The William Hotel Midtown, New York
More photosThe William Hotel is a unique boutique gem tucked away in a historic Beaux-Arts brownstone in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Originally serving as the home of the exclusive Williams Club—a social hub for alumni of Williams College—the property has been beautifully reimagined to blend its century-old architectural character with a bold, modern aesthetic.
What makes The William truly stand out is its commitment to vibrant, monochromatic interior design. Each room is drenched in a specific, saturated color—ranging from deep teals and rich blues to punchy pinks and greens—offset by sleek white resin floors and sophisticated gray tweed accents. Many of the suites are designed for longer stays, featuring discreet, fully equipped kitchens that make the space feel like a private urban apartment rather than a standard hotel room.
The building also houses popular local hotspots like *The Shakespeare*, a British-style pub, and the moody, speakeasy-style *Raines Law Room*, which is a local favorite for expertly crafted cocktails. These establishments add a layer of classic New York social life right at your doorstep.
Location-wise, it is hard to beat. You are just steps away from the iconic Bryant Park and the grand halls of Grand Central Terminal. Within a short walk, you can reach Fifth Avenue for world-class shopping, the Empire State Building, or the artistic treasures of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It is a perfectly positioned base for experiencing the best of New York’s cultural epicenter.
Expert reviews
“Though each suite has all the amenities that you’d find at home — kitchens, living spaces, work areas, and in some cases, private terraces — their shockingly bright color palette, quirky mid-century furniture and bold abstract art make it a stay you won’t soon forget.”
What guests liked
- Large rooms
- Friendly staff
- Boutique style
- Great location
- Comfortable beds
Location
Recent guest reviews
12 July 2025
Once is enough
Rooms were OK-ish, photos looked better than the reality
9 June 2025
Would not rebook
Location
Rooms were not clean. The bathroom did not have good ventilation and it smelled like mold or mildew. Health hazard potentially
28 February 2025
Photos online don't mislead
This hotel was unique and hard to fault in anyway. The photos online are a true & fair representation of what you get. They do not mislead. This is a keyless hotel (they provide access codes the day before). The rooms offer so much space which is hard to find in manhattan for such a reasonable price. (Obvs prices are subject to change but I paid around £900 for 4 nights for their best room). I also booked a room for friends that was a superior room but not the penthouse. That was around £800 for 4 nights and was equally spacious and comfortable. The rooms both had kitchens, bathrooms, good quality mattresses, dining tables and all the amenities you'd expect. There are large tvs with Roku & apps like Netflix etc. The hotel doesn't run like a regular hotel. There is no house keeping servive at all during your stay. This is actually not a big thing to me as I usually put a "do not disturb" sign on my door anyway when I'm in hotels. The front desk is manned all day and if you need extra towels or more coffee pods for your room then they are happy to provide you with as many as you want, every single day if you want it. The staff are super friendly and they even dropped me a text message after my first night to see if we had settled in OK and to check we was happy with the room
I have been to New York more times than I can count, and this by far is the best accommodation I have ever found within my budget. Location is fantastic too.... walking distance to mist landmarks midtown. And 2 blocks away from Grand Central if you want the subway to travel further distances
31 January 2025
Absolute gem in the city at a great rate
I hesitate to share this as I want to make sure I can easily get a room next time I'm in the city. It's a great set up. Super central location and lots of breakfast options nearby. Loved the amenities. Staff were wonderful. It took me a while to realise I could use my phone/bluetooth to unlock the door which made the process even easier. Solo visit this time but I would bring my kids next time for sure. The Shakespeare downstairs was also great, staff went our of their way to make me feel welcome.
15 December 2024
Overpriced with basic facilities
Good location in Midtown New York, close to Grand Central station. Staff are friendly and happy to assist with any queries checking in. Room is large with ensuite bathroom.
For the amount it cost to say there ($600+ per night), the value for money was terrible. The room is whitewashed concrete, so despite being large, it had no character and felt very soulless. My room also wasn't cleaned during my 2 night stay, and there was no breakfast or food service available in the hotel. There is a british pub below where you can buy lunch & dinner.
4 March 2024
The place, the people, the location, everything was great!
Everything was perfect!
It’s difficult the entrance by the stairs, but it’s not a big problem.
28 February 2024
Wonderfully helpful and friendly staff, comfortable and well equipped room and great location!
13 February 2024
Not my choice of place to stay on my next visit to New York.
Location was good, close to mid-town where my meetings were being held.
No room service. This was not clear at the time of booking. While I can make my bed, I did not appreciate having old coffee cups lying in the trash for 5 days. The room was on the third floor and therefore close to street level with the corresponding noise level.
14 December 2023
My first time at William Sonder
I can’t say there was anything that stood out.
The raspberry and stark white color of my room was a bit manic for me. The bathroom shower was strange, lots of water spilling out because the glass was too small. The room easily collected smell as the ventilation was limited at best. The people at the front desk seemed checked out, although when I engaged they were nice. The bar was a joke and the front room was depressing with horrible artwork, think Edvard Munch but with less impact. On top of this, I paid dearly. I would look elsewhere.
8 December 2023
Good location, quirky accommodation that could do with a little maintenance
Location was great. Beds were comfortable but quite small for 2. Room was quite
Coffee machine didn’t work, bathroom fan didn’t work, so huge amount of condensation . Only given 2 towels for 4 people
15 November 2023
Fabulous city hotel only 5 mins from Grand Central
Clean and tidy, large room, modern and loved the wardrobe with the light and mirror on the door. Lift to get luggage up and down. Large window and curtains blocked out the noise from outside. Very comfortable bed.
Could’ve done with some drawers, but this was the only thing missing.
14 September 2023
A magic boutique hotel in a great location. The staff were exceptional!
Location was great, 2 blocks from central station and an easy walk to time square and central park
Nothing.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Bar
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
Services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Concierge service
- - Daily housekeeping
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Lift
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
Reception services
- - Invoice provided
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This was the perfect location at a great price. 5 mins from grand central station and walking distance from empire state