The best hotels in Hell’s Kitchen NYC offer a strong alternative to staying directly in Times Square, just a couple of blocks to the east. Times Square is a central location with easy subway access to nearly every part of the city, and it puts you close to Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and a short distance from Central Park. Hell’s Kitchen gives you all of that same convenience with more of a neighborhood feel, and rates that tend to run a bit lower than properties right on the square.
This guide covers the top hotel options across Hell’s Kitchen, from budget-friendly pods to boutique properties with some of the best rooftop bars in Midtown.
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Where is Hell's Kitchen?
Hell’s Kitchen sits directly west of Times Square, running from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River. The northern boundary is 59th Street, where you’ll find Columbus Circle and the southern edge of Central Park. The southern boundary is technically 34th Street, though the area below 42nd Street increasingly overlaps with what most people now call Hudson Yards.
Why Stay in Hell's Kitchen?
There are a few good reasons to choose Hell’s Kitchen over a hotel right in Times Square.
Location: Hell’s Kitchen is typically just a block or two from public transportation. The A-C-E runs along 8th Avenue, and the 42nd Street station is a major hub connecting several lines. Broadway theaters are steps away, and Midtown’s main attractions are all within easy walking distance.
Neighborhood feel: Staying in Hell’s Kitchen puts you in a residential area just outside the tourist core. The hustle of Times Square is close but not in your face, and 9th Avenue is lined with bars and restaurants where locals actually eat and drink. The neighborhood also has a large LGBTQ community with several bars and venues catering to that crowd.
Safety: Hell’s Kitchen is a safe, well-established neighborhood with a mix of brownstones, low-rise walk-ups, and newer luxury buildings. The rough reputation it had decades ago is long gone.
The Best Hotels in Hell's Kitchen
The hotels below cover the full range of options in Hell’s Kitchen, from budget-friendly compact rooms to boutique properties with standout rooftop bars. Most are within a few blocks of the A-C-E subway and a short walk to Times Square and Broadway.
BOUTIQUE
Arlo Midtown
The Arlo Midtown is the newest addition to the Arlo brand and the most design-forward hotel in Hell’s Kitchen. Opened in May 2021, the property has a restaurant and bar, a lobby cafe for a quick coffee or bite, and a rooftop that’s one of the better outdoor spots in the neighborhood during summer. The area sits just outside the Lincoln Tunnel, which isn’t the most picturesque block, but it puts you close to the Javits Convention Center, Hudson Yards, and a short walk from Madison Square Garden.
The surrounding neighborhood has been improving steadily on the dining front, with French bistro Steak Frites, upscale Chinese restaurant Chi, local bar Scallywags with live music nightly, and Italian options Tavola and Mercato all nearby.
ROOFTOP BAR | LOBBY CAFE | NEAR JAVITS CENTER | NEAR HUDSON YARDS
BOUTIQUE
Ink 48
Ink 48 is a boutique hotel housed in a former 1930s printing press, with industrial heritage and contemporary design throughout. Rooms are well-appointed and many have Hudson River or Manhattan skyline views. The location sits on the far west side of Hell’s Kitchen, which puts you a couple of blocks from the subway, but the Javits Center, Intrepid Museum, and Hudson Yards are all close by.
The rooftop has reopened as Hudson VU, a 16th-floor bar and dining space with panoramic city and river views, open daily from 3pm. The hotel also has Hudson Local on the ground floor for all-day dining from breakfast through dinner. For the surrounding neighborhood, Landmark Tavern is one of the oldest bars in the city and worth a stop, and Gotham Market has solid options for a casual meal.
HUDSON VU ROOFTOP | RIVER VIEWS | NEAR JAVITS CENTER | ALL-DAY DINING
BUDGET
Pod Times Square
The Pod is the best budget option in this part of Midtown and one of the closest hotels to Times Square and the subway. Rooms are compact by design, ranging from bunk bed configurations to double and queen options, all around 125 square feet, so this isn’t the pick if you need space to spread out. The tradeoff is price: you’re getting a central location at a rate that most comparable hotels in the area can’t match.
The rooftop terrace and bar are a genuine highlight for the price point, with outdoor seating and a lively atmosphere during summer months. Note that there are no king beds in the hotel, so if that’s a requirement, look elsewhere.
ROOFTOP TERRACE | NEAR TIMES SQUARE | BUDGET FRIENDLY | COMPACT ROOMS
BUDGET
YOTEL
The Yotel is one of the better value hotels in Hell’s Kitchen for travelers who don’t need a large room. The property keeps costs down through compact cabin-style rooms and automation throughout, including self check-in kiosks and YOBOT, a robotic luggage concierge that stores bags before check-in or after checkout. Room configurations range from singles to suites that sleep up to four, with setups including king beds and bunk beds to maximize the space.
The rooftop is a strong selling point: it’s large, well-designed, and tends to be less crowded than rooftops at comparable hotels nearby. The hotel sits on 42nd Street a couple of avenues from Times Square with good subway access. A parking garage is available in the building on 41st Street for an additional fee.
ROOFTOP TERRACE | ROBOTIC LUGGAGE STORAGE | SELF CHECK-IN | NEAR TIMES SQUARE
Hotels Near Port Authority
The stretch of 40th Street around Port Authority has improved significantly over the past 15 years, driven largely by a wave of new hotel construction that brought tourist traffic and some neighborhood momentum. It’s not the prettiest block in Hell’s Kitchen, and the immediate surroundings of the bus terminal still feel rough around the edges, but it’s a safe area and the location is genuinely convenient: steps from the subway, a short walk to Times Square, and right next to Port Authority for bus connections.
The hotels here aren’t budget options, but they tend to run cheaper than comparable properties closer to Times Square. A few have strong rooftop bars worth visiting regardless of where you’re staying, particularly Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz.
BOUTIQUE
Aliz Hotel Times Square
The Aliz is a solid mid-range boutique option built in 2018, with clean, compact rooms and a location that puts you close to Times Square, Port Authority, and the subway. Rooms are on the smaller side but well-designed for the price point.
The standout is Dear Irving on Hudson, the hotel’s rooftop bar on the 40th and 41st floors. It’s a two-story penthouse lounge with panoramic views of Times Square and Midtown, Art Deco and James Bond themes throughout, craft cocktails, and outdoor terraces. Reservations are required and it’s 21+ only, but it’s one of the better rooftop bar experiences in Midtown regardless of where you’re staying. Worth a visit even if you book elsewhere.
DEAR IRVING ROOFTOP BAR | NEAR PORT AUTHORITY | NEAR TIMES SQUARE | BOUTIQUE
LUXURY
Distrikt
Distrikt is part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection and one of the more characterful options in this stretch of Midtown. The Manhattan-themed design runs throughout: each floor is named after a neighborhood, local artwork lines the hallways, and the design details nod to the city’s grid layout and subway history. Rooms are larger than many comparable boutique hotels nearby, with premium bedding, soundproofed triple-paned windows, and solid reviews for cleanliness and staff. A daily destination charge covers Wi-Fi, a food and beverage credit at the onsite Collage Bistro and Bar, and gym access.
The location is steps from Port Authority and a short walk to Times Square and Broadway. Note that the property is undergoing renovations through August 2026, so it’s worth confirming which areas are affected before booking.
NEAR PORT AUTHORITY | NEAR TIMES SQUARE | ONSITE RESTAURANT & BAR | SOUNDPROOFED ROOMS
LUXURY
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points is the most straightforward option in this stretch of Midtown, a reliable full-service Sheraton property that delivers on location and consistency without much personality. Rooms are on the smaller side and the decor is dated compared to the Aliz and Distrikt nearby, but cleanliness gets consistently strong reviews and the price tends to run lower than the competition.
The onsite Gotham Bistro serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there are two bars on property. The location puts you steps from Port Authority and close to Times Square, Hudson Yards, the Javits Center, and multiple subway lines. A solid no-frills pick if budget is the priority and you don’t need boutique character.
NEAR PORT AUTHORITY | NEAR TIMES SQUARE | ONSITE RESTAURANT & BAR | FITNESS CENTER
