Editorial take
Who should book The Marlton Hotel?
If this is your first New York trip, shortlist The Marlton Hotel for a practical reason: Literary history, couples, Village walking, repeat 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 need large rooms, family space or midtown convenience. 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 Marlton Hotel?
West 8th Street is a minute from Washington Square Park, at the centre of Greenwich Village and within walking distance of the West Village and Union Square.
Nearby
Washington Square Park, NYU, Bleecker Street, Union Square and the West Village.
Closest subway
8 St-NYU, and W 4 St-Washington Sq
Hotel facts
What to know before booking.
First-timer context
Why The Marlton Hotel might feel special.
What it is known for
- The building opened in 1900 as the Hotel Marlton, an eight-storey residential hotel, and spent decades as a cheap single-room-occupancy hotel popular with struggling writers and actors.
- Jack Kerouac wrote two novellas here, The Subterraneans and Tristessa, while living in the building.
- Sean MacPherson reopened it in September 2013 after a multi-million pound renovation, styling it on postwar Paris rather than on its own shabbier history.
New York moments
- Past residents range from the silent-film actress Lillian Gish to Neal Cassady, and the comedian Lenny Bruce lived here while standing trial for obscenity.
- Valerie Solanas was living at the Marlton in 1968 at the time she shot Andy Warhol.
- MacPherson also owns The Bowery Hotel and The Ludlow, which share the same taste for atmosphere over gloss.
On screen
- The hotel's cultural weight comes from who wrote and lived here rather than from film.
Review questions
What travellers keep asking.
Did Jack Kerouac really write here?
Yes. He wrote the novellas The Subterraneans and Tristessa while living in the building, during its long period as a cheap residential hotel.
Are the rooms small?
Yes, noticeably. The building was designed as single rooms for long-term residents, and the renovation kept that footprint. It suits couples travelling light rather than families.
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.