Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue Review: A Points Play in Manhattan
Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you book or apply through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend what I would use myself.
BOTTOM LINE
The Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue is a well-designed boutique hotel steps from the Empire State Building, and at around 25,000 Hyatt points a night it is a solid way to stay in Midtown Manhattan. It suits travelers who value location and design over square footage, since the rooms are small in classic New York fashion. I stayed early after it opened, when there were a few launch hiccups, but the bones and the location were strong. To be concrete about those hiccups: we had to move rooms on day one because our first room, a twin, just did not have everything ready to go, the fridge was not cooling anywhere near my standard of cold, and the separate toilet room door would not close since it was not on a track. On the plus side, the marble they picked for the shower feels high-end.
Finding good value for a hotel in Midtown Manhattan is one of the harder tasks in the points world, so I always keep an eye out for smart Hyatt options. The Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue, formerly known as the Hyatt Centric New York 39th and 5th, is one I had been watching. I stayed fairly early in its life, and even with a few opening-phase kinks, the location and design won me over.
New York hotel rooms are famously small, and this property is no exception, but that is not really a knock in a city where you are out exploring most of the day. What matters is where the hotel sits and how well the room is put together, and on both counts this one delivers. For around 25,000 Hyatt points, it is a play worth knowing about. I will be honest though: at 25,000 points a night I thought the pricing was pretty crazy, especially with the opening issues we ran into, so weigh it carefully against the cash rate before you book.
Booking the Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue
This is a World of Hyatt property, and I found it bookable for around 25,000 points a night, a reasonable rate for a Midtown Manhattan hotel. New York cash rates run high, so points redemptions here often deliver strong value, especially in peak season. Elite perks vary at Hyatt Centric hotels, and benefits like upgrades depend on availability, which can be tight in a compact New York property.
Confirm your rate and any local taxes or fees before booking, since New York adds meaningful charges on top of the base rate. Globalists and other elites should still request an upgrade and a good view at check-in, since space is limited citywide and a view is often the better win than a bigger room. To build the Hyatt balance that funds a stay like this, a couple of cards do most of the work.
Best cards for booking
To get the most from a stay here, the cards I would reach for are the World of Hyatt Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Location
The hotel sits on East 39th Street, just off Fifth Avenue, which puts you in a prime Midtown position. You are steps from the Empire State Building, a short walk from Grand Central Station and Bryant Park, and right on the doorstep of Fifth Avenue shopping. For sightseeing, transit, and general New York wandering, this is an excellent base.
Getting here from the airports is straightforward, with Grand Central nearby for onward connections and easy access to the subway. Whether you fly into JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark, you can reach this part of Midtown without much trouble. Once you arrive, most of the classic sights are within walking distance or a quick subway ride.
The location also makes this a viable pre-cruise hotel for sailings out of the New York area. If you are catching a ship from Manhattan or Cape Liberty in Bayonne, staying in Midtown the night before lets you enjoy the city first. That flexibility is part of what makes the hotel useful beyond a standard city trip.
Lobby and Check-In
The lobby is compact and design-forward, in keeping with the Centric brand's boutique concept rather than a sprawling full-service footprint. Check-in was quick, and the staff were friendly even during the early days when a new hotel is still finding its rhythm. You are in and up to your room without much fuss. The lobby is pretty small, but there is plenty of room to wait for packages or UberEats, plus a small coffee bar off to the side, and the elevator takes you straight up to the rooms and the rooftop.
Because I stayed early after opening, there were a few small launch hiccups at the front desk, the kind of thing that tends to smooth out as a new hotel settles in. None of it was a dealbreaker. If you are chasing a view, this is the moment to ask, since it matters more here than extra square footage.
The Room
The rooms are small, which is exactly what you expect in Manhattan, but they are well designed to make the most of the space. Mine featured a comfortable Hyatt Grand Bed, a large TV, blackout curtains, and the practical touches you want, like a safe and a coffee maker. The layout was efficient, so the compact size never felt cramped.
Some rooms offer city views, and the higher categories include Empire State Building views, which are the ones to request if you can. Waking up to that skyline is a real New York experience and worth chasing at booking. I would prioritize a view here over extra square footage, since the rooms are compact either way. After our move we ended up in an Empire View room, since the suite I had booked was not available at check-in; it is a bit bigger and adds a nice little work desk area. I would say it works well for one business traveler, though with my wife and me both working from the room that week, it got a little tight.
The underlying quality of the room was clear even during the opening phase. For a Hyatt Centric in this location, the rooms do their job well, giving you a comfortable place to sleep and regroup between days out in the city. Treat the room as a base rather than a destination and it works beautifully.
Pools and Amenities
Amenities at a Hyatt Centric run leaner than a full-service hotel, which fits the boutique, location-first concept. There is no pool here, and you come for the address and the design, not a sprawling resort footprint. For most New York trips, that is exactly the right trade.
The standout amenity is the rooftop bar, with views toward the Midtown skyline, Fifth Avenue, and the Empire State Building. It is worth planning around, especially at sunset when the skyline lights start to come on. Sitting up there with the Empire State Building in view is the kind of New York moment people travel for.
Food and Drink
The hotel has a Northern Italian restaurant on site, Ramerino, serving pasta dishes and regional plates, along with in-room dining pulled from the same kitchen. The rooftop bar handles cocktails with a skyline view, so you can start or end an evening without leaving the building. On a warm night, that rooftop turns the hotel into more than just a place to sleep. Full disclosure from my visit: the rooftop restaurant and terrace were still under construction while we were there, since the property was just getting started, but they should be open now, and that top floor would be a lovely spot for the Globalist breakfast.
Being in Midtown means you are surrounded by dining and nightlife the moment you step outside. I rarely struggle to find somewhere to eat in this part of the city. The on-site options are a convenient backup rather than the main draw, and I would make a point of catching the rooftop at least once during a stay.
Service
Service leaned warm and helpful, even in the early opening period when a new property is still ironing things out. The front desk handled requests without drama, and the rooftop staff were friendly at busy times. For a boutique property, the personal touch came through more than it does at a big convention hotel.
Elite recognition is lighter here than at a full-service Hyatt, mostly because space for upgrades is so tight in New York. Globalists should still ask about a view at check-in, since that is usually the most valuable thing available. The team did well with what the compact footprint allowed. The basement gym follows the same playbook: new equipment, a couple of exercise machines, some knock-off Peloton bikes with towels, and a little weight rack system in the corner, which is not bad at all for a hotel this size.
Who Should Stay Here
Great fit if
Look elsewhere if
You want a stylish Midtown base on Hyatt points
You need space to spread out in your room
You will be out sightseeing most of the day
You want full-service resort amenities like a pool
You are starting a cruise from the New York area
You prefer to be near Notre Dame-style historic districts, not Midtown
You value a skyline view and a rooftop bar
You want a quiet residential neighborhood over central bustle
✈️ WORK WITH ME
Planning a trip and want it done right? I'm a travel advisor and I book hotels and vacations at no extra cost to you, often with extra perks. Get a free quote and grab my free travel tips on Substack.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points does the Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue cost?
I found it bookable for around 25,000 World of Hyatt points a night. Given how high New York cash rates run, that makes it a strong points redemption for a Midtown stay.
How close is it to the Empire State Building?
The hotel is just steps from the Empire State Building on East 39th Street off Fifth Avenue. You are also a short walk from Grand Central, Bryant Park, and Fifth Avenue shopping.
Are the rooms small?
Yes, the rooms are small in classic Manhattan style, but they are well designed to use the space efficiently. Given how much time you spend out exploring, the size rarely felt like an issue.
Can I get an Empire State Building view?
Some rooms offer city views, and higher categories include Empire State Building views. I would request that view at booking, since it is worth more here than extra square footage.
Was there anything to be aware of?
I stayed fairly early after the hotel opened, so there were a few launch hiccups typical of a new property. Those tend to smooth out over time, and the location and design were strong throughout.
Is it a good pre-cruise hotel?
Yes. The central Midtown location makes it a viable base before a sailing from the New York area, including ships out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne.
Bottom Line
The Hyatt Centric Midtown 5th Avenue is a smart, location-driven pick for anyone looking to stay in Manhattan on points. At around 25,000 Hyatt points a night, steps from the Empire State Building, it solves the perennial problem of finding value in Midtown. The rooms are small, but they are well designed, and the address does the heavy lifting.
If you want a stylish base for a New York trip or a night before a nearby cruise, this hotel earns a look. Request an Empire State Building view, keep your expectations realistic on room size, and enjoy the location. For a Hyatt points stay in the heart of Midtown, it is a solid choice.
