Manhattan has two Even Hotels by IHG - one anchored near Times Square South, the other a block from Grand Central Terminal in Midtown East. Both operate under IHG's wellness-focused brand, which means in-room fitness zones, spa-style bathrooms, and organic linens are standard across both properties, not premium upgrades. If you're deciding between the two or evaluating whether the Even Hotels concept fits your Manhattan stay, this guide covers both locations with enough specificity to make a real decision.
What It's Like Staying in Manhattan
Staying in Manhattan means you're in the grid - and that grid moves fast. Midtown, where both Even Hotels sit, puts you within walking distance of major transit hubs, but foot traffic on avenues like Seventh and Lexington runs dense from early morning through late evening. The subway covers Manhattan comprehensively, with express and local lines making crosstown or uptown trips under 20 minutes from most Midtown stops. Crowds thin noticeably after 10 PM on side streets, though the blocks around Times Square stay loud well past midnight.
Pros:
* Subway access is unmatched - multiple lines within 2 blocks of both properties reduce reliance on taxis or rideshares
* Walkability to major landmarks (Madison Square Garden, Grand Central, the Chrysler Building) means fewer transit costs per day
* 24-hour bodegas, pharmacies, and food options within half a block of any Midtown address
Cons:
* Street noise in Midtown rarely fully stops - soundproofed rooms matter here
* Room sizes across Manhattan hotels are generally smaller than equivalent-priced hotels in other U.S. cities
* Parking in Midtown is expensive and scarce; driving into Manhattan adds significant daily cost
Why Choose an Even Hotels Property in Manhattan
Even Hotels operate in a specific niche: upscale-select service with a wellness infrastructure that most Manhattan hotels at this price tier don't replicate. The in-room fitness zones - resistance bands, a workout mat, and a dedicated exercise area built into the room layout - remove the need to compete for treadmills at peak gym hours. Spa-style bathrooms with adjustable-setting showers and signature EO or eucalyptus product lines distinguish these rooms from standard Midtown hotels in the same rate bracket. Compared to full-service luxury properties a few blocks over, Even Hotels typically price around 40% lower while maintaining IHG loyalty redemption eligibility.
Main advantages of Even Hotels in Manhattan:
* In-room fitness zones eliminate gym queue time during early-morning or late-night workout windows
* Organic eco-friendly linens and wellness-centric room design in both properties, not just flagship rooms
* IHG One Rewards points accumulation on stays, with express check-in/check-out reducing front-desk friction
Main trade-offs in Midtown Manhattan:
* Rooms are compact by design - the fitness zone takes floor space that a standard room would allocate to a sitting area
* Neither property has a rooftop or outdoor pool, which some travelers prioritize in summer
* Breakfast is not automatically included in base rates at both locations
Practical Booking & Area Strategy
The Times Square South property sits on West 28th Street, placing it south of the main Times Square chaos while remaining walkable to Madison Square Garden - around 300 meters - and Macy's Herald Square at roughly 500 meters. The Midtown East property is on East 44th Street, one block from Lexington Avenue and Grand Central Terminal, which gives direct Metro-North access for day trips to the Bronx, Westchester, or Connecticut. Grand Central also connects to the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S subway lines, making the Midtown East location the stronger transit hub of the two. For travelers flying into LaGuardia, the Midtown East property is around 5.6 miles from the airport - cab or rideshare runs under 30 minutes outside peak hours.
Both properties are in areas with strong daytime safety and active foot traffic at night. Book at least 6 weeks ahead for visits between May and August or during the December holiday period, when Midtown rates spike across all hotel categories. Key nearby attractions include the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, the High Line, and the Museum of Modern Art - all reachable within a 20-minute walk or two subway stops from either property.
Recommended Even Hotels in Manhattan
Both Even Hotels Manhattan properties share the same IHG wellness brand DNA but serve different Midtown micro-locations. Here's how they compare side by side.
-
1. EVEN Hotel New York - Times Square South
Show on map
-
2. Even Hotel New York - Midtown East By Ihg
Show on map
Smart Travel & Timing Advice for Manhattan
Manhattan hotel rates follow a predictable pattern: January through March is the softest pricing window of the year, with Midtown properties - including both Even Hotels - regularly showing their lowest available rates. May through August is peak season, driven by domestic tourism and international travel, and rates across both properties climb sharply. The December holiday window, especially the two weeks around Christmas and New Year's Eve, consistently produces the highest rates and lowest availability in the Times Square South area specifically. For Midtown East, corporate travel demand keeps midweek rates higher year-round compared to weekends, which means arriving on a Sunday and departing Friday can yield better nightly rates than the reverse.
A 3-night stay covers the main Midtown Manhattan draw without overpaying for excess nights - most of the high-value attractions (MoMA, the High Line, Grand Central, Bryant Park, the Empire State Building) are concentrated enough to cover within 2 full days of walking. Book at least 6 weeks out for any May-August visit and use IHG One Rewards rate alerts if you're flexible on dates, as last-minute Midtown availability is unreliable in peak months.
