Editorial take
Who should book The Empire Hotel?
If this is your first New York trip, shortlist The Empire Hotel for a practical reason: Lincoln Center, Central Park, rooftop bars, Gossip Girl fans. 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 quiet, boutique intimacy or a midtown theatre base. 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 Empire Hotel?
West 63rd Street at Broadway puts the hotel opposite Lincoln Center and a few minutes north of Columbus Circle, at the southern tip of the Upper West Side.
Nearby
Lincoln Center, Central Park, Columbus Circle, the Time Warner shops and Riverside Park.
Closest subway
59 St-Columbus Circle and 66 St-Lincoln Center
Hotel facts
What to know before booking.
First-timer context
Why The Empire Hotel might feel special.
What it is known for
- The red neon Hotel Empire sign has crowned the building since the 1920s and is visible from the southern end of Central Park.
- The Empire Rooftop covers 8,000 square feet and includes a seasonal plunge pool, which is rare this far uptown.
- The hotel sits directly opposite Lincoln Center, so it fills up around opera, ballet and concert seasons.
New York moments
- The Empire was a recurring setting in Gossip Girl, and the hotel still runs Gossip Girl experiences and tours at its rooftop bar.
- CNN reported that bookings rose by five to ten per cent and website traffic by half after the hotel began appearing in the series.
On screen
- Gossip Girl used the Empire extensively, alongside the Lotte New York Palace in Midtown East, making the two hotels the show's best-known New York addresses.
Review questions
What travellers keep asking.
Is this really the Gossip Girl hotel?
It is one of two. The Empire was Chuck Bass's hotel in the series, while the Lotte New York Palace in Midtown East stood in as Serena van der Woodsen's residence. Both still trade on the connection.
Is it convenient for Broadway?
Less so than a Midtown hotel: allow fifteen to twenty minutes by subway. It is far better placed for Lincoln Center, which is directly across the street.
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.