Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Following an extensive restoration preserving The Benjamin Royal Sonesta Hotel’s legacy and redefining the future, we are honored to debut newly renovated sophisticated interiors, featuring stylish furnishings infusing a residential feel and unique touches. Custom artwork with an ode to New York City is integrated throughout the luxurious guestrooms and suites. While the lobby strives to capture the spirit of Midtown, the hotel’s guest rooms and suites are where our guests come home. Discover a unique fusion of past and present, where cherished memories are made, and the spirit of hospitality is alive. The story of New York City begins with an individual journey and evolves to a collective experience…
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The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York garners mixed reviews, with some guests praising the attentive staff and others encountering less responsive service. While the spacious rooms are appreciated, criticism arises regarding outdated decor and noise issues, from roadwork and air conditioners. The hotel's cleanliness and stylish atmosphere receive commendations, yet minor maintenance concerns are noted.
Its Midtown location is celebrated for convenience, but opinions on value are split, with additional fees being a common gripe. Guests enjoy the well-equipped rooms, although the cost for certain amenities, including Wi-Fi, is a point of contention.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Elegant
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
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I booked this hotel on Costco travel since it has been newly renovated, in a great location in Midtown, and came with complimentary early check in at 2pm and complimentary checkout at 2pm. Check in and check out was a breeze. We had a deluxe studio suite with king bed. The room was spacious with a desk and chair area. It had a little kitchenette for us to use. The bathroom was a little small, but worked fine for the 2 of us. I liked the new black and white marble floors and shower tiles. The subway is on the same block, walking distance to shopping, MoMA, Rockefeller, restaurants, near Paid Baguette for yummy breakfast pastries. The daily house keeping service was great and non intrusive. The lobby is small but beautifully redone. We were only in our room to rest midafternoon for an hour and to sleep at night after a long day of fun and sightseeing in the city. Would definitely recommend this hotel for mid range price and location.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had originally booked the Virgin Hotel as it had a swimming pool. Once we found out that there was a charge for this, we called Virgin and they allowed us to change hotel.
We are so happy that we chose the Royal Benjamin.
I rarely leave reviews, but I feel that the Benjamin deserves the praise.
1- The room. We had a queen suite. This is a separate bedroom, a kitchenette and a ‘living room’ that was the kids bedroom. There we two big TVs with cable, so plenty of news and sport on. There was two large closets that had hanging space and also had plenty of room for the suitcases. Our room attendant, Christine was amazing, room was cleaned brilliantly every day, fresh towels, coffee pods refilled etc. We were on the 11th floor and could only hear the fire engines at night (you get used to the noise in NYC) it wasn’t an issue and was a fairly quiet room.
2- The Hotel. It is undergoing renovations and I am confident to say that once these are all done, this will be classed as a top, top hotel in NYC. The size of the rooms, the service we received etc was perfect. The gym was adequate for a holiday work out and had fresh towels and water. The doormen were always friendly and were happy to store our suitcases on our departure day. We were given $15 credit a day as part of the hotel fees you pay, we got 4 Pepsi bottles a day ($4 dollars each) so just paid the extra $1. Essentially paying $1 a day for 4 soft drinks was great.
3- Location. Perfect location, about 5 blocks away from The Roc, 10 min walk from Grand Central and a subway station on the corner. A $12 pizza was a 5 min walk down Lexington Avenue, which was handy after a 30,000 step day!
I can’t praise the Benjamin enough. It was a perfect hotel for a perfect stay. We are so glad we chose this hotel, and if you are reading reviews to help sway a decision to stay there, I would highly recommend you take the chance and stay. This hotel will be classed as a top, top hotel once renovations are complete
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Having a kitchenette was a great perk. We loved like New Yorkers for 10 days. We had a microwave,...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from General Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Sep 3, 2024
Safari47113269897, it’s wonderful to hear you had a great time at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York. The team is thrilled to know you found the accommodations comfortable and were pleased with the service provided by Christine and her colleagues. It sounds like the location worked out perfectly for you and your family. We appreciate the high praise and can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable stay.
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A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We (myself and 2 adult young daughters) stayed in a deluxe twin room in January, Upon arrival we realised that the hotel was having renovations which is normal for Manhattan hotels this time of year! However it did not interfere with our stay no noise or anything! The staff couldn’t do enough for you and were so attentive, The beds were so comfortable and the pillow menu was fabulous Especially the full body pillow which was perfect for me as I suffer with skeletal & muscle pain I would definitely come back & look forward to seeing the restaurant open up again after its major restoration, The kitchen in the room with full size fridge and microwave was a huge bonus especially with the plates and cutlery too, They even provided washing up liquid and tea towels ect I found this very good, The shower was lovely too especially with the Elemis toiletries I couldn’t fault our stay it was amazing! The hotel is on 42nd street and so is perfectly placed to get around, There were restaurants close by from a steakhouse to a Chinese & New York deli, Across the road was also a Starbucks and a restaurant consisting of foods from around the world to choose from so if you wanted to eat close by or get something to take back to the room it’s easy to do so, Overall I’d highly recommend staying here & can’t thank the staff enough for making our stay a special one.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:When you arrive at the hotel ask your car/cab to drop you on the 42nd street entrance as it’s...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GM_GenManager, General Manager at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Feb 5, 2024
Juleslovesnyc, it's wonderful to hear about your delightful experience at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York. Our team members continually strive to offer attentive service to make our guests comfortable and we're thrilled to know we achieved this during your stay! We're also glad you enjoyed our unique pillow menu and kitchen amenities in the room. It was our pleasure to add to your comfort, considering your skeletal and muscle pain. Your feedback about our location being convenient with numerous dining options nearby is appreciated too. Once the restaurant reopens after its renovation, we anticipate it will further enhance the guest experience. We truly look forward to welcoming you and your daughters back on your next visit to New York. Thank you again for your warm recommendation and for leaving such a thorough review.
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Went for the US Open. Great location to catch the train and walking around. Rooms are VERY spacious which is the good news but the bathroom is VERY tiny. Waaaaay too small to have 2 people in the room with both having toiletry stuff - not enough counter space. Rooms need to be updated for sure and they yet to have their restaurant done and I have stayed the past 2 years in a row. They use the cheapest version of a Keurig coffee maker and coffee brand so it’s terrible coffee. The least they can do is leave a small milk carton in the fridge for fresh milk. Room price is very fair but you get what you pay for - trying to keep the room price cheap and charging $20/day for wifi is not right. Include it in the room price so we don’t feel we are getting ripped off for wi-fi. I will not stay there again until there is more updating and free wi-fi
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Expect a very very tiny bathroom
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GM_GenManager, General Manager at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Sep 9, 2024
TGskier, it's great to hear that the location was convenient and the rooms were spacious during your stay. It is important that guests feel comfortable, and it seems the bathroom and some amenities may not have met your expectations. The feedback on the room updates and dining options is appreciated and will be shared with the team. Offering value through pricing and services is essential, and your insights on the Wi-Fi and coffee setup will be considered. Your input is valuable in shaping future experiences.
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We stayed at this hotel in New York for our mini-moon, and it was a fantastic experience! The location is perfect—super easy to find and navigate, right in the heart of the city.
The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, making us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. Although there was some building work going on, it didn't disrupt our stay at all.
Our room was spacious, especially for New York standards, and while it could use a bit of updating, the location and value for money made it more than worthwhile. We loved every moment of our stay and will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from General Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Jul 3, 2024
Laiceguk, thank you for choosing The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York for your mini-moon. It is wonderful to hear that you had a fantastic experience and found the location to be perfect. The team members are thrilled that they could make you feel welcome and that you enjoyed the spacious room. We're glad the ongoing work did not disrupt your stay. We can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable visit!
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Sonesta did precisely what I suspected it would do when it purchased the Royal Benjamin. It ruined the hotel's charm without any meaningful upgrade. It is now the very definition of average. The design is stunningly stupid. There were only four hangers in the closet of a suite , largely because they put the dresser in the closet. There's no space to hang more than four items, and obviously, the hotel is aware of that. Moreover, the doors were terrible scratched, the furniture was uncomfortable and tacky, and there's no space in the bathroom bor bath towels. I found them on the bed. Sonesta didn't renovate the hotel; they chepened it.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from General Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Sep 20, 2024
craigF6808HV, thank you for sharing your feedback. It is important to the hotel team to provide all guests with a memorable experience. They are always looking into ways to make continuous improvements and to enhance guest satisfaction. They appreciate your detailed observations regarding room layout and design. Your comments will assist in evaluating future changes.
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Avoid staying at this hotel if you expect even basic courtesy from the staff. Upon check-in, I was assigned a room with an unbearably loud air conditioning unit, making it impossible to hear anything unless it was turned off. When I went to the front desk, to inform them that there was excessive noise, I was told I’d have to wait to see if another room was available due to a system issue. Meanwhile, I watched other guests being assisted while I was ignored for 30 minutes. Eventually, I was offered a room on another floor (same unity) but I declined, as the guest next door had the same issue and asked to change rooms right before me. I was told this was the only room available, with no further options. To change rooms, I had to offer to pay more for a slightly upgraded room on the third floor, which faced noisy street construction that continued through all hours of the night. When I sought further assistance, the front desk staff responded dismissively, telling me that no room could meet my “standards.” They are so rude and blame the guest for everything. What standards do I have? Just to get a room to sleep? At midnight, after enduring the contraction and street drilling, I requested a room change again, only to be yelled at, gaslit, and blamed for my frustration. I even went downstairs to the front desk, asking why she would say such offensive statements and why she’s just being so unhelpful. The staff member refused to assist further, citing my “tone” as the issue, and walked away, leaving me unattended and without support. She walked to the back room behind the desk and would not come out to speak to me or help me. I was left in tears and the security guard had to help me when that isn’t even his job. Every staff member there is extremely rude they make you feel horrible about yourself and your stay and I do not recommend anyone staying there. After I checked out, the manager called me and was worse than the staff. Offered zero help or compensation And also blamed me for being rude to everyone which led to the staff behavior being justified. She yelled at me that I was cutting her off when she was trying to speak when I was simply just trying to relay the fact she kept telling me everything was my fault. If anybody wants a peaceful stay With good service and respect stay away from this hotel. I travel a lot and have never experienced anything like this. One after the other was more rude and more unhelpful. I left in tears
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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In New York, price is decoupled from performance like nowhere else in the world. Especially in hotels. The Benjamin is in no way inferior.
Central location in Midtown and comfortable beds with new covers are great.
Unfortunately, the rest is not so great. The hotel is a complete construction site - and it needs it. The windows are sealed with duct tape, the water is brown and is often simply turned off, the noise is unbearable. The staff tends to be unfriendly - there are exceptions. The rooms are "filthy" and "worn", there are far too few elevators and they are also slow. Air conditioning is incredibly loud and old. A joke for the price - like everything else in NYC. Then there is the obligatory fee of 40 USD for WiFi, fitness equipment called "wellness" and two bottles of water - per day!
The hotel's motto, which honors the guest, is downright affront - that is not the case at all, hospitality is completely foreign to the staff and the only thing that is "royal" is the horrendous prices. The mood of the staff is a farce, the management is not accessible.
Recommendation: Avoid. That is the only way to defend yourself...
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel is starting to show a bit of age, like worn down buttons in the elevator. While it's clear they have made attempts to modernize and update, some things are not quite right, like the shelf added in the bathroom overhangs too far to lift the toilet lid all the way. The pulls on the curtains were very stiff and hard to close, but still functional. There is no ice machine on the floors, but they were incredibly quick to bring me ice when I called the front desk.
Those minor complaints aside, I wouldn't definitely consider staying here again. There is a little min-kitchen with basic plates, bowls, utensils, and glasses as well as a refrigerator and microwave, which would be incredibly convenient if I was staying longer. The robe in the room is perfect, not too thick, so I don't feel swamped in it. The bed was the real show stopper - great pillows and incredibly comfortable, and since I was only here one night for business, that's all I really cared about anyway.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GM_GenManager, General Manager at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Nov 16, 2023
Khp_infairfax, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It's pleasing to read that you appreciate our attempts to enhance The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York and that our amenities, such as the kitchenette and robe, added comfort to your stay. Furthermore, it's encouraging that our well-equipped bed met your needs. We also take note of the aspects that could use improvements, like certain bathroom fittings or curtain operations and the absence of ice machines on the floors. It's good to know that our quick response to your request for ice was satisfactory. Rest assured, we are continuously working to improve our facilities and service. We're absolutely thrilled to hear you’d consider us for your future stays and look forward to providing an even more elevated experience on your return.
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We stayed here to celebrate a 10th birthday in the city and we were very impressed with how nice and helpful the staff was, and how big and updated our room was. The hotel was quiet- even with renovations ongoing it felt like we were the only guests. The remodeling has taken 1 elevator out of service leaving 1 elevator in service, but we never waited long and it was not an inconvenience. We walked everywhere - Rockefeller Center is a short distance away and Broadway a little beyond that. Very close to subway stations as well. The only drawback was that we weren't offered any snacks to pick out in exchange for the NYC hotel/resort fee every hotel is charging now that Airbnbs aren't competing for their business (I am seeing other reviews saying they were offered a daily snack credit). That would have been the cherry on top for my kids.
Overall, I highly recommend this hotel!
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from General Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Responded Jul 5, 2024
elizabethv114, The team at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York is thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay and found the room spacious and well-appointed. It's wonderful to know that the renovations did not affect your experience and our location was convenient for your city explorations. Regarding the snack credit, the feedback is appreciated, and it will be considered for future improvements. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable visit!
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There are more places to choose from in the New York City area.
PRICE RANGE
C$415 - C$718 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the benjamin hotel new york city, benjamin new york city, benjamin hotel new york city
LOCATION
United StatesNew YorkNew York CityTurtle Bay / Midtown East / Manhattan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
209
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York - UPDATED 2025 Prices, Reviews & Photos
Frequently Asked Questions about The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
Which popular attractions are close to The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York?
Nearby attractions include St. Patrick's Cathedral (0.5 km), Steve Cohen - Chamber Magic (0.3 km), and St Joseph's Chapel Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero (0.3 km).
Are there any historical sites close to The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum (6.1 km), World Trade Center Memorial Foundation (6.1 km), and United Nations Headquarters (0.9 km).
