Empire State Building Hotels: 7 Central Picks for 2025
Updated Oct 7, 2026
A former hotel concierge picks 7 central hotels near the Empire State Building, area by area, with honest trade-offs included - not just the highlights.
US$879
US$186
US$193
US$176
US$209
US$153
US$110
United States
I spent years behind the concierge desk of an old grand hotel, the kind where guests expected you to know every room worth asking for - and now I bring that same eye to hotels across New York. My pick for staying near the Empire State Building is Nine Orchard, for its Lower East Side character and a lobby that works whether you're passing through or settling in for a few nights. Below is the breakdown, area by area, with what each hotel actually delivers - and where it falls short.
2 hotels
Best Area For Underground Bar Culture
🍸 The Lower East Side still carries the back-alley, after-dark energy that drew bartenders and musicians downtown long before the hotels followed, and it's the area I'd steer night-owl guests toward. Both properties here sit a few kilometres from the Empire State Building rather than right on top of it - the trade-off for staying somewhere with its own scene instead of a lobby full of day-trippers. Pros: live music, in-house dining, a genuine neighbourhood feel. Cons: you're not walking to the Empire State Building, you're taking the subway.
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9.0 Superb · 140 reviews
US$879
About 4 km from the Empire State Building (an estimate from its Lower East Side position), Nine Orchard pairs a dinner restaurant and bar with live music and a terrace - ask the front desk about the quiet hour before the dining room opens if you want the lobby to yourself. See the Tripadvisor reviews before booking.
2
8.5 Fabulous · 23 reviews
US$186
Kasa Lantern Lower East Side sits 3.8 km from the Empire State Building, the one hotel on this list with that distance confirmed rather than estimated. Rooms come with a kitchenette, microwave and toaster rather than a restaurant, which suits guests who'd rather cook than queue for a table. ->
3 hotels
Best Area For After-Dark Access Near Wall Street
🏙️ The Financial District is where the underground vibe gets corporate cover - old bank spaces turned into bars, lobbies that stay open late. All three hotels here cluster within a few hundred metres of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and One World Trade Center, putting them roughly 5.5 km from the Empire State Building. Pros: 24-hour front desks, strong breakfast, walkable to the Seaport. Cons: you're trading Midtown convenience for a subway ride to the landmark itself.
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8.1 Very Good · 2862 reviews
US$193
Roughly 5.5 km from the Empire State Building (estimated from its position 800 m from One World Trade Center), Moxy NYC Downtown runs a 5,000 sq ft bar and lounge with arcade games and a basketball court that stays lively well past the usual hotel-bar hour. Book via Booking.com.
4
7.9 Good · 485 reviews
US$176
About 5.5 km from the Empire State Building, this hotel sits under 1 km from the 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center, within easy reach of Brooklyn Bridge for anyone chasing the city after the bars close. See the Google Travel listing.
5
8.9 Fabulous · 1831 reviews
US$209
Also around 5.5 km from the Empire State Building, this property is 700 m from One World Trade Center and five minutes from the 9/11 Memorial, with a 24-hour front desk that's handy if your evening runs long. Ask at the desk about the restaurant's quiet lunch hour before booking this hotel.
1 hotel
Best Area For A Quieter Downtown Hideout
🚲 Tribeca is the one neighbourhood here that functions like its own village, tucked away from the main tourist flow - exactly the back-alley calm some guests want. The trade-off is distance: it's the farthest of the Manhattan options from the Empire State Building. Pros: free bicycles, a fitness centre, private check-in. Cons: more travel time to Midtown than anywhere else on this list.
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8.0 Very Good · 1103 reviews
US$153
About 4 km from the Empire State Building (estimated from its position 1.6 km from One World Trade Center), Walker Hotel Tribeca offers private check-in and free bicycles - ask for that private check-in if you'd rather skip a crowded lobby after a long flight. Find hotels near the Empire State Building like this one.
1 hotel
Best Area For A Practical Out-Of-Manhattan Fallback
🚗 Secaucus, New Jersey isn't an underground scene at all - it's the honest fallback for anyone who can't find a room in Manhattan or wants a cheaper, car-friendly base. It's roughly 15 km from the Empire State Building, across the river from the subculture this guide otherwise chases. Pros: free parking, straightforward 3-star comfort. Cons: you'll need a car or a long transit ride for any of the back-alley scenes above.
7
US$110
Roughly 15 km from the Empire State Building (estimated from its Secaucus position, 4.5 km from MetLife Stadium), Royal Motel keeps things simple with free on-site parking and a 24-hour front desk rather than any nightlife of its own. Check the official site for current rates.
United States
FAQ: Staying Near The Empire State Building
Q: Which hotel sits closest to the landmark? Kasa Lantern Lower East Side, at a confirmed 3.8 km. Q: Best for self-catering? Kasa Lantern again, thanks to its kitchenette. Q: Is Secaucus worth it? Only if you need parking and don't mind the commute. It depends on what you want to do, but there's a solid option here whichever way you lean - for what to actually do once you've checked in, see our Empire State Building itinerary guide next.
