Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel

A Five-Star Experience at Renaissance Harlem Hotel! From the moment we stepped into the Renaissance Harlem Hotel, we were embraced by a warm, stylish, and effortlessly cool atmosphere that perfectly captured the soul of Harlem. The attention to detail in the design, the impeccable cleanliness, and the vibrant energy of the space make this hotel a true gem in New York City. A special shoutout to the incredible front desk team, Terry and Shay! Their professionalism, kindness, and genuine enthusiasm set the tone for an unforgettable stay. Whether answering questions, offering recommendations, or just greeting guests with a smile, they go above and beyond to ensure a seamless experience. And let’s talk about the amazing hostess, Yesenia (Ya-Ya), and one other female manager who was absolutely delightful. Both are absolute stars! Their warm and inviting energy, paired with their exceptional hospitality, made every dining experience feel like a homecoming. They embody the spirit of Harlem: welcoming, lively, and full of heart. From the exquisite accommodations to the top-tier service, the Renaissance Harlem Hotel is an absolute must-stay for anyone visiting NYC. If you’re looking for luxury with a soul, this is the place to be! Can’t wait to return.

I enjoyed my stay at the hotel overall. The room was nice, and housekeeping consistently did a fantastic job tidying up for us. However, the experience at the Victorian restaurant left a lot to be desired, and it wasn’t due to the staff themselves but rather a clear lack of preparation and adequate staffing. My family and I stayed from December 22-26, during the holiday season, and while we expected it to be busy, it felt like the hotel hadn’t anticipated the influx of guests. On multiple mornings, when we tried to have breakfast about an hour and a half before service ended, we were told they were only offering to-go orders. The most disappointing moment came on Christmas Day, when we went to the restaurant shortly before 9 AM (breakfast ends at 10:30 am) and were informed they had stopped serving altogether because the kitchen was 45 minutes behind. No room service, no to-go orders, and no seating were available. This would have been understandable on a regular day when other dining options might exist. But on Christmas Day, when most places are closed, guests expect the convenience of dining in their hotel—especially when it's advertised as an option. For a hotel of this size, with 27 floors, and during one of the busiest times of the year, the lack of preparation was truly surprising. If you’re planning to visit during the holidays, I recommend staying here for the accommodations, but don’t count on being able to enjoy breakfast at the restaurant. The hotel simply doesn’t seem equipped to handle the volume of guests during peak seasons, which is a shame given the expectations of holiday travelers.

The stay was a disaster from day one to the end. The hotel has a nice interior design and atmosphere and it feels quite modern but the personnel and the services were not good at all. When we checked in, the front desk worker was haughty and barely gave us the right information. You have to pay the full amount of the stay the day you arrive, the hotel doesn't accommodate you at all. The room was dirty when we first arrived and set for 2 when we were 4. Missing towels, glasses, refreshment (no water available). EVERYDAY we had to call the front desk because EVERYDAY something was missing. Dirt everywhere. One day we had to shower with 2 towels instead of 4 because they never brought it to us even after asking for it. With the name Marriott and the price that we paid we are extremely disappointed and angry because it unfortunately also impacted our stay in NYC.

The hotel is located 2 buildings from the famous Apollo Theatre on 125th Ave in Harlem ! |There is a combo lobby bar and restaurant on the mezzanine that has vibrant lighting and art( see pics ) ! There was even poetry by famous African-American poets on the walls and ceilings. Our city-view room had a wooden frame, with mirrors for a headboard! ||The food and drinks were typically priced for NYC. But, the ambience will hold you there to people watch the diverse clientele. We saw Asian, Europeans, Latinos, you name it. The locals obviously liked it, too!||The restaurant manager, Mike Garlick, even chatted with us when was informed that we were celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary. Well, done Renaissance!

I was ready to give this place 5 stars, beautiful decor, rooms are spacious, gym was well appointed, and everything was clean. We had some problems with the lock on our door, but maintenance handled pretty quickly. And the window shade wanted to come off its track easily, but nothing too difficult. It was at the end that I understood all the negative reviews. At check in they give you a $25 voucher per day for the restaurant. They date the voucher cards. Our last night the waiter took the wrong voucher card, we noticed and asked him to swap them out. Assuming he brought back the correct one, we went to breakfast our last day and realized he gave back the wrong voucher card. The manager REFUSED to honor the voucher, despite explaining what happened, and despite the fact that we only used one voucher card for the whole time. It was just shocking that that he made the customer suffer for the staff members mistake. So stupid, I would have spread the news about a great hotel find in NYC until they showed their backside. Someone needs a lesson in customer service 😑

Not sure if I should be blaming the service or management. The staff appears to be more like security guards handing out directives verse promoting customer value and customer service. This is a training issue on management. Example; one of the elevators inside monitors which helps guest navigate floors is broken which prohibits guest from reaching certain floors especially the lobby 5(M). The employees use the stairwell but after I attempted, I was yelled at by staff from accessing. The main (5M) lobby seating is closed off to guest like it’s a night club outside food service owners forcing guest to only sit in secluded areas in fear that staff will have to re-clean certain areas that are advertised to guest. It appears the micromanagement and stress from management bleeds into their subordinates which carries over into poor customer service. Excessive entitlement from possibly low-paid employees can create poor customer values and a negative team dynamic. Overall, I’m looking at management on this experience.

The decor and ambiance are absolutely amazing. It truly feels like you’ve stepped into a modern-day Harlem Renaissance. The rooms are clean, and the bathrooms are stylish. Depending on which floor you're on, the view of 125th Street and the Apollo is picturesque. The restaurant on the main floor serves food that’s absolutely on point, and the lighting creates a romantic setting at night.

I’m a born New Yorker and Harlem is my second home away from home. |All thanks to Craig in guest services, my birthday week kick-off was bittersweet. Even though this was last minute, I was given the room I basically manifested prior to my arrival. I received a queen suite with a view. The size of the room and the view made best for meditating and journaling. |- clean bathroom and bedding |- thoughtful quotes by Langston Hughes (in the room we occupied)| I will be staying again no doubt about it!

I never thought I'd call a hotel sexy, but here we are. Before this stay, I ranked NYC as the worst city for hotels--tiny rooms, bad food, and old elevators that can't handle the demand. But at last, a reprieve! My king room was spacious and stylish, with thoughtful design touches throughout. Guest service? Absolutely top-notch. A full shower door is a rare luxury nowadays, and the hidden decorative details add a unique charm. The entire hotel is Instagram-worthy, from the lobby to the hallways. Location is ideal for shopping, subway access, and getting to LGA airport. Early check-in was a breeze, and housekeeping was impressively fast after I messaged in the app for service. That said, privacy in the bathroom is questionable due to an odd open gap that is not explicitly shown in the listing photos. The entrance is easy to miss since it looks like a theater. And $9 for bottled water in the room? A bit much. The card reader in the elevator is oddly low--practically at toddler level. Plus, the phone signal was unreliable, with multiple dropped connections. Even with a few quirks, this hotel is now my go-to whenever I'm in NYC.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this hotel. It's newly built, and feels young and vibrant, but comfortable enough even for the biggest curmudgeon. It's a great location in the heart of Harlem, right in between the A/C and 1/2/3 subway lines, and literally just a few doors from the famed Apollo Theater. The staff at this location are unparalleled. I've never met nicer and kinder staff. That only goes so far though, and I have two major gripes about the hotel, and those keep me from giving 5 or even 4 stars. First, the menu. The drink menu is inspiring, and even the non-alcoholic cocktails are worth a try. The food menu is mouth-watering for your omnivores, but they shun the vegetarians. I've been coming here for more than a year now, and I have yet to have an option other than french fries and a side salad for dinner. The biggest issue with this hotel, though, and this affects EVERYONE, is that the elevators are abysmal. It has always been bad, but it seems like it's getting worse. At busy times (think check out, dinner time, etc.), you can expect to wait a long time. Easily 5 minutes or more. This trip, I had to wait 14 minutes for an elevator from my room down to the lobby. There are four elevators, and there has got to be better programming for this. I love this property, but y'all are making it hard for me to stay.

I hosted a four day conference at the hotel. From beginning to end the experience was wonderful. The two meeting rooms Bop and Jive were just perfect. We did have a problem with the lock on the door but the attention to resolving the issue was quick and they were very apologetic. Sheridan personally saw to making sure that our every need was taken care of, coming in early, on the weekend, when she was not feeling well and aways with a smile and graciousness. Katy Lee was easy to work with around setting up and making sure that our food and beverage needs were met. The staff and chef went above and beyond. The breakfast every day was delicious and plentiful. The food in the restaurant is amazing as well. The front desk staff is helpful, friendly and really pleasant to be around. I LOVE the location, right in the heart of Harlem! My room was an upgrade to a junior suite with a great view. I had a refrigerator but I wish they would put them and a microwave in every room. I will definitely be back! All of our conference participants loved their stay as well. Great job!!!

I lovvveeedd this hotel! It is so Harlem! I love the intention behind the design aesthics. My one complaint though...the hotel can be hard to find because Renaissance is only listed in small print on the display board and not on the large marquee in front. Now when you enter the lobby there are staff members that will direct you where to go as I believe you can enter the theater through the lobby as well. You take the elevator to the 5th floor and to your left is the hostess station to the Victoria restaurant and to the right is the check in counter to the hotel. It was a smooth checkin process overall and I was able yo use my digital key to unlock the elevator and my room. Now the room was sickening, again going back to the intention sith the design, between the Langston Hugh quotes and the little accents that pay homage to the Harlem Renaissance. I enjoyed my stay at the hotel, very nice and clean and in typical New York fashion the room was small but I mean I expect that. There is also a gym on the 6th floor and nice lounge areas on the 5th. Next time I am in New York I will most definitely be staying in this hotel.

Probably my favorite hotel that I've ever stayed at. If you love black history and this is a must visit hotel. I felt like I was living my Harlem dream. I was a bit skeptical at first because I'm like how is Marriott going to create a gentrified hotel in the middle of Harlem. But honestly they do a really good job at incorporating the history of Harlem and the patrons at the hotel are predominantly black as well as the workers so it feels very authentic and like they actually tried to do the neighborhood justice. As they should! The decor is beautiful from the lobby to the restaurant to the elevator to the rooms and so reminiscent of Harlem specifically the Harlem renaissance and other Black icons from the 50s and 60s. The decor in the room is stunning filled with mirrors and affirmations on the wall in the ceiling from Black poets and writers. The hotel is located in the heart of Harlem so you are able to experience the neighborhood with short walks and or bus/train rides. The staff is so incredibly friendly and makes you feel at home. Best believe that I will be staying at this hotel every time I come to New York now. Thank you to everyone who made this experience so wonderful.

Update: Accounting manager Sue and one of the assistant managers, Jessica, got back in touch with me. I await a resolution, but appreciate that there was actual follow up. Apparently several managers are out sick, causing more problems. I stand by most of what I said, but this gives me a little solace. Maybe there was just the perfect storm of disasters. I will at least retract my statement that I wouldn't return. Maybe over time they will work the kinks out and it will get better. Review: Me and Harlem go way back. Aloft Harlem used to be my go to hotel before I started staying more on the lower east side. In fact, a Marriott employee who used to work at Aloft directed me to this brand new, just opened hotel. I was excited to return to uptown and stay in this spot! I wanted to love this hotel. I don't like giving lackluster reviews and feeling like a Karen. But over two nights, the transgressions just piled up. I'm a Marriott ambassador who stays in hotels about 240 nights a year. I never bring up my status. This might be the first time I actually uttered in frustration, "it's September and I've already spent 27,000 dollars at these hotels, why is this so hard?" Upon checkin, it took almost an hour. This is even more frustrating because my first night was business and my company always sends a spending authorization. Two days in a row I checked with the hotel to see if they had received the authorization. They lost the first one. They mismanaged the second one. I always call or chat ahead to ensure a smooth checkin. It was still a mess when I arrived. The room was a "Central Park view." I should have known better; I don't know why I believed this title. I know New York geography better than that. I was looking into a building. Central Park facing or in the direction of Central Park shouldn't be called central park view. I had changed from the city view to the Central Park view before arrival and I guess I'm glad I did because while they were trying to figure out my reservation they mentioned they had oversold the city view rooms. I will say the black out shades do a great job. The bed was fine. Sheets were a little coarse. This hotel costs close to what a Moxy costs, so their sheets should be comparably smooth and comfortable. The bathroom was an absolute joke. Maybe not all the rooms are like mine, but mine may as well not have had a door. As you can see in my photos, the door is for "art." There is a huge gap where you can see everything! Like probably 12 inches or greater of a gap! Who designed this and thought it was a great idea?! Glad I was alone. The air unit is SUPER loud. Doesn't bother me as much since we usually have a fan on at home, but it was so loud that when it came on, I had to turn the TV up. It will likely bother some people. And you can hear everything through the walls (another video provided). Oh, and the toilet clogged twice. And one of the days, the hot water was off all day for repairs, though that's out of anyone's control. It's just giving context to a very un-relaxing stay. Back to the front desk mess--I later noted a destination fee on my bill (I had two separate bills because one night was business and one was personal). I don't mind destination fees--I've had them at many Marriott properties. But I was never informed of this one. I even asked at the restaurant, and they had no idea. I finally went to the desk and asked and they explained I should have been given vouchers for each night for 25 dollars off at the restaurant. But now the restaurant is closed and I'm checking out in the morning. I had spent almost 300 dollars at the restaurant (reviewed separately) over two nights, yet now I'm being charged 50 dollars in destination fees, but didn't get to use them because the hotel staff faltered on their end. They gave me a shrug. The morning of checkout, I stopped by to see if I could get some resolution, and again no one seemed to know what to do or who could help. And tons of people were just piling up in line, adding to the anxiety. I finally got an accounting manager, who took my info, and said she would follow up. I'm not convinced they cared, as much as they could see I was starting to get frustrated and wanted to placate me. I finally just ended up emailing my ambassador concierge for help, which is what I should have done in the first place. We'll see how that goes. Miracle, who checked me in, was very nice and trying her best. She was the only one who seemed to care, even if she failed to give me the vouchers. Maybe the hotel could offer her more help and train the staff better. But overall the place is understaffed and undertrained, and many times you'll wait a long time without acknowledgment. I don't mind waiting as much as I don't like being ignored. I've stayed at other new Marriott properties and they were much more put together than this. I'll go back to Moxy.

What a wonderful place to stay! Hotel is modern, but charming. My first room was full of old cigarette smoke. Night Manager switched me ASAP. Hotel has a nice bar-slash restaurant which was quite the happening place. I'll be staying here again!

I'm so not impressed with this new Marriott. The expensive cost to stay does not match your experience. The fifth floor is where the restaurant, lounge and check in are located. However it is too small and too loud to efficiently check in. The only amenity they give you upon check in is a bottle of water. The room has a very loud vent directly pointed to the bed. Hot air blew on me all night. I ordered room service to be told they had too many events to deliver my food and that I would have to pick it up.

The staff was extremely kind and helpful. Check-in was simple on the 5th floor. Rooms were small but clean. Beds and sheet were soft and welcoming. Big shout out to the staff at the front desk that gave some stellar pizza recommendations. Rosa's

The staff here is not polished. Things get charged to the room that shouldn't. And the demeanor lacks a professional quality. I have ambassador status with Marriott and enhanced internet is always free. I was charged for valet service that doesn't exist. And I was charged for a destination fee that didn't get applied to my food purchases. All of these things somehow ended up on my bill. And when discussed with the front desk there's little action. These are simple things and lack of attention to detail shows that management just doesn't care. My Central Park view room had an amazing view. However the room was funky. I had to lay on the bed perpendicular to the headboard to watch TV because it's on the side of the bed. Just not a very good experience I'm afraid. Lots of kinks that need to be worked out and they've been open for a while.

Great staff and hotel. I must say Craig at the front desk stood out most! He came in clutch as I was helping my boss navigate through NY for the first time.

The hotel looked amazing. I was very happy with the accommodations unfortunately the service was not so great. In the restaurant I waited a hour and a half for a takeout. They overcharged me. I called several times and kept getting put on hold. After a few minutes on hold there phone system hangs up. I finally got in contact with a manager. I communicated my issues and it's been over. Month and I have yet to hear back from the manager about my refund. It's a great place just be prepared for terrible service.

Imagine my joy in finding my childhood movie theater transformed into a marvelous hotel with a fabulous restaurant!!! The Staff, the decor, the sleek rooms overlooking the city - so well done. This is now going to be my only place to stay in NYC!!! Congrats Marriott - you created a winner!

This is Harlems newest attraction. It's the restoration of the Victoria Hotel. They kept many of the decor with famous older celebrities like Josephine Baker and Billie Holiday. The restaurant staff is amazing. The one that stood out most was Angel (hospitality manager - events manager) extremely professional and willing to make sure your visit is exceptional. Awesome personality. And the waiter was amazing as well (Juan). Food is a must and reasonable price for what you are served. Breakfast on the other hand was something totally different. A different chef. It took 1 hour 1/2 to get breakfast. I ordered the steak n eggs w/ cheese medium rare. It came out well done with no cheese. So after waiting 45 mins food went back to kitchen. And instead of them expediting my food. It went back in the line of orders and waited an additional 45 mins. I was offered fruit and my food was compensated but it should be after waiting 1 hour and 1/2 to eat. However staff was extremely nice about it. Coffee was too strong. After 4 cups before eating I was spiraling . Front desk personnel are nice but the manager had no personality and was extremely rude. But overall I didn't allow the few mistakes to ruin my feelings about this amazing landmark. Go and see for yourself. Also remember the evening chef is amazing, staff is great and atmosphere is amazing.

stayed there June 27-29. The downstairs lobby looks horrible - the doorman doesn't come out to greet you. When you pull up, there is trash all over the street in front of the hotel. There is no refrigerator in the rooms, no closet, and no ice machine on the floors . Overall a very mediocre experience for $350 a night ! Would not stay here again. Only two elevators worked so it took forever to get an elevator . Just don't stay here .

I stayed here 4 days and I found the staff to be very professional and accommodating. The room was clean and had a nice view. Front desk personnel Nisha and Ebony were both amazing. Nisha went above and beyond to make sure my stay was comfortable and to my liking and I was so pleased.

I just had my check-in experience with a very nice lady at the front desk named Ingrid. She was so sweet and made the process super seamless, she even offered to tell us where we should eat and drink. Thank you Ingrid!

We had 2 reservations; four of us traveling. This hotel came highly recommended. When we arrive, the hostess was very friendly and one of the reservations with an early check in. The second room she asked us to come back after 4pm. No problem. The reservation desk is in the design of a triangle. When we came back, the computer facing the elevator was not manned. One person was assisting a guest and another person had her back to the elevator looking at emails. We made several attempts to get her attention. Eventually we had to go around the desk for service. She was also friendly, and offered us water. We came down for dinner after being seated and ready to order. We were informed that an item that we ordered was not available and then asked the server if there was anything else that was not available and he proceeded to name 10 things on the dinner menu that was not available. This is unacceptable for a restaurant to have that many items unavailable on the menu. in the end, we had to leave the hotel restaurant in order to find food. This impacted other guest as well based on a conversation we had a on the elevator. And then there is breakfast. Breakfast was cold - we had the breakfast sandwich which was eggs, bacon and cheese with potatoes and everything was cold. We also ordered grits and sausage. The grits were salty and had an unrecognizable flavor and the sausage was cold. Another person ordered pancakes and bacon. The pancakes were heavy and she did not enjoy the warm vanilla butter and the bacon was burnt. The final person ordered eggs sausage, and toast. The toast was not toasted. We sat at the bar, and initially the service was very slow. The servers were not attentive. Towards the end of our service, the servers were a little more attended. One guess visited the restroom in the hotel lobby, and there was no soap. We have a King room. Great views!!! However, no privacy in the bathroom. The door only closes to the sink. People can see in/ out the bathroom from any point in the room especially when on the bed. This is not the service or standards I am used to from a Marriott property.

New hotel and great theme! The front desk was mostly fast with any service request we had. The rooms were on the small side and the bathrooms give no real privacy but it's very clean and has amazing views. I will stay here again if the prices drop a bit.