Times Square is a lot. Honestly, if you’ve ever stepped out of the Port Authority or wandered off a coach bus into the neon-soaked chaos of 42nd Street, you know the feeling of immediate sensory regret. It’s loud. It’s crowded. It’s a tourist trap designed to separate you from your sanity and your wallet. But then there’s the Renaissance New York Times Square.
It’s an odd bird in the Marriott portfolio. Most hotels in this zip code feel like factory-scale operations, churning through thousands of check-ins with the warmth of a DMV office. This place is different. It sits at 714 Seventh Avenue, literally hovering over the Red Steps of Father Duffy Square, yet somehow manages to feel like a private club where the noise just... stops. You’re in the heart of the madness, but you’re looking down on it from a floor-to-ceiling window with a drink in your hand. That’s the "Renaissance" vibe. It’s boutique-ish despite the corporate backing.
What Most People Get Wrong About Staying at Renaissance New York Times Square
People usually assume that staying at a hotel in the middle of the "Center of the Universe" means sacrificing sleep for convenience. They expect the sirens to bleed through the glass and the elevators to take twenty minutes. That’s the first misconception.
The soundproofing here is actually borderline eerie.
When you’re up in a Terrace Guest Room, you can watch the digital billboards flicker, but you won't hear the guy playing the plastic buckets on the sidewalk three stories down. It’s a vacuum. The hotel underwent a massive $3.5 million renovation of its lounge and public spaces relatively recently, moving away from that dated, gold-and-black "90s luxury" look into something more "Living Room in a Billionaire’s Loft."
The R Lounge Is the Real Secret
Forget the rooms for a second. The R Lounge is why people actually book this place. It’s located on the third floor and features some of the most iconic views in Manhattan. If you’ve seen a New Year’s Eve broadcast, you’ve likely seen the view from this specific building.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just for guests. Locals actually use it for "sneaky" business drinks because it’s one of the few places in Midtown where you can actually hear your partner talk. Most people walking past the Blue Fin restaurant downstairs have no idea there’s a sophisticated cocktail bar right above their heads. They serve a drink called the "Duffy Square Martini," which is fine, but you’re really paying for the seat. You are eye-level with the neon. It’s visceral.
The Architecture of a Midtown Legend
This isn’t a new build. The building has history, and that matters in a city that tears everything down. It’s perched atop the site of the old Columbia Amusement Company building. When it opened as the Renaissance in the 90s, it helped define the "new" Times Square—the one that moved away from the grit of the 70s toward the polished, Disney-fied version we see now.
The rooms are surprisingly spacious for New York standards.
Small? No.
Efficient.
The design uses a lot of light woods and blues now, which is a departure from the dark, moody palettes of other Renaissance properties. Jordan Mozer, the original designer, put some funky DNA into this place that still lingers in the curves of the furniture and the layout of the lobby. It doesn't feel like a cookie-cutter Marriott. It feels like someone actually sat down and thought about how to make a 300-square-foot room feel like a suite.
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Living with the "R" Navigator
Renaissance hotels have this "Navigator" concept. In other hotels, it’s just a concierge who wants to sell you tickets to a bus tour they get a kickback from. At the Renaissance New York Times Square, the Navigators are usually folks who actually live in Brooklyn or Queens and know where the real food is.
If you ask them for a steakhouse, they might send you to Keens on 36th Street instead of the nearest chain. That’s a massive distinction. Keens has the largest collection of clay pipes in the world and mutton chops that will change your life. A bad concierge sends you to a tourist trap; a Navigator sends you to a piece of New York history.
Why the Location Actually Works (Even if You Hate Crowds)
You might think staying at 7th and 48th is a nightmare. Traffic-wise, it is. Don’t try to take a Lyft to the front door at 7:00 PM on a Friday. You’ll be sitting in the car for forty minutes watching the meter climb while people on foot outpace you.
But for a traveler, the Renaissance New York Times Square is a strategic hub.
- Broadway Access: You are within a five-minute walk of the Gershwin, the August Wilson, and the Palace Theatre. You can leave your room at 7:50 PM and be in your seat for an 8:00 PM curtain.
- Subway Connectivity: The N, R, W, and 1 trains are basically under your feet. You can get to the Tip of Manhattan or the deep reaches of the Upper West Side without a single transfer.
- Rockefeller Center: It’s a ten-minute walk. You get the benefits of being near the Tree or the Top of the Rock without the stifling "stuffy" vibe of the hotels directly on 5th Avenue.
The Price of Admission
Let’s be real: it’s not cheap. You’re going to pay a premium for that view. During peak season or around the holidays, rates can skyrocket. But travelers often overlook the "Destination Fee" or "Resort Fee" which is common in NYC now. At the Renaissance, they usually wrap in some value like beverage credits or dry cleaning. It’s a bit of a shell game, but if you’re going to spend $400+ a night, you might as well use the $30 credit at the bar.
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The hotel also has a pretty decent fitness center, but honestly, if you’re in New York, your workout is walking 20,000 steps a day. Use the gym if you must, but the city is a better treadmill.
What to Do Instead of Eating in the Hotel
While the Renaissance has solid dining, you’re in New York. Don't eat every meal in the building.
Walk three blocks west to 9th Avenue. That’s Hell’s Kitchen. That’s where the locals eat. You’ll find Thai food that’ll blow your hair back and tiny Italian spots where the grandma is still in the kitchen.
Try Los Tacos No. 1 in Chelsea Market or their closer location near Times Square for the best adobada tacos in the city.
Go to Junior's for cheesecake because, yeah, it’s a cliché, but it’s a cliché for a reason. It’s good.
The Reality of the "Gold" Status
If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member, this property treats Elites reasonably well. The lounge access is a huge perk, though the "M Club" experience varies by property. At the Renaissance New York Times Square, the breakfast spread is usually high-quality—think smoked salmon and actual pastries, not just "egg pucks" and cereal. If you have the points, this is a high-value redemption because the cash rates are so volatile.
Actionable Strategy for Your Stay
If you’re planning to book the Renaissance New York Times Square, don't just click "reserve" on the first room you see.
- Request a High Floor: Anything below the 10th floor is going to feel a bit "in the trenches." You want to be high enough to see the skyline, not just the back of a bus.
- Book the Terrace: If you can swing it, the rooms with private terraces are some of the rarest commodities in Manhattan. Having a coffee on a private balcony overlooking the neon is a "core memory" type of experience.
- Skip the Uber: Take the train from JFK or Newark. The hotel is so close to major hubs that you’ll save two hours of sitting in traffic.
- The R Lounge Trick: Even if you aren't staying here, you can usually grab a drink at the bar if you time it right (aim for 4:00 PM before the pre-theater rush). It’s the best "free" view in the city, provided you buy a cocktail.
Midtown doesn't have to be a headache. It’s about picking a base of operations that acts as a buffer. The Renaissance New York Times Square manages to be the eye of the storm—calm, slightly expensive, but undeniably New York.
Find your way to the third floor, grab a seat by the window, and just watch the world go by. You’ll realize why people keep coming back to this crazy island.