Virgin Hotels New York City Review

Consider it a cross-pond sibling rivalry: Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels finally opened a London location this summer, but the brand’s New York City hotspot refused to be overshadowed. The buzzy NoMad property, opened in 2023 to Broadway fanfare, was voted No. 1 in NYC by Travel + Leisure readers last month in the World’s Best Awards. Guests enthusiastically touted its “sleek, classy, stylish, sexy” look and “amazing food,” among other merits. 

Over 186,000 travelers voted this year in our World’s Best Awards, and they ranked the hotel No. 1 in NYC with an impressive 96.36/100 score based on rooms/facilities, location, service, food, and value. Although voting ended in late February 2024, there’s no doubt the hotel’s reputation only continued to trend upward over the summer — during a time when New Yorkers added “heat dome” to their vocabularies, offering a pool club certainly couldn’t hurt.

Having made myself more than comfortable in one of the hotel’s Sky Grand Chamber Suites on a work trip to NYC earlier this year, I wasn’t shocked when the votes came rolling in. A 500-square-foot suite just south of Midtown can be hard to find, and Virgin Hotels somehow managed to create a vibe that feels like the perfect balance between business and pleasure — something so many New York hotels struggle to do. 

I grew up in New York and only moved away five years ago, yet I still couldn’t help but be taken by the oversized windows looking out at the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. It was a view that made me smile while getting ready for work in the morning but predictably came into its element after nightfall as the iconic skyscrapers put on a light show that felt like it was programmed to match my evening plans. After a quick walk back to the hotel from a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, the Empire State was there to tuck me in with a warm, orange and blue glow.

Here’s why T+L readers think you should stay at Virgin Hotels New York City — and why, as a former New Yorker who returns to the city almost monthly, I have to agree with them.

The Rooms 

This 460-key property is made up of “chambers” and suites, all of which have expansive cityview windows and funky touches like Smeg refrigerators in Virgin’s signature cherry red. However, it’s the thoughtful conveniences that set these rooms apart from your typical NYC hotel room. Double-bed chambers come with two separate sit-down vanities (with excellent lighting), making it easy to get ready for a night out alongside a partner or friend. 

Wardrobes are spacious, and sliding partitions make it seamless to use even smaller rooms for both work and leisure. Suites have separate living areas with stylish sofas and flat-screen TVs. Sir Richard’s Flat spans two floors and is made for entertaining, with a wet bar and pool table, plus lounge and dining areas. 

Food and Drink

The party picks up with the arrival of a DJ or musical performer on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at Everdene, the stylish restaurant, bar, and lounge that sprawls across the hotel’s third floor. Outside of its live events, the space works just as well for a group dinner as it does for a date night or quiet nightcap for one at the bar. The decor is playful and colorful yet refined and, as T+L readers keep saying, sexy.

Executive chef Freddy Vargas came to Virgin from Aman New York and, originally, Italian favorite Scarpetta, and his dishes are decidedly Mediterranean-influenced. For brunch, you might sample the avocado toast with shishito peppers or the shakshuka, and for dinner, share selections from the raw bar and appetizer list, like burrata and veal and pork meatballs, or tuck into a plate of taglioni. Cocktails are bold and seasonal (try the Hot Guava), and don’t miss a generous happy hour every Monday to Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., with $30 “Nomad Duos” that include tasty combos such as a smashburger and Aperol Spritz or a hot dog and Hugo Spritz. 

The Spa

The full-service Exhale Spa has 10 treatment rooms, a zen lounge, hammam, and sauna, plus snow and salt rooms, the latter offering zero-gravity chairs and sound therapy. Booking a massage, facial, or body treatment gets you access to the elaborate amenities. If city life takes it out of you, there’s also a menu of IV drips to get you hydrated and reenergized. 

The Pool Club

A true oasis that feels worlds away from the busy city streets just four stories below, The Pool Club offers indoor and outdoor lounge spaces, but on a sunny day, outside is the place to be. The pool is heated and surrounded by black-and-white striped lounge chairs and cabanas (hotel guests get a discount on cabanas, starting at $100).

Sip on frosé or a tropical cocktail and snack on poolside bites like guacamole and lobster rolls. Whatever your reason for traveling to NYC,  it’s impossible not to get in the vacation mindset upon entry. Guests can book a spot on Resort Pass with their confirmation number, and non-hotel guests are able to book in starting at $80 for a lounger and $200 for a cabana. 

Accessibility and Sustainability

The hotel is ADA accessible and offers rooms with wider entrances and roll-in showers, tubs with grab bars, and lowered countertops. Service animals are also welcome to stay free of charge.

Virgin Hotels’ sustainability program includes hotel-wide recycling, green housekeeping practices, and donating bathroom products to Clean the World, an organization that works with hospitality partners to reduce hotel waste and recycle soaps and bottled amenities. Learn more about brand-wide environmental initiatives at virginhotels.com.

Location

The hotel is centrally located in NoMad, on Broadway near West 30th Street. It’s a convenient six-minute walk to Herald Square to the north and Madison Square Park to the south. It’s easy to catch the subway uptown or down, but there are also plenty of bars, lounges, and restaurants in walking distance that cater to both residents and guests of the neighborhood’s rising number of trendy hotels. 

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay 

Join loyalty program “The Know” to get special rates and free upgrades. Other ongoing deals include the “Suite Offer,” which lets you use promo code SuiteDreams to save up to 20% on suite bookings. You’ll also get a late 2 p.m. checkout. With promo code StayAwhile, save up to 30% when you book three or more nights, and with promo code PerfectlyPlanned, save 15% just by booking 21 or more days in advance.