretty far away.
Westchester vs. Fairfield: The Great Tax Debate
If you're looking for a home and can't decide between New York's Westchester County and Connecticut's Fairfield County, listen to the numbers.
- Westchester (NY): Higher property taxes. Sometimes 3x higher. But, you're closer to the city. The commute is 30 minutes instead of an hour.
- Fairfield (CT): Lower property taxes, no "mansion tax" like New York, and generally more land for your dollar. But you pay for it with your time on a train.
Hidden Gems and Misconceptions
People think Manhattan is too expensive for a "basic" brand like Fairfield Inn. Actually, in the current 2026 market, these are some of the only ways to stay in the city for under $300 a night without staying in a hostel.
One thing most travelers miss: the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan/Times Square on 40th Street has a rooftop bar. It’s called Sky Room (though names change frequently in this city). It offers a view that people pay $50 for at the Edge or the Summit, but you can get it for the price of a cocktail because you’re staying "budget."
Another misconception? That "Fairfield New York" means the city of Fairfield. There is no city of Fairfield in NY state. There is a Town of Fairfield in Herkimer County, but that is about four hours north of Manhattan. If you’re looking for the fancy "Fairfield" from the movies, that’s Connecticut.
Moving to the City? Actionable Advice for Navigating the Name
If you are currently researching this because you're planning a move or a trip, follow these specific steps to avoid a logistical disaster:
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- Check the Zip Code: If the "Manhattan" apartment you're looking at has a zip code starting with 115, 117, or 105, it is NOT in Manhattan. Manhattan zips almost always start with 100, 101, or 102.
- Book the "South" Times Square location: If you’re a tourist, the 36th Street Fairfield is superior to the 40th Street one. It’s newer, the elevators are slightly faster (a huge NYC hotel pain point), and it’s closer to the A/C/E subway lines which are less chaotic than the main Times Square hub.
- Verify the "Free Breakfast": NYC hotels are notorious for "resort fees" or "destination fees." Even if the Fairfield brand usually includes breakfast, some Manhattan locations have tried to pivot to "grab-and-go" vouchers. Call ahead to see if the buffet is actually open.
- Commute Reality Check: If you're moving to Fairfield, CT, to commute to Manhattan, download the TrainTime app. Look at the "peak" schedules. Don't trust the "average" time listed on Zillow; trust the actual rail schedule for 8:00 AM on a Tuesday.
Manhattan is a grid of confusion where names are recycled and "neighborhoods" are invented by real estate agents every week. Whether you're staying at a Fairfield hotel or moving from a Fairfield suburb, the trick is knowing exactly where the marketing ends and the geography begins.