BORO HOTEL
CRITIQUE MY STAY RATING: 7.5/10
AVG. NIGHTLY RATE: $200
Located in Long Island City, the Boro Hotel is a contemporary property located in Queens, New York. What’s the best thing about the hotel being located in Queens? It’s that some of its rooms provide a captivating view of the Manhattan skyline, something that Manhattan hotels unfortunately cannot offer.
LOCATION
7/10
The Boho Hotel is situated in the up-and-coming Long Island City, Queens. While it still is a bit of a distance from the area’s touristy waterfront and the nearest subway stations (which are about a 10-12 minute walk), it is quite easy to get to Manhattan and parts of Queens from the hotel. The Boro Hotel is positioned near three different subway lines (F, N, and W) as well as numerous buses. The Queensboro bridge, which connects Queens to Manhattan is just a few minutes from the hotel, making the location perfect if you don’t want to stay in Manhattan but want to drive into the city.
AMENITIES
6/10
GYM - 6/10
The gym at the Boro Hotel was a disappointment. Located in the basement without any windows, it felt cramped and lacked strength equipment. The outdated treadmills further added to the overall unpleasantness of the space.
SPA
There is no spa at the Boro Hotel.
POOL
There is no pool a the Boro Hotel.
OTHER
The Boro Hotel offers complimentary high-speed wi-fi, a rooftop bar, an outdoor terrace, a lobby cafe, Beebe’s restaurant, a board room, and a meeting space for conferences. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
ROOM
8/10
We booked the Manhattan View Balcony King room which had a modern, minimalist design. The bed was very comfortable and I appreciated the room’s desk and chair since I was working during my stay. However, the best part of the room was the breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and the private balcony with which to admire them. The air-conditioned room had large windows, hardwood floors, and a bathroom showcased beautiful porcelain tiles and a nicely tiled, modern bathroom with plush robes and high-quality bath amenities.
BREAKFAST
You can start your day off right with a delicious breakfast at Beebe's restaurant, located in the hotel. The restaurant offers a diverse menu from omelets and avocado toast to brunch pizzas and Greek yogurt parfait. We didn’t rate the breakfast because we didn’t sit down for it but we did have lunch in the restaurant one day and it was pretty good!
RESTAURANTS NEARBY
If you’re looking for good food in walking distance, here are some Eat My Critique approved options:
Beebe’s (inside the hotel) - The casual restaurant in the Boro Hotel pays homage to classic New York-style pizzas with thin, crispy crusts and other Italian dishes.
Maiella (35 minute walk) - Located in the picturesque waterfront area of Long Island City, Maiella serves authentic Italian dishes with a modern twist.
If you are looking for good food that’s worth the subway ride or drive, here are some options:
LittleMad (20 minute drive) - Korean food done incredibly well in a modern, stylish setting.
Cafe China (20 minute drive) - Chinese restaurant featuring authentic dishes and an amazing tea smoked duck!
Katz’s Delicatessen (25 minute drive) - One of the oldest and most storied NY delis. Don’t leave without ordering the famous pastrami sandwich.
To check out all of the Eat My Critique reviews from New York, click here.
THINGS TO DO
There are definitely some things worth seeing in the Long Island City area but you’ll find most of New York’s main sights across the bridge in Manhattan.
MoMA PS1 (23-minute walk) - A branch of one of New York’s most famous museum’s, MoMA PS1 features contemporary art exhibitions, installations, and performances.
Gantry Plaza State Park (35-minute walk) - Awesome views of the Manhattan skyline.
Central Park (20-minute drive) - One of the most famous parks in the world. A beautiful place for a run, walk, picnic, or a relaxing morning or afternoon.
The High Line (25-minute drive) - an elevated park built on a historic freight rail line, which ceased operations in the 1980s. It has been transformed into a serene and picturesque urban oasis, approximately 1.5 miles long.
Broadway (25 minute drive) - The theatre district of New York is just a short drive or subway ride away. If you love musicals or want to experience one for the first time, there is no place like New York.
Whitney Museum of American Art (30-minute drive) - The Whitney Museum boasts an impressive collection of American art, focusing primarily on 20th and 21st-century works in a diverse range of art forms, including paintings, sculptures, photography, video art, and more.
VERDICT
There aren’t many high-end hotels in Queens and the Boro Hotel is one of the few that exist. It isn’t what we would call luxury, but it may be a convenient and comfortable option depending on what your schedule in New York looks like and whether you would rather stay in one of the more happening, yet more hectic, Manhattan neighborhoods.