Editorial take
Who should book Graduate Roosevelt Island?
If this is your first New York trip, shortlist Graduate Roosevelt Island for a practical reason: Quiet stays, skyline views, families, Cornell visitors. The name, star rating and lobby photos matter, but the real test is whether the location helps your days feel easier.
It is less compelling if you want nightlife, restaurants on the doorstep or a short first trip. Before booking from the UK, compare the final price after taxes and property fees, check the exact room setup and make sure your airport arrival route is not needlessly awkward.
Location and map
Where is Graduate Roosevelt Island?
The hotel sits on the Cornell Tech campus in the middle of Roosevelt Island, a short walk from both the tramway station and the F train.
Nearby
Four Freedoms Park, the Roosevelt Island Tramway, Cornell Tech, the Queensboro Bridge and Astoria.
Closest subway
Roosevelt Island on the F, plus the Roosevelt Island Tramway
Hotel facts
What to know before booking.
First-timer context
Why Graduate Roosevelt Island might feel special.
What it is known for
- It was developed by AJ Capital Partners with Cornell University, and sits in the middle of the Cornell Tech campus that opened on the island in 2017.
- It was the Graduate brand's twenty-ninth hotel and its first in New York City.
- Being on a narrow island means views in both directions: Manhattan to the west and Queens to the east.
New York moments
- Roosevelt Island's other landmarks are Louis Kahn's Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip and the ruin of the Renwick Smallpox Hospital beside it.
On screen
- The island's tramway is the famous piece of screen furniture here, having appeared in a number of New York films.
Review questions
What travellers keep asking.
Is staying on Roosevelt Island impractical?
Less than you would think. The F train reaches Midtown in about ten minutes and the tramway lands at 59th Street. The catch is that there is very little on the island itself in the evening.
Is the tramway worth using?
Absolutely, and it takes the same fare as the subway. It is one of the best views in New York for the price of a single journey, and it runs constantly.
Booking checklist
Check these before you reserve.
Total price
Look beyond the nightly rate. Check taxes, destination fees, breakfast and cancellation.
Room layout
For New York, room size, bathroom privacy, bed type and storage can matter more than star rating.
Arrival route
Match the hotel to your airport, luggage and arrival time, especially after an overnight UK flight.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.