East River Park - Brian Watkins Center

family had a great stay at the Riu Hotel Manhattan. The location is a 10/10. It is in a busy area but just steps from Times Square and surrounded by great restaurants. Serendipity is right next door, Dilli Dilli is just up the street, and there are plenty of street vendors nearby, which made grabbing food easy and fun. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The snack shack and breakfast were both excellent, and we really enjoyed the breakfast buffet each morning. The only downside was the elevator situation, especially when trying to get to breakfast. Each day, we waited around 20 to 25 minutes for an elevator. Guests have to go to the first floor, wait in line, and then are taken up to the fifth floor to be seated as space opens. This setup ties up the elevators and causes long delays. I was traveling with my mom, who had a strained muscle, so taking the stairs was not a realistic option after the first day. A better system might be to move the breakfast line to the fifth floor and adjust the space to accommodate it, which could help reduce elevator congestion. The room itself was small and basic, but that did not matter much since we were rarely in it. Overall, great location, great staff, and great food. Just be prepared for possible elevator delays during breakfast hours.

The staff was extremely helpful in answering any questions we had and providing recommendations for restaurants and directions. The rooms and property were always clean. Breakfast provided many choices da and was always well stocked. The breakfast bone moves quickly and efficiently. The frosted glass shower/bathroom wall” was NOT an issue as the person in the bathroom could only be seen as a “blob.”

great location and good facilities