If you are an avid Honest Cooking & Travel Magazine reader, you know that we typically celebrate uniqueness in hotels vs. big brand concepts. We’ve seen enough “design hotels” from mainstream brands to make us roll our eyes whenever another press-release with another “new concept” drops in our inbox.
Moxy Hotels – from global hotel-giant Marriott – is one of the few exceptions. Although they are very clearly aimed at a younger traveling crowd that likes buzzwords like “mixology”, “coworking”, and “family style dining”, we’ve always found that Moxy properties around the US and abroad always seem to be in tune with their local community – with a vibe (sorry for the old-timey-buzzword btw) that mirrors that of the streets that surround them.
Case in point, New York City. While Moxy has six hotels across the Big Apple – and we’ve visited them all – there are two that really showcase how this “small-brand-in-a-big-corporation” manages to stay both individual and relevant in a world where most brands are just trying “different” like everyone else. Both properties price themselves in that sweet spot between budget and luxury, which means you’re getting good value without feeling like you’re roughing it. 
MOXY TIMES SQUARE VIDEO TOUR
Let’s start with Moxy Times Square. Let’s be honest – if you’re staying in Times Square, you’re probably here for Broadway shows and the full New York tourist experience. Nothing wrong with that and the Moxy Times Square gets this and doesn’t apologize for it. The energy from the street flows right into the lobby, where you’ll find tourists planning their day mixed with business travelers grabbing coffee between meetings and locals heading to the bar upstairs.
Of course one of the draws here is convenience. You can walk to Bryant Park, catch a show, and stumble back to your room without dealing with subway delays. And the hotel is packed with little work nooks if you need to take calls or catch up on emails between sightseeing. With bedrooms and public spaces designed by Yabu Pushelberg and dining venues designed by Rockwell Group, the Moxy Times Square is brash, loud, and energetic, just like the neighborhood it is in. And the 612(!) rooms are practical, with design that fits a lot more than meets the eye. They’re not huge, but the layouts are smart, good looking, and you’re not going to be spending a lot of time in your room anyway, are you? The latest show is waiting for you, after all!
The Moxy Bar, one floor up from the street, doubles as a pop-up coffee shop, and is vibrant throughout the day and into the evening. Stop by for breakfast, a cup of joe, or a cocktail in the late afternoon – and you’ll likely find ample opportunities to connect with fellow travelers from around the globe. You’ll likely spend quite a bit of time here, as part of the Midtown craziness, but with enough distance from it to be relaxing and re-energizing after a long day of sightseeing and shopping.
Legasea, the French-American brasserie, serves up some really good food, courtesy of the TAO Group. The space is pretty, and you’ll feel equally comfortable catching a game at the bar as you will on date night with your significant other in one of the cozy booths. The lobster spaghetti is ridiculously indulgent – a full pound of lobster tossed with pasta that’s rich enough to share (though you probably won’t want to). Their oysters are properly fresh, and the steak frites hits that perfect bistro sweet spot. Good food, plain and simple, and that’s honestly not always that easy to come by at hotels of any standard.
The Magic Hour is the largest year-round rooftop bar, and obviously offers insanely beautiful views of the NYC skyline. Don’t miss it, at least for one cocktail at sundown.
MOXY EAST VILLAGE VIDEO TOUR
Done with Midtown? Well, no worries, Moxy East Village offers a completely different scene and a smaller hotel. The crowd is generally younger, the vibe more towards a fashionable, cool audience, and the 286 rooms are bigger. You’re now sharing space with people heading to gallery openings or late-night ramen runs. For both of those, by the way, the location is absolutely fabulous.
Like at the Times Square location, breakfast is served grab-n-go style at the in-house coffee shop, but other than that, the East Village property definitely feels like its own universe. We found that the daytime was pretty quiet, it was easy to find a place to work and take Zoom-calls in private in the lobby level lounge. The space doubles as the hotel bar, which opens towards the end of the afternoon – but never got crazy busy during our stay.
The TAO Group runs the main restaurant at Moxy East Village – Cathédrale is an absolutely gorgeous space that is positively buzzing during the evening. Locals and visitors alike mingle in the open bar-restaurant concept that serves French-Mediterranean dishes from Jason Hall.
Recognizing the allure of rooftop bars, the East Village location doesn’t want to be anything less than its Times Square counterpart – and The Ready Rooftop is definitely one of the most popular in the area.
The staff at the Moxy East Village genuinely seems to enjoy working there, which makes a bigger difference than you might expect when you’re dealing with the inevitable New York travel hiccups.
Which hotel is right for me?
The neighborhood dynamics really matter here. Times Square never sleeps, which is great when you want 3 AM pizza but less great when you want to actually sleep. The East Village gets lively at night but settles down, and during the day it has this lived-in neighborhood feel that makes you feel less like a tourist.
Times Square makes sense if you’re here for Broadway shows, major museums, and midtown attractions. You’ll get great energy and convenience, and you’ll save time and transportation costs getting to the big-name sights.
East Village works if you prefer smaller venues, independent restaurants, and a more residential neighborhood feel. You’re closer to downtown attractions and it’s easy to explore lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Both hotels understand that in New York, you’re not here to hang out in your room – but explore your neighborhood. They give you a great base for exploration and let the city do the rest.
Who should not stay here?
These hotels aren’t for everyone. If you need absolute quiet, traditional luxury service, or rooms large enough to unpack five suitcases, look elsewhere. Moxy is designed for people who want to be out in the city, meet at the bar, or have fun communal dinners, not be holed up in their room. The social atmosphere means you’ll hear other guests, and the modern design prioritizes efficiency over space. But if you get that going in, both locations deliver exactly what they promise. Just in two completely different ways.
Moxy Times Square
485 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Moxy East Village
112 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003
Hey, I’ve been to Legasy, Legasee, Legasea, whatever it is called it’s a great restaurant! I didn’t have that insane-looking dessert though so I may just have to go back!! #newyorkrules
Those rooftops look insane!
This makes me want to go to New York sooooooooo bad!!!
I stayed at the Moxy in Paris a while back, liked it a lot. Didn’t even know it was a Marriott.