Thompson Central Park Review: A Stylish Stay in Midtown Manhattan

If you’re considering a stay at the Thompson Central Park New York, you’re probably wondering if the location is as convenient as it looks, if the hotel is worth the splurge, and how it stacks up against the seemingly endless list of Midtown Manhattan hotels.

Well, after two stays there now, I can confidently say that it is one of my favorite hotels in the city!

We first stayed at the Thompson Central Park before flying to Denmark, when we had just 24 hours in NYC and we wanted a good homebase for a whirlwind day in the city.

We loved it so much, and when we had another 24 hours in NYC before another Europe trip, I picked this hotel again without even thinking about it.

So here’s my full review of the Thompson Central Park hotel, from the rooms and dining to the location and amenities. If you’re trying to decide if this hotel is right for your trip to New York, here’s what I think you should know before you book!

Thompson Central Park Location

The first great thing about the Thompson Central Park is the location. Now honestly, if you’re staying in Manhattan it’s pretty easy to get to lots of places because of the subway.

But let me tell you why I especially love the location of the Thompson.

First of all, it’s close to Central Park, which means that in the midst of the concrete jungle, it’s easy to bounce over and see some actual greenery.

Second of all, it’s just a few blocks from Times Square and all the best theaters on Broadway without being right in the middle of the action. Times Square is probably my least favorite area of Manhattan. But if you want to see some Broadway shows, you’ll likely find yourself there.

But since the Thompson is just about 10 easily walkable blocks from Broadway theaters, it feels a little quieter while also putting you close enough to the action.

Another plus: It’s also on the same block as the 57th Street metro station, which makes it really easy to get to wherever else you need to go in NYC.

Thompson Central Park Lobby & Check-In

The entrance to Thompson Central Park New York features glass doors beneath a large metallic sign reading "THOMPSON" and "119 WEST 56TH STREET." Guests walk through the covered entrance of the Manhattan hotel with city reflections visible across the glass. — Walking into the Thompson is one of my favorite things! Instant relaxation.

The check in desk at Thompson Central Park New York sits beneath a large abstract painting with bold blue green and purple brushstrokes. A counter sign reads "WORLD OF HYATT" beside a digital display reading "Check in Globalist Explorist Discoverist" and a brass desk lamp. — You instantly know the vibes of the Thompson from the artwork behind the check-in desk.

From the moment you walk into the lobby of Thompson Central Park from the busy streets of New York, you feel refreshed. First of all, everything smells SO GOOD! Walking into a lobby at a Thompson Hotel is one of my favorite feelings ever.

In the lobby there is a small seating area next to the restaurant, and you’ll also find the entrance to Burger Joint. You can also walk through the lobby and restaurant to the other side of the block, and it’s really nice that you can access this hotel from both sides of the building.

And everything at this hotel is chic and stylish. It’s like an updated mid-century modern style, full of rich textures and dark woods, while still managing to feel light.

Check-in was very easy. And because for both of the times we stayed here we arrived earlier than when our room was ready, they stored our bags for us while we went our to explore the city.

Thompson Central Park Rooms

A guest room at Thompson Central Park New York features two beds with crisp white linens and dark blue upholstered headboards beneath modern hanging lights. A bedside table separates the beds while an open doorway reveals the brightly lit bathroom. — Our room for our first stay had a slightly odd layout with the bed right next to the bathroom door. But it also felt more spacious than our second room.

For both our stays, we booked a standard room with two double beds. For a New York hotel we thought the rooms were extremely spacious. The beds were comfortable, everything was so clean and smelled so good, and the décor made it feel modern and luxurious.

But almost more than the room, I loved the bathroom on our first stay. There was just something about the shower that felt amazing, and the bath products they had provided in our room smelled incredible. Honestly, my favorite part about our brief stay in NYC might have been taking a shower.

However, on our second stay our bathroom was different (in fact, our whole room layout was different!). Everything was still fantastic, but our bathroom with a tub shower didn’t feel quite as luxurious as that first shower.

Walk in shower at Thompson Central Park New York with dramatic brown and cream marble tile and a glass partition. A matte black rainfall style handheld shower fixture contrasts with the neutral stone walls. — The shower I fell in love with on our first stay!

Bathroom at Thompson Central Park New York with a bathtub and shower curtain beside a toilet and long white vanity. Beige tile walls and a marble patterned backsplash are paired with neatly folded white towels and a large illuminated mirror. — The less exciting bathroom we had on our second stay.

The only single complaint I can think about for our room is the way the doors are configured for our first toom. The door to the bathroom is on the same wall as the beds, meaning someone is sleeping pretty close to the bathroom door. This didn’t really bother us, but it is something to be aware of.

On our second stay though, our room had a more standard hotel room layout, with the bathroom door near the entrance door and the beds further into the room.

A spacious guest room at Thompson Central Park New York with two beds dressed in white linens. A green velvet sofa sits beneath a large window across from a wall mounted television and long dark console. — The room we had for our second stay was more traditional.

Thompson Central Park Restaurants

Here’s a brief overview of the restaurants featured at Thompson Central Park. We had breakfast at Parker’s while we stayed there and enjoyed lunch at Burger Joint!

Parker’s

Lobby at Thompson Central Park New York with tall indoor trees wrapped in warm string lights and modern circular pendant lights hanging from the high ceiling. Guests sit among blue and cream lounge seating behind a large planter filled with greenery. — Parker’s Restaurant, where we had breakfast in the morning. I loved the string lights!

Breakfast sandwich at Thompson Central Park New York with a thick folded egg and melted cheese on a glossy toasted bun. Warm string lights glow softly in the blurred restaurant background. — My Parker’s Breakfast Sandwich was fantastic!

Parker’s is the main restaurant and is where you can get breakfast in the morning as well as drinks at night. (Be aware that it can get pricy though!)

The restaurant & bar is named for New York Jazz legend Charlie Parker, and you’ll find all kinds of tributes to New York jazz throughout the restaurant. (The hotel property also used to be called Parker New York, so I’m sure that had something to do with it as well.)

We enjoyed breakfast here on our stay and it was a nice relaxing meal before heading out into the hustle and bustle of New York. I had the Parker’s Breakfast Sandwich and loved it, and everything else my family got was great too.

Burger Joint

Restaurant at Thompson Central Park New York with cream and rust colored seating surrounded by dark wood walls and warm brass lighting. A staircase framed by dramatic red curtains rises behind the dining tables. — You’ll find Burger Joint behind the red curtain!

Eclectic interior of a burger restaurant covered floor to ceiling with handwritten notes stickers signs and graffiti. A large Wonder Woman artwork hangs above cardboard menus for burgers fries shakes and a sign reading "ORDER HERE". — The menu and order counter at Burger Joint.

While the hotel has changed hands through the years, Burger Joint has remained.

This iconic New York restaurant has been in place since 2002, and it focuses on fresh burgers. It’s a small restaurant full of graffitied walls (which you can add to), and you’ll often find a line out the door.

It’s located just off the lobby, and while the location within the hotel has changed, it has worked to keep the same grungy charm it had before.

We ate lunch here on our first stay, and thankfully we got there just before the line started forming down the hallway, so we didn’t have to wait too long.

The burgers were really good, but I think their claim to fame is that they started the revolution of fresh, simple, hand-formed burgers at restaurants. The burger didn’t blow me away (I’ve had others like it), but it was still really fantastic.

Indian Accent

The Thompson Central Park also features an Indian restaurant by Chef Manish Mehrotra called Indian Accent. It’s an upscale restaurant that features “progressive ideas in Indian cuisine” and can find their menu on their website. They are only open for dinner, and we haven’t dined here yet.

Upper Stories Lounge

If you book a room in the Upper Stories Experience at the Thompson (an extra luxury area on the upper floors of the hotel), you can dine in the Upper Stories Lounge.

There is a continental breakfast here each morning (that’s a little fancier than your standard continental breakfast) as well as “culinary presentations” throughout the day.

In-Room Dining

Of course the Thompson Central Park also offers room service dining. It’s available 24/7.

Thompson Central Park Amenities

Fitness center at Thompson Central Park New York with treadmills elliptical machines and rows of stationary bikes. Floor to ceiling mirrors make the bright modern gym feel spacious while wall mounted televisions face the cardio equipment. — The Fitness Center at the Thompson Central Park.

There are also lots of other amenities at the Thompson Central Park that can enhance your stay. Because both of our stays have been so short (and we were so focused on exploring the city!) we haven’t used any of these.

Stay Enhancements — If you want to make your stay feel a little extra special, you can add special items onto your room, like floral arrangements, special treats, or wines.
Exhale Spa — There is a full service spa offering everything from facials to couples massages to a day pass you can use to enjoy the saunas and lounge.
Fitness Center — The fitness center is available 24/7 and includes cardio equipment, weight machines, Peleton bikes, yoga equipment, and more.
Fitness Classes — There are daily fitness classes you can book for yoga, pilates, and barre.
Dry Bar — If you have a special event while you’re staying at the Thompson, you can get a blowout at the Dry Bar located at the hotel.
Events — The Thompson has lots of places you can host events, from receptions to corporate events. They also offer catering.

Drybar salon retail area at Thompson Central Park with shelves of Buttercup hair dryers brushes and styling products surrounding a marble display table. A hallway lined with wavy mirrors leads farther into the bright salon. — You can get a blow out at the Dry Bar located at the hotel!

Thompson Central Park: Pros & Cons

Thompson Central Park Pros

SO SO clean and smelled so so good!
Fantastic NYC location near Central Park.
A great points value if you use Hyatt points.
Helpful and friendly staff.
Relatively spacious rooms, great beds, and luxury feel.

Thompson Central Park Cons

There is no pool, so know that if this is something important to you. (For a similar hotel with an amazing pool, try the nearby Park Hyatt!)
Some of the rooms have a slightly odd layout.

Thompson Central Park Review: Bottom Line

If you’re traveling to New York City and looking for a luxury hotel stay, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Thompson Central Park. And if you’re a Hyatt member and can get or use points for the stay? Even better!

We loved our stay here so much. Every time I walked into the lobby I was just delighted. I would stay here again in a heartbeat!

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Collage from a Thompson Central Park hotel review showing a guest room with two beds. Abstract lobby artwork. A lounge filled with trees and seating. A restaurant with dramatic red curtains. Text reads "NYC HOTEL REVIEW THOMPSON CENTRAL PARK FLYINGOFFTHEBOOKSHELF.COM".