HIGHLIGHTS: Moxy NYC Chelsea

While this wasn’t the best experience, the lady and I both decided that there are better options in the Manhattan area. Between the internet issues, weird room configuration, poor internet, and lack of breakfast for status, you’re better off elsewhere. The hotel itself is not bad – great lounge & bar area, very popular with working professionals, quaint lobby with a flower retailer, and a homey cafe on the first floor.

 

My standard hotel reviews include a breakdown by the following topics. Feel free to skip to whichever section you find most interesting.

  • Highlights
  • Lobby
  • Room
  • Hotel Space / Ambiance
  • Food & Drink
  • Fitness
  • Miscellaneous

 

LOBBY & CHECK-IN

We pulled up in our Lyft and saw the Moxy awning. Directly inside is a foyer, where a lady operates a small plant and flower store. Past that is a small lobby, with stairs to a second floor lounge on the right, and two small carts staffed by employees on their Microsoft Surface tablets, answering guest questions. Check-in for Platinum guests and up warrants only 500 points or a $10 F&B credit for the entire stay, much worse than a complimentary breakfast. Elevators in a darkened hall to the right. They also gave us two drink tokens for complimentary prosecco at the lounge.

 

ROOM

This room was small. At only 190 square feet, with an open bathroom concept, it was easily one of the smallest hotel rooms I’ve been in the US, never mind Manhattan. Shower and Toilet open to the sink and the room, and there was very little shelf space. Hooks on the wall operate as a makeshift hanger closet, and there was a small and flimsy chair and table hung on the wall as well that opens up. Very difficult to use and provides little to no back support.

Internet was fickle – not connecting automatically, nor requiring a login, but simply saying “sorry it doesn’t work here’s a free day”. Unfortunately, the next day it refused to connect on my laptop so I had to call the front desk to speak with technical support. Never a pleasant experience. Lastly, on day of checkout, we got incessantly bothered by people checking to see if we were still there.

Their very hip vibe was interesting – with them having a rotary phone in the room, answering calls with “what’s happening”. Enjoyed the informality. But, I can’t imagine this on a business trip (which this was), or sharing among just friends – you’d have to change and strip in the shower, which is inconvenient.

 

HOTEL SPACE / AMBIANCE

I checked out the lounge on the second floor – dark bar, long table and couches, as well as a hammock. DJ spinning, and drinks flowing. The hotel additionally has a rooftop bar that is quite popular. Plenty of professionals and young couples in and out of the hotel.

 

FOOD & DRINK

We didn’t opt for the $10 F&B credit, as we ate outside.

 

FITNESS

Take the elevator to the C floor – where there is a small business center, luggage station, and ATM, and the fitness center. It was decent – good number of treadmills and ellipticals, machines, and free weights. Highlight was a punching bag and communal gloves to use.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

As I mentioned, for the price you’re paying (it wasn’t cheap) there are better, more spacious rooms at other hotels with better amenities. I can see this appealing to the millennial/hipster vibe, but if I’m working from a hotel I need a place to work well, with solid internet, and benefits from hotel status. That’s simply the baseline I’m working with. While I typically enjoy my Moxy experience, that was not the case this time.

But I had an absolute fiesta eating and eating all through New York – old haunts, and new experiences. Too good not to share. I most certainly gained weight.

 

 

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