The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection4

The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection leaves a contradictory impression: behind the historic Art Deco façade and stylish lobby lurks a tired hotel that is rapidly losing Marriott chain standards. Guests appreciate it for its unbeatable Midtown location, comfortable beds, and memorable jazz atmosphere in the Stayton Room. Yet recurring complaints about tiny, shabby rooms, poor soundproofing, and aggressive fees (including a charge for baggage storage) spoil the overall picture. The hotel is a great fit for a short business trip or energetic sightseeing when you only need a room for sleep, but it may disappoint demanding travelers and loyal Marriott Bonvoy members.

Key Observations

Unrivaled Location: The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from Grand Central Terminal and the 51st Street subway station, making it an ideal base for exploring Manhattan.

Historic Charm vs. Wear and Tear: The grand 1929 lobby with live music contrasts starkly with the worn condition of the guest quarters. Guests note old carpeting, ceiling cracks, and peeling bathroom fixtures.

Financial Pressure: On top of high base rates, the hotel charges a mandatory resort fee of 35 $ per night and a 3 $ fee per piece of luggage stored before check-in or after checkout, causing widespread dissatisfaction.

Trajectory: The quality of the rooms and service shows a negative trend. Recent reviews from summer and fall 2026 more and more often mention housekeeping issues (dust, mold on AC grilles, hair in the bathroom) and indifferent front desk staff, while complaints about hidden fees have grown even sharper.

Main Pros

• Perfect location in the heart of Manhattan, within walking distance of key attractions and the subway.
• Comfortable beds with quality linens and pillows.
• An excellent, fully equipped Crunch fitness center in the basement instead of a standard mini-gym.
• A wonderful bar, The Stayton Room, with live music in the evenings and delicious cocktails by bartender Kushtrim.
• Free bottled water in the lobby, handy to grab for walks.

Main Cons

• Very small rooms and tiny bathrooms, where the shower curtain literally sticks to you while washing.
• Lack of basic amenities in standard-category rooms (no fridge, coffee maker, kettle, or body lotion).
• Poor soundproofing: you can clearly hear the hum of Lexington Avenue, the drone of air conditioners, and noises from adjacent rooms.
• Slow check-in at the front desk and complete disregard for Marriott loyalty program benefits (Platinum and Titanium).
• Extra fees: a daily resort fee of 35 $ and paid luggage storage (3 $ per bag).

Overall Grade: B-

Hotel Overview

Basic Information:

• Name — The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection
• Address — 511 Lexington Avenue at, E 48th St, New York, NY 10017
• Contact — Phone: +1 212 755 4400, email: [email protected]
• Year opened — Building constructed in 1929, the hotel has been part of Autograph Collection since 2013.
• Number of rooms — 725 rooms
• Positioning and category — Historic four-star premium boutique hotel, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. Known for having hosted Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.

Description: The hotel is designed in an elegant Art Deco style that evokes New York’s jazz age. The majestic lobby with soft lighting and a bar area creates a sense of luxury. The stay includes access to the Crunch fitness center and a 35 $ credit at the Stayton Room bar (covered by the resort fee). Guests also have access to a 24-hour business center and conference rooms.

Target Audience: The hotel is best suited for solo travelers and couples visiting New York for a few days with an emphasis on walking and business meetings. Due to tight quarters in the rooms, it is not recommended for families with children or long stays.

Location & Transport

Location: The hotel sits in the prestigious and safe Midtown East neighborhood on Lexington Avenue. The surroundings consist of office skyscrapers, restaurants, and shops.

Key Points of Interest: Grand Central Terminal is a 6-minute walk. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is 10 minutes away, Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue are 12 minutes. Times Square can be reached on foot in 15–20 minutes.

Transport: The 51st Street subway station (lines 6, E, F) is just two blocks away. The hotel does not provide shuttles. Doorman Louie helps hail a yellow cab at the entrance, although guests advise using Uber to avoid markups on private limousines.

Walkability: The neighborhood receives the highest walkability score (100 out of 100). Walking is safe at any time of day, with plenty of people and open establishments around.

Grade: A+

Rooms & Cleanliness

Standard-category rooms are extremely compact even by New York standards. Wear on furniture and carpets is conspicuous: guests notice scratches, scuffs, and peeling wallpaper. The bathroom is particularly disappointing, with a narrow tub and poor drainage. Cleanliness is maintained at a mediocre level — complaints about dust in hard-to-reach places and mold on ventilation grilles are common. Soundproofing is weak: street sirens and the drone of old window AC units can disturb light sleepers. Suite-class rooms (for example, the Executive King Suite) offer significantly more space and comfort.

Grade: C-

Service

Service is inconsistent. On one hand, guests praise the genuine helpfulness of individual staff members: Jose at the front desk helps with accommodations and extra beds, Salowa offers drinks while waiting for a room, and luggage attendants Khalid and Anas are always friendly. On the other hand, hotel management often comes across as indifferent. Check-in lines can stretch to 40 minutes due to understaffing, and the checkout process is frequently marred by billing confusion. Marriott loyalty members note the absence of promised benefits.

Grade: C+

Dining

Breakfast is served in the restaurant area and offers a continental buffet with hot dishes, fresh fruit, yogurt, and pastries. The food quality is good, but prices are high (around 19 $ per person). The evening bar, The Stayton Room, entices with its stylish atmosphere and excellent cocktails, but the kitchen closes early — last orders are taken at 10:45 p.m. A Starbucks coffee shop operates around the clock in the lobby (one of the hotel entrances passes through it).

Grade: B

Facilities & Amenities

The main infrastructure highlight is the large, well-equipped Crunch gym in the basement, which surpasses typical hotel gyms. Wi-Fi works reliably throughout the property. A comfortable lounge area (mezzanine) is arranged in the lobby, although furniture in public areas is in need of reupholstery in places. There is no on-site parking; valet parking services are expensive (around 65 $ per night). Ice machines on floors occasionally break down.

Grade: B+

Important Notes

• When booking, be sure to account for the daily destination/resort fee of 35 $, which is not included in the room rate. It can be used as a same-day credit at the hotel bar.
• The hotel holds a deposit of 100 $ per night for incidentals; the refund to your card after checkout can take up to two weeks.
• Baggage storage before check-in or after checkout is paid — 3 $ per piece of luggage.
• The hotel is pet-friendly: pets are allowed for a fee of 100–150 $ per stay plus a deposit.

Practical Tips for Guests

• At check-in, request a room on a high floor facing the courtyard — these are much quieter than those overlooking busy Lexington Avenue.
• Use the daily 35 $ credit at The Stayton Room bar for cocktails or a light dinner, as any unused daily balance expires.
• Do not count on free luggage storage with the concierge; if you have many bags, it’s better to time your arrival and departure so you can collect your belongings immediately.
• If traveling as a couple, avoid standard Queen or Double rooms — they are too cramped. Book at least a King Room or Executive Suite.
• Order taxis yourself via apps like Uber or Lyft rather than relying on the doorman, to avoid overpaying for a private car.
• Bring earplugs, as the in-room air conditioners are noisy and street sirens are audible even on high floors.

Final Verdict

The hotel captivates with its superb location and historic atmosphere but disappoints with worn rooms and aggressive surcharges. Choose it only for the location and lobby bar, and be ready to compromise on comfort.

Overall Grade: B-

Breakdown: Location: A+ | Rooms: C- | Service: C+ | Dining: B | Facilities: B+ | Value for Money: C

Best for: solo travelers, short-stay business guests, lovers of jazz ambiance, and those who value maximum Midtown walkability.

Not for: families with children, tourists with lots of luggage, demanding Marriott Bonvoy elite members, and guests expecting impeccable quiet and modern renovations.