Editorial take
Who should book The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York?
If this is your first New York trip, shortlist The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York for a practical reason: Light sleepers, longer stays, quieter Midtown, couples. 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 on the doorstep or the lowest rate. 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 The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York?
East 50th Street at Lexington Avenue is a quieter, more residential stretch of Midtown, within walking distance of Grand Central and Fifth Avenue.
Nearby
Grand Central, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue, the Chrysler Building and Central Park South.
Closest subway
51 St and Lexington Av-53 St
Hotel facts
What to know before booking.
First-timer context
Why The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York might feel special.
What it is known for
- It was designed by Emery Roth in a neo-Romanesque style and opened in 1927 as the residential-style Beverly Hotel, built to feel more like a Manhattan apartment building than a commercial tower.
- Georgia O'Keeffe painted the building's silhouette in New York Night in 1928, one of her best-known city works.
- The hotel's Rest and Renew programme includes a ten-choice pillow menu, eye masks, noise machines and on-demand meditation.
New York moments
- Emery Roth is one of the defining architects of pre-war Manhattan, responsible for many of the apartment towers along Central Park West.
- Sonesta International Hotels acquired the hotel in 2021.
On screen
- The building's best-known depiction is a painting rather than a film: O'Keeffe's New York Night.
Review questions
What travellers keep asking.
Is the Benjamin genuinely quiet?
The hotel makes sleep its main selling point, with a pillow menu and noise machines, and the Lexington Avenue side streets are calmer than Midtown West. Still request a higher floor if you are sensitive to street noise.
Is it worth booking a suite?
Often yes for longer stays or families, because the suites include more space and kitchen facilities. Compare the suite total against two standard rooms elsewhere before deciding.
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.