As the heart of NYC’s vibrant sports and entertainment culture, beating the crowds is always a priority in and around MSG, whether you are attending games and concerts or just touring the iconic arena. Unfortunately, the best New York hotels near Madison Square Garden are always in high demand, hence the pressure to reserve early. However, our years of experience with Manhattan hotels have taught us a few gems that don’t disappoint. We have sampled all kinds of accommodations in the vicinity of the MSG, from five-star hotels to boutique hotels. This list, compiled by our expert team with the help of local travel experts, narrows down the choices of our top picks. We have a hotel here for everyone looking to stay close to the action of Madison Square Garden without giving up the comfort of a decent hotel room.
Table of contents
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South
- Hampton Inn Madison Square Garden
- Staypineapple, An Artful Hotel, Midtown New York
- Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
- The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel
- EVEN Hotel New York – Times Square South, an IHG Hotel
- Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Chelsea
- Hyatt House New York/Chelsea
- MOXY NYC Times Square
- Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan, an IHG Hotel
- DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South
- Our Verdict!
- Where to Stay in NYC near Madison Square Garden
- What is the area around Madison Square Garden called?
- Is it worth going to Madison Square Garden?
- Can I bring food into Madison Square Garden?
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square South
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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott NYC is our go-to New York hotel near Madison Square Garden for a fairly priced-family friendly place. The bar and restaurant embrace the party spirit of Hell’s Kitchen, offering happy hour daily with free drinks and wine for guests. We were welcomed into a premium-looking lobby with a fountain on every floor and lots of friendly staff all around. The staff made us feel welcome, with complimentary water and snacks and also helped us with our luggage.
Our double queen beds were a little cramped, but they were big and comfy. The bathroom was also spotless, not forgetting the wide rainfall shower with enough pressure. We didn’t spend much time in the room anyway because the bar had live music and hand-crafted cocktails that we enjoyed sampling. All was quiet at night and we had no problems with the 10-minute walk to Madison Square Garden.
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Hampton Inn Madison Square Garden
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Located on the West of 31st Street in Chelsea, Hampton Inn Madison Square Garden is one of the quietest NYC hotels near Madison Square Garden. It is just a block away from Penn Station from the East on a walkable street. We have stayed here multiple times and always enjoyed the generosity of the staff who always do their best to make us feel special. Our favorite room is on the 19th floor, quiet and with a clear view of the street below. The elevators are fast and never crowded, which serves us well because we travel in a large group.
We especially love the free breakfast, always delivered hot and delicious, and has many vegan protein options which are hard to find in NYC. All the rooms we’ve ever stayed in were spacious enough, although the showers are a little claustrophobic. The hotel is also conveniently close to the Empire State Building, Macy’s, and Herald Square, which makes it easy to tour all the iconic locations around midtown on foot. The entrance is also a few steps away from the Subway, putting the rest of Manhattan within access.
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Staypineapple, An Artful Hotel, Midtown New York
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We are big fans of Artful Hotels and Staypineapple, Midtown New York gave us one of the best experiences we have had so far. It is a grand old place right next to Madison Square Garden so we had no problem moving around. Our favorite part of this hotel was the spacious rooms which are way bigger than most cheap hotels in Midtown Manhattan. The bathrooms are equally spacious, with good water pressure and safety rails.
We also had a beautifully decorated terrace with lots of space for relaxing and enjoying the view. The pleasantly decorated room with quirky art on the pillows and linens as well as cute curtains made great Instagram photos. There was no breakfast at the hotel, but the staff recommended a nice place right next door, which had great food.
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Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
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When looking for a luxury experience less than five minutes from MSG, then Marriot’s Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel. We got a room upgrade because of our Bonvoy status and had an amazing view of the Hudson River which was exactly what we wanted at check-in. The view of the NYC skyline from our Westward facing terrace was the best part of our stay, which is why it is one of our best Marriot hotels in NYC. The staff treated us as royalty from check in to check out, including managing the whole setup for a birthday in the room.
We had a continental buffet breakfast that had enough vegan options for everyone which was good for the family. The room was spotless, including the spacious bathroom that had a customizable shower head and safety rails. We opted for room service for dinner and staff at the on-site Versa restaurant were helpful and prompt.
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The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel
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We booked a family suite at The New Yorker in the winter because of its central location and enjoyed our stay. It is one of the best retro hotels in Midtown Manhattan, having hosted some of the greatest names in history including Nikola Tesla. Despite being nearly a century old, the hotel still embraces the vibrant spirit of modern New York with a classy modernly furnished interior. Our room had a large terrace for enjoying the city view which is great because we were right above Penn Station.
We also had a sofa bed that served our group of four very well as one extra person slept there. The staff was friendly enough to give us extra bedsheets, pillows, and towels. We were especially impressed by the air conditioning which worked to the terrace. The wifi in the suite was also stable throughout allowing us to stay up to date with work.
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EVEN Hotel New York – Times Square South, an IHG Hotel
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While sampling the best family-friendly hotels in New York City near Madison Square Garden, we were impressed by Even Hotel New York. The hotel has a game room for kids which was important for us since we were bringing kids along. The terrace also had a ping pong table and lots of other games that kept the young ones occupied. It is just a few steps from the Subway and two blocks from MSG so we had no problem walking around.
We had rooms on different floors while booking, but the friendly staff arranged a room change on arrival so the whole family could be close together. Our room had a city view from where we could see most of Hell’s Kitchen and other buildings in Midtown. The restaurant served a different dish for breakfast every day.
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Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Chelsea
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Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Chelsea is now our favorite Marriot hotel whenever we are visiting MSG. The hotel is conveniently located close to the Penn Station. Besides, the whole street to MSG, Penn Station, and Herald Square is safe to walk because of the hotel’s proximity to NYPD, with patrol cars and officers patrolling most of the street. We especially loved the pleasantly decorated lobby which wasn’t overcrowded throughout our stay.
We requested a room upgrade to avoid the noise from honking cars on 30th Street and the staff happily got us a room higher up. The room was big by NYC standards and quite spotless too. We also had full-length windows with a nice city view which made the evenings more interesting. Our best experience overall was at the restaurant where the American breakfast was delicious and satisfying.
“We had one of the friendliest services we’ve ever seen at this hotel, especially the concierge who safely handled the delicate items in our luggage.”
WOW Travel
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Hyatt House New York/Chelsea
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When looking for the best Hyatt hotels near MSG, we recommend staying at Hyatt House New York/Chelsea. It is a mere five-minute walk to Madison Square Garden and still within walking distance of Times Square, Macy’s, and Penn Station. We arrived early and had to grab lunch at a restaurant next door, so we kept our luggage with the front desk staff who also helped us with early check-in. Our room wasn’t the biggest, but it was quiet and the bed was big and cozy.
The best part of the hotel was the rooftop terrace from where we could watch the sunset. The view of the Empire State Building from the terrace is also spectacular. We got a spacious corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows which gave us a great view. We also had a smart television with lots of channels, a working thermostat, and two large and strong wifi, which were enough to guarantee us a nice stay.
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MOXY NYC Times Square
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Moxy NYC Times Square is a modern hotel that caters to NYC’s love for hippie culture with color and glamour to spice up the experience. We were especially drawn to the 18th-floor roof deck bar that gave us every reason to stay out of our room including games to night-long parties. Besides being one of the best hotels near Times Square, the hotel is also within walking distance of MSG, the Empire State Building, Macy’s, and lots of other attractions in Midtown NYC.
On arrival, we got a discount for food and drinks as well as a surprise upgrade to a higher floor with a view of the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, and other iconic structures in Midtown Manhattan. Our room was modernly furnished with vibrant art and color. We also got complimentary drinks and extra towels and bedsheets on request.
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Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan, an IHG Hotel
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We recommend staying at Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan when looking for a quiet hotel in Midtown. It is conveniently located in Hell’s Kitchen on the slower end of 36th Street, with minimal traffic. MSG and Penn Station are a short walk away from the hotel’s entrance, but still far enough from the noise and commotion. The hotel’s inconspicuous entrance hides a shiny lobby next to Burgerology, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, serving excellent burgers, waffles, and croissants, alongside other American dishes.
we were especially impressed by the friendly front desk staff and concierge who made us feel special from the moment we entered the lobby. We got a surprise upgrade to a higher floor and the room was clean, but most importantly, spacious enough. The bathroom was also spacious and spotless. We had a clear view of the sunset over the NYC skyline from our room to round off our pleasant stay.
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DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South
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Located right in the heart of Midtown, DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South remains one of our favorite Hilton hotels in Manhattan. We get value for money each time we book the modestly priced rooms, which are still big by NYC standards and always clean. Madison Square Garden and Penn Station are four blocks away, while Macy’s and other Fifth Avenue gems are also within walking distance.
The modern furnishing and lighting make the rooms friendly for working, with thick walls and blackout curtains for undisturbed sleep. On our last visit, we got a quiet room on the 20th floor with a clear view of MSG. We were also impressed by the rooftop terrace with a bar from where the Midtown Manhattan skyline is clearly visible including the Empire State Building.
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Our Verdict!
Our review of each hotel is based on a thorough evaluation of the facilities and the general feeling after our team’s stay there. All the options in this list are therefore guaranteed to deliver a satisfactory stay for anyone looking to stay close to Madison Square Garden. We have still narrowed down the choices further to these four guaranteed top picks for specific guest needs.
- Best value for money: DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square South
- Best location: Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
- Best hotel for LGBTQ+ guests: Staypineapple, An Artful Hotel, Midtown New York
- Best hotel for families: The New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel
Where to Stay in NYC near Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is right on top of Penn Station, making it one of the most Subway accessible places in Midtown from anywhere else in NYC. However, for the most convenience, we recommend staying in nearby neighborhoods and these five are our top picks.
Midtown: Penn Station, the Empire State Building, and many other iconic locations are within walking distance when you stay in Midtown NYC. The noise and traffic can be a concern, but the neighborhood also hosts the best shopping joints, restaurants, and bars, so anyone visiting the Madison Square Garden will always feel at home here.
Hell’s Kitchen: Hell’s Kitchen has one of the most bustling nightlife scenes in New York and it is conveniently close to Madison Square Garden. Bordered by the Hudson River on one side and Eight Street on the other, the best hotels in Hell’s Kitchen have everything guests need including the best views of the skyline. From vibrant LGBTQ+ restaurants to the best shopping joints, everything is within reach in this neighborhood.
NoMad: Short for North of Madison Square Park, NoMad is another sought-after Manhattan neighborhood that is conveniently located near Midtown. It has some of the most iconic structures in the city within walking distance. NoMad also hosts some of the best restaurants and shopping joints in the city.
Chelsea: Chelsea is the actual location of MSG alongside other iconic venues in NYC. It is the heart of NYC’s art culture featuring lots of art galleries and pleasantly decorated art houses. The Chelsea Market is another big attraction flocked by locals and tourists alike to sample NYC’s best food and drinks from a wide range of cultures.
Koreatown: As the name suggests, this is the NYC neighborhood with the best Korean restaurants and shopping joints. It is also close to Midtown and therefore hosts some of the best restaurants. It is also lively at night with some of the best rooftop bars serving crafted cocktails.
You might also want to check out the best boutique hotels in New York.
What is the area around Madison Square Garden called?
Chelsea is the immediate district within which the Madison Square Garden is located.
Is it worth going to Madison Square Garden?
Absolutely. The arena holds a lot of significance as far as NYC’s history of music and sports is concerned. It also has a lot of things to see even for non-sports fans.
Can I bring food into Madison Square Garden?
Outside food is not allowed inside Madison Square Garden. However, there are places to buy food and drinks near the lobby once you are inside the arena.