Seton Hotel

144 E 40th St, New York, NY 10016, New York, United States

3-star hotel

Guest rating: 4.1 / 5

Housed in a converted 1930s-era apartment building, the Seton Hotel is a small-scale, 3-star boutique property tucked onto a quiet side street in East Midtown Manhattan. Its individually decorated rooms feature designer accents, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks, with some units offering in-room sinks paired with shared bathrooms -- a layout reminiscent of the building's residential origins. Guests can enjoy complimentary tea and coffee in a shared guest lounge, and while there's no dedicated business center, front-desk staff handle basic business services. The hotel also arranges access to a nearby health club for guests wanting a workout during their stay. Its location is a major draw: Grand Central Terminal is just 405 meters away, Bryant Park is a short walk at 705 meters, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center are all within roughly a kilometer. Times Square, Top of The Rock, and MoMA are also reachable on foot, making the Seton a well-placed base for sightseeing in Midtown.

Best for

The Seton Hotel suits budget-conscious travelers and solo or couple sightseers who prioritize a central Midtown location over room size or private-bath guarantees, given that some rooms share bathrooms. Its proximity to Grand Central Terminal (405m) makes it especially convenient for guests arriving by train or planning day trips via Metro-North or the subway. The boutique, individually decorated rooms and designer touches also appeal to travelers who prefer character-filled, non-chain accommodations over standardized hotel decor.

Travel tips

Grand Central Terminal is only two blocks away, making it an efficient hub for subway, Metro-North, and airport transit connections. Many of Midtown's major sights -- Bryant Park, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building -- are within a 10-15 minute walk, so comfortable shoes are worth packing over relying on taxis. Because some rooms have shared bathrooms, guests who prefer a private en-suite should confirm room configuration when booking.

What guests say

Recurring positive feedback centers on the hotel's central location, friendly and helpful staff, and clean, comfortable rooms, with several guests also appreciating the complimentary morning coffee. Some reviewers specifically praised the quality of service they received during their stay. On the negative side, at least one guest reported a serious pest issue involving bed bugs and expressed frustration that management did not acknowledge or apologize for the problem, suggesting inconsistency in room conditions and complaint handling across stays.

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