New Year’s Eve in New York City is a bucket-list experience. While there’s always something going on in this city – the bright lights, the potential for snow, the endless bars and restaurants, and of course, the famous ball drop ensures you’ll have an unforgettable time. The only problem is there will be a sea of people in Times Square, which means it can be very challenging to find a decent spot with a view unless you book the right hotel. From any one of these hotels, you can enjoy a view of the Times Square ball drop without the hassle.
The Knickerbocker
One of the best 5-star hotels in NYC, The Knickerbocker has long been known as the place to watch the ball drop, something that started in 1907, and the hotel that opened the year before hosted those very first revelers who witnessed the occasion too. Located at the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway, the St. Cloud rooftop bar on top of the hotel will put you less than 200 feet away from the iconic orb, which weighs a whopping 11,875 pounds as it’s covered with 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles which helps to create its kaleidoscope effect. Guests also enjoy the upscale restaurant on-site, a well-equipped fitness center, and spacious rooms with cozy robes, goosedown pillows, and high-tech features like big flat-screen TVs, tablets that control lighting and room temperature, and minibars with complimentary soft drinks and bottled water.
Key Amenities:
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Rooftop bar with a view of the Times Square ball drop
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Upscale restaurant
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Fitness center
Hilton Garden Inn Times Square Central
Located on 42nd Street, Hilton Garden Inn Times Square Central offers 40 rooms that face the Times Square ball drop, providing a perfect view of all the action. All come with impressive 50″ flat-screen TVs, microwaves, minifridges, and Keurig coffeemakers. There’s a bar and restaurant on-site where guests enjoy a generous complimentary breakfast, creative cocktails, and trendy plates, while countless bars and eateries can easily be accessed steps away. A 24-hour mini-market, gym, and concierge services are available too.
Key Amenities:
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Rooms facing the Times Square ball drop
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Restaurant/bar on-site with complimentary breakfast
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On-site gym
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Popular Hilton brand hotel in NYC
New York Marriott Marquis
Located in the heart of Times Square, at the New York Marriott Marquis, you don’t even have to leave your room to enjoy a fantastic view of the Times Square ball drop, as long as you choose one of the over 100 rooms to watch the celebration from. If you aren’t able to snag one, perhaps you can get an invite to the private NYE party hosted in the Broadway Lounge on the 8th floor. There’s another party at the revolving View Restaurant & Lounge on the 48th floor, but the view of the magnificent city skyline. There will be TV screens broadcasting the event so guests can watch the broadcast too.
Key Amenities:
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Rooms with views of the Times Square ball drop
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One of the best hotels in NYC for the holidays
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Revolving rooftop restaurant
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Huge 24-hour fitness center overlooking Times Square
Hyatt Centric Times Square
A top hotel with some of the best city views, Hyatt Centric Times Square is located right at Times Square and boasts the highest cocktail bar in Manhattan, providing direct views of the ball drop and the Manhattan skyline from the 54th floor of the building. It also hosts a Black Tie optional soiree on New Year’s Eve that includes a premium open bar and appetizers. Any day of the year, you can indulge in a pampering treatment at the spa and beauty services at the salon, as well as work out in the 24-hour fitness center while the on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All rooms come with Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, and bathrooms with rainfall showerheads.
Key Amenities:
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Highest cocktail bar in New York City
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Spa and salon
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On-site restaurant + room service
W New York Times Square
An upscale design-conscious hotel, the W New York sits in a building that overlooks Times Square. It hosts the popular Living Room Bar, where you can sip cocktails among the bright lights of Broadway, and as rooms start on the 10th floor and are as high as the 57th floor, some offer a view of all the action from floor-to-ceiling windows. All come with ultra-comfy feather beds with pillow-top mattresses and goosedown pillows, 49″ flat-screen TVs, robes, and minibars stocked with a mix of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. There’s an outstanding fitness center on-site, along with multiple dining and drinking options, from a sushi bar and casual Mexican fare to a seafood eatery.
Key Amenities:
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Rooms with a Times Square view from floor-to-ceiling windows
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Living Room Bar with cocktail menu
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Multiple dining options on-site
Renaissance New York Times Square
The Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel is ideally located on Times Square and provides a prime spot for viewing the ball drop. The R Lounge hosts a panoramic view of Times Square as well as hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner with an open bar. Some rooms have balconies where you can enjoy a view of the ball drop in the comfort of your own space and all come with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the bright lights of the city. There aren’t a ton of facilities on-site, but you will find a restaurant for dining with that fabulous view along with a well-equipped fitness center.
Key Amenities:
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Floor-to-ceiling windows, upgraded rooms with balconies, and ball-drop views
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R Lounge features a panoramic Times Square view
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Well-equipped fitness center
Two Times Square 714 Seventh Avenue At, W 48th St, New York, NY 10036, USA— +1 212-765-7676
M Social Times Square New York
Nestled in the heart of Times Square, M Social New York hosts the Beast & Butterflies bar and lounge, which sits right above all the action providing unobstructed views. The 7,500-square-foot wraparound terrace is the ideal vantage point for watching the ball drop. It also hosts a special New Year’s Eve event, and no matter where you are during the celebration, you’re guaranteed a live view of the ball drop throughout the evening. A DJ, live entertainment, an open bar, and tasty bites are all included. A restaurant and gym are on-site, and every room has a view of either Times Square, the city, or the river, along with a streaming-capable Smart TV.
Key Amenities:
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Bar/lounge with a ball-drop view
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Restaurant and gym on-site
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Rooms with Times Square, city, or river views
Crown Plaza Times Square Manhattan
Crown Plaza Times Square offers a New Year’s Eve celebration that includes access to a private area with unobstructed views of the ball drop when booking a special NYE package. The ball drop isn’t visible from the guest rooms as it’s blocked by other buildings, but the Times Square View rooms look out to the north end of the square. All have double-glazed windows to keep the noise out. The hotel also boasts the largest fitness center in the neighborhood, which comes complete with an indoor pool, along with multiple dining and drinking options, including the Broadway 49 Bar & Lounge and the Brasserie 1605.
Key Amenities:
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Private ball drop viewing area available by booking NYE package
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Large fitness center + an indoor pool
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Multiple dining/drinking venues on-site
Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park
Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park is located just a stone’s throw from Central Park, and if you book a south-facing room on one of the top floors, you’ll be able to see the ball drop. The hotel often hosts a special reception for New Year’s Eve too. All guests enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast and access to a fitness room, laundry facilities, and a business center.
Key Amenities:
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Views of the ball drop from south-facing, top-floor rooms
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Complimentary hot breakfast
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Fitness room
The Times Square EDITION
The Times Square EDITION sits in a 42-story building and includes a signature restaurant that leads to a 5,800-square-foot beer garden and event deck that overlooks Times Square. On New Year’s Eve, you’ll be able to watch the ball drop from here while enjoying tasty cocktails, a selection of canapes, and a six-course menu, along with live music. A Champagne toast at midnight is included, as well as guaranteed access to the Paradise Club after-party (21 and over only). A luxury design hotel, it features a spacious gym with huge windows and impressive dining at the Terrace Restaurant with a ’70s-inspired dining room, helmed by a Michelin-starred chef.
Key Amenities:
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Views of the ball drop from a beer garden/event deck
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Special New Year’s Eve celebration
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On-site dining helmed by a Michelin-starred chef
Virgin Hotels New York City
Virgin Hotels New York City is a recent addition to the hotel scene in the Big Apple, which opened in early 2023. All rooms, or “Chambers,” feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and some offer unparalleled views of the NYE ball drop. All come with the brand’s patented ergonomic lounge bed, a red SMEG minifridge stocked with street-priced comforts, a Smart TV, a yoga mat, and a café worktable. The hotel also boasts a seasonal rooftop pool and a fitness center. The Everdeen is on-site, providing a fabulous dining and drinking venue with sweeping views of the city, covering the entire third floor of the hotel with a focus on seasonally driven dishes, shareable plates, and specialty cocktails.
Key Amenities:
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Rooms with unparalleled views of the ball drop
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Seasonal rooftop pool
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On-site dining with a spectacular city view
The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel
If you’re unable to score a room with a ball drop view or a hotel with a celebration offering a view of the action, you might try The Chatwall. This Hyatt hotel hosts the Zen Suite, one of the Junior King Suites, which has a terrace where you’ll get a partial view from the left corner that faces south. A beautiful reincarnation of a classic Manhattan theater club, the luxury hotel sits in a historic building that dates to 1905 and includes a small indoor pool, a well-appointed spa, and multiple dining options, including The Lambs Club, serving modern American fare that includes classic breakfast items, comfort foods for lunch, and creative dinners.
Key Amenities:
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Zen Suite with a view of the ball drop
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Multiple dining and drinking venues
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Indoor pool and spa
