The Gatsby Hotel
135 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002, New York, United States
3-star hotel
Guest rating: 3.4 / 5
Overview
The Gatsby Hotel is a casual, 3-star property set in the bustling Lower East Side of Manhattan, directly across from Washington Square Park roughly 1,043 meters away. The hotel offers a relaxed, understated atmosphere geared toward travelers who want a well-located base for exploring downtown New York without frills. It sits one block from a subway station, making it easy to reach the rest of the city.
Rooms
Rooms are described as bright and relaxed with understated decor, featuring flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and tea and coffeemakers. Some rooms include minifridges and microwaves, giving guests added flexibility for light in-room dining. The overall room style favors simplicity and comfort over elaborate design.
Amenities & Services
The hotel provides complimentary Wi-Fi throughout and a 24/7 business center for guests who need to work at any hour. A fitness center is available, along with paid access to a nearby gym, and paid parking is offered on-site for those arriving by car. Guests have reported occasional issues with the electronic key entry system, which is worth keeping in mind.
Location
The hotel's Lower East Side setting puts guests within easy walking distance of major New York landmarks: Washington Square Park is about 1 km away, Brooklyn Bridge roughly 2 km, One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum around 2.3 km, and the Empire State Building approximately 2.8 km away. The New Museum is a five-minute walk, and further sights like The High Line, Whitney Museum of American Art, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center are all reachable within a few kilometers, making the hotel a convenient hub for sightseeing across downtown and midtown Manhattan.
Best for
This hotel suits budget-conscious city explorers and culture seekers who want to be within walking distance of Washington Square Park, the New Museum, and downtown landmarks like One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial. It also appeals to business travelers needing a 24/7 business center and Wi-Fi, and to subway-reliant visitors thanks to the station just one block away.
Travel tips
Being one block from a subway station makes it simple to reach Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, and Rockefeller Center without a car, so paid parking is best reserved only if you're driving in. Plan to walk to nearby highlights like Washington Square Park and the New Museum, both within about a kilometer, and budget extra time at check-in given past reports of slow front-desk service and key-system delays. If arriving early, note that early check-in has carried an additional fee equal to a night's stay for some guests.
What guests say
Guests consistently praise the hotel's location, highlighting its proximity to the subway, restaurants, a Whole Foods, and downtown attractions, alongside generally good rooms and friendly, helpful staff. On the negative side, several reviewers report frustration with front-desk logistics, including a malfunctioning electronic key system that left guests locked out for extended waits, and an early check-in fee perceived as excessive relative to the room rate. Overall sentiment splits between strong satisfaction with the setting and service on one hand, and operational hiccups around check-in and room access on the other.
Check availability · Booking links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure