15 best hotels near Madison Square Garden that put you close to the action

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Home to the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers and a host for musicians across all genres, Madison Square Garden is one of New York City‘s most famous venues. And it happens to be right on top of Penn Station, one of the city’s two main train hubs.

With sports fans coming in to catch a game and concert lovers traveling in for a show, it’s no surprise that many visitors are looking for the best hotels near Madison Square Garden. Plus, the area is a convenient and central home base for families, groups and solo travelers looking to see New York’s most famous attractions.

Whether you’re looking for a boutique stay or the best hotel for a points redemption, there are plenty of hotels close to Madison Square Garden — discover some of our favorites within a 10-minute walk below.

Exploring the Madison Square Garden area

Madison Square Garden is located between 31st and 33rd streets and between Seventh and Eighth avenues at the crossroads of Herald Square, the Garment District and Chelsea. Generally speaking, it sits within midtown, though many New Yorkers might say the Garden is something of its own entity neighborhood-wise. (Because New York neighborhoods aren’t formally designated, definitions of borders differ.)

The 1, 2, 3, A, C and E trains stop beneath the Garden on opposite sides of Penn Station, or you could walk an avenue east to the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W and PATH trains at Herald Square. From Madison Square Garden, Times Square is about 10 blocks north, the Empire State Building is two avenues east and Hudson Yards is three avenues west.

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Located on 35th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel is just two blocks north of Madison Square Garden, which makes for a very convenient commute to and from a game or show. It also places you less than a 10-minute walk from Times Square and anywhere from a 15- to 20-minute walk from most Broadway shows.

While the Renaissance does belong to the Marriott portfolio, it has far more personality than you might expect from a big-name chain. Step into its lobby and you’ll find gold accents, dark wood and exposed concrete — not to mention fashion-themed artworks — that exude a style-forward vibe. The bold design continues into the guest rooms, all of which have rain showers. Some even have furnished terraces with stellar skyline views.

On-site amenities include the fifth-floor restaurant, Versa, which has an 8,000-square-foot deck with a retractable roof; the Thread Bar in the lobby; an in-building Planet Fitness facility (which guests enjoy complimentary access to); and a club lounge for Marriott Bonvoy elites, where breakfast and happy hour benefits are provided.

Rates at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel start at $299 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Related: The best hotels in New York City, from luxury stays to points properties

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Many travelers might not be familiar with the Staypineapple brand, but with a location just three blocks (and half an avenue) from Madison Square Garden, there’s good reason to put it on your radar. This midtown hotel is a boutique 89-room property with fun and eclectic decor — peep the giant “fireplace,” disco ball-esque front desk and floral floor mosaic in the lobby.

The standard rooms are fairly typical of New York City accommodations in terms of size, but there are connecting rooms for families or groups, as well as two larger suite options, including one with a private terrace. Expect more brightly colored and patterned decor throughout, including a faux zebra rug.

There isn’t an on-site restaurant or gym, but there are a few bonuses: The hotel is dog-friendly (for a fee), it offers coffee and pineapple treats in the afternoon and it provides free bikes for exploring the city.

Rates at Staypineapple, An Artful Hotel, Midtown start at $102 per night.

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Just an avenue and a half from Madison Square Garden on the edge of the Hudson Yards development, Pendry Manhattan West is arguably the most luxurious hotel within about a five-minute radius of the iconic venue. It’s part of the California-based Montage hospitality group, which means it brings the state’s laid-back yet luxe style to the Big Apple.

Entering the lobby of this Preferred Hotels-affiliated property feels like walking into someone’s updated midcentury living room — earth-toned, low-slung furniture is artfully arranged into little conversation areas. In the rooms and suites, floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light. The accommodations are fairly spacious by New York standards and are large enough to fit a Peloton bike, which guests can request from the staff. If you’d prefer to work out in a gym, there’s a 1,700-square-foot one open 24 hours a day.

Beyond the tranquil guest rooms, a main draw to the Pendry Manhattan West is its dining scene, comprising the chic Bar Pendry, the coffee- and cocktail-focused Garden Room, the laid-back breakfast eatery Vista Lounge, Eastern Mediterranean-inspired Zou Zou’s and Chez Zou, a tucked away bar with an international flair.

Rates at Pendry Manhattan West start at $633 per night.

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For a touch of earthiness in the not-so-earthy city, book a stay at the pet-friendly Made Hotel, where plants, Scandinavian-style wood elements and shibori-dyed textiles abound — and somehow pair perfectly with concrete ceilings.

The entry-level rooms are definitely on the cozier side, starting at just 185 square feet (though some have balconies), while deluxe rooms have a relatively spacious 230 square feet. Fortunately, the warm global-inspired minimalism lends itself well to petite accommodations. Need more space? There are suites available, too. 

The property is just shy of a half-mile or 10-minute walk from Madison Square Garden in the hotel-laden NoMad neighborhood, which means you have no shortage of trendy restaurants and bars in the area. But it’s worth staying put at Made for dining and drinking: Try tapas spot Debajo; Good Behavior, the rooftop bar serving tiki-inspired cocktails; the Paper coffee shop; or the swanky lobby bar, which also dishes up bites from Debajo.

Rates at the Made Hotel start at $218 per night.

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Don’t let this hotel’s name fool you. The Moxy NYC Times Square isn’t actually in Times Square but rather between Times Square and Madison Square Garden, just three blocks north of the latter.

The hotel, part of the Marriott family, certainly caters to travelers who want a fairly budget-friendly but still personality-driven property — and who probably won’t spend that much time in their rooms. The 612 accommodations are small and relatively bare-bones, though they have nice design touches like subway tiles and rain showers in the bathrooms. For families or groups of friends traveling together, there are even rooms with four bed bunks that give off a camplike vibe.

Where the Moxy NYC Times Square really stands out is in its public spaces, which were designed with socializing in mind. Seating areas are spread throughout the lobby, and a second-floor atrium bar above it attracts an after-work crowd that mingles with guests. The lobby-adjacent Legasea eatery serves seafood and bar classics. The crown jewel — quite literally — is the buzzy Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, which has (adults-only) amusement park vibes, complete with miniature golf.

Rates at the Moxy NYC Times Square start at $134 or 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Related: I spent 24 hours in Times Square — and had the time of my life

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Two blocks north and half an avenue west of Madison Square Garden is the Even Hotel New York — Times Square South, an outpost of IHG’s wellness-focused brand.

The hotel isn’t especially design-forward, though elements like a green wall add a sense of calm to the property — one could argue that fitness is more of the theme here than spa-like serenity. Guest rooms are outfitted with yoga mats, foam rollers and exercise balls, and there’s a larger 24-hour fitness center kitted out with all the essential machines and free weights.

A small restaurant — Even Kitchen & Bar — is available when your stomach starts to grumble. Its breakfast and dinner menu items are fairly health-conscious and filled with fruits and veggies, though you can indulge in alcoholic beverages in the evenings for a little treat. A grab-and-go station is on hand if you’re in a rush, and you can always pour yourself a glass of flavored water in the lobby.

Rates at the Even Hotel New York — Times Square South start at $174 or 28,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

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You’ll find the Kimpton Hotel Eventi about a seven-minute walk away from Madison Square Garden, just south of Herald Square and on the cusp of NoMad.

IHG’s boutique lifestyle brand, Kimpton is known for being exceedingly pet-friendly — and for having upscale decor that reflects each hotel’s location. Both things are true at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi, where you’ll find modern rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, some with views of the nearby Empire State Building.

Dining is a major focus at this hotel, which offers three food and beverage venues. L’Amico is an Italian-American spot with chic tiled floors and a wood-beamed ceiling, while neighbor Back Bar specializes in small bites and creative cocktails. Skirt Steak is a new concept that serves just one main dish: skirt steak accompanied by a green peppercorn bearnaise, fries and salad. You can, however, opt for a cauliflower steak instead, and there’s also a dessert cart laden with cakes and pies.

Rates at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi start at $353 or 55,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Related: The top Kimpton Hotels across the world, according to IHG Diamond Elite members

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Ace Hotel New York is one of the OG cool kids in the NoMad neighborhood, located a nine-minute walk from Madison Square Garden.

Though it opened in 2009 in a former single-room occupancy building constructed in 1904, the hotel hasn’t lost its panache. Its cavernous lobby space is frequently filled with remote workers toiling away at their laptops, creatives gathering for casual meetings and hotel guests grabbing a coffee or drinks from the bar before heading to dinner at Koloman, the hotel’s French-inspired restaurant.

Ace doesn’t try to hide its room sizes from you — it names them for their size. Single rooms fit a full-size bed, while the ever-so-slightly larger Small rooms can sometimes accommodate up to a queen. Rooms with bunk beds are designed for two friends, while the Loft Suite is palatial by comparison at 711 square feet. In all rooms, however, there are private en-suite bathrooms, which is a welcome difference from the SRO days.

Rates at Ace Hotel New York start at $159 per night.

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Spanish hospitality group Melia Hotels International built this property as its first Innside-branded hotel in North America. It’s located just four blocks south and half an avenue east of Madison Square Garden, right on the border between Chelsea and NoMad.

Innside New York NoMad takes a very contemporary approach to interior design, with monochromatic guest rooms in whites and grays. Though they’re minimally furnished — don’t worry, all the essentials are there, from a bed to a desk to a minifridge — they are on the more spacious side of the spectrum for the area, and some have terraces.

The rest of the hotel is far more colorful (save for the industrial-style fitness center). In The Wilson Rose Garden, a terrace lounge is covered by a chromatic canopy of umbrellas. The Wilson restaurant, which serves coastal cuisine, opts for the warmth of wood and some greenery.

Rates at Innside New York NoMad start at $137 per night.

Related: Sumptuous decor but a members-only attitude: A review of the Ned Nomad

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Walk east about an avenue and change — a five-minute walk — from Madison Square Garden to get to Martinique New York on Broadway, part of Hilton‘s Curio Collection of boutique properties.

Only a block away from the Empire State Building, this French Renaissance-style hotel first opened at the turn of the 20th century, and it was the founding location of the Professional Golfers’ Association, which formed at the hotel in 1916. Today, it’s a designated New York City landmark.

When Hilton acquired the hotel in 2019, it renovated the property to re-establish touches of its original grandeur, with elements of art deco design thrown in — peep those geometric headboards in the 504 guest rooms. Its Press Club Grill, however, takes a midcentury approach to both its design and its menu, serving up steakhouse classics. There are also Noksu, a 13-seat chef’s table with a 12-course tasting menu, plus an espresso bar and a soon-to-open cocktail bar.

Rates at Martinique New York on Broadway start at $132 or 52,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Related: The 19 best Hilton Hotels in the world

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When it comes to the more affordable chains, midtown — and particularly the area around Madison Square Garden — is full of them. That’s because the neighborhood caters to business travelers and tourists alike. The Courtyard New York Manhattan/Chelsea is practically right across the street from the Garden, tucked onto West 30th Street just off Seventh Avenue.

Rooms are exactly what you’d anticipate from a Courtyard by Marriott, which means they’re comfortable and convenient, but there’s not much by means of unique decor. Where they excel, though, is their size: They start at 260 square feet, with suites exceeding 500 square feet.

But the attached pub, Goldie’s Tavern, has much more personality, with exposed brick and green-paneled walls, black leather banquettes and brass light fixtures. There’s also Table 135, a bistro that serves breakfast daily, plus Starbucks coffee. Other amenities include meeting rooms and a fitness center.

Rates at the Courtyard New York Manhattan/Chelsea start at $146 or 36,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Related: The 26 best Marriott hotels in the world

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Less than 500 feet from Madison Square Garden is Wyndham’s The New Yorker, a historic art deco hotel nearing 100 years old that has more than 1,000 guest rooms. The 42-story tower is largely known for its highly visible signage: The words “New Yorker” are spelled out in 21-foot-tall illuminated letters on its facade. It’s also famous for its long-term resident, Nikola Tesla, who lived here for the last decade of his life.

While the hotel is certainly an older property — some of its rooms are exceedingly small, and many could use a few touch-ups — it’s in an extremely convenient location. Some of the rooms — such as the 250- to 300-square-foot Queen Terrace Suite and the 420- to 460-square-foot Family Terrace Suite, both of which have terraces — are much more spacious.

Outside the rooms, you’ll find a 24-hour outpost of New Jersey’s famous Tick Tock Diner, which is a fabulous place for a post-game or post-concert snack. There are also Italian-inspired Trattoria Bianca and the Butcher & Banker steakhouse, though neither is open 24 hours a day.

Rates at The New Yorker start at $129 or 30,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night.

Related: The 12 best Wyndham hotels in the world

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The Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Midtown Manhattan/Penn Station rivals The New Yorker for distance to Madison Square Garden — it, too, is less than 500 feet away. In fact, it’s directly across 33rd Street from the entrance to Penn Station’s Moynihan Train Hall.

This is a modern new build, which means the rooms are more spacious than average for Manhattan, though their decor is fairly cookie-cutter. Still, it’s a comfortable and clean stay for a relatively reasonable price — and you can use or earn Marriott Bonvoy points during a stay here.

As its name implies, Blu 33 Rooftop, the on-site bar and restaurant, indeed sits on the property’s rooftop. In warmer weather, the patio is open-air, but when the temperatures drop, the space is enclosed and heated. To round out the amenities, there’s also a small fitness center; room rates cover a free breakfast as well.

Rates at the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Midtown Manhattan/Penn Station start at $162 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

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Two blocks north and just a touch more than an avenue over from Madison Square Garden, the Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street is an excellent option for Hilton Honors members. Its proximity to the venue isn’t its only allure — you can also see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from the windows of some of its rooms, which you can book specifically if you’re visiting on Thanksgiving. Visiting another time of year? Try the rooms with Empire State Building views.

Beyond those panoramas, this is a pretty simple property with straightforward rooms and a few basic amenities, such as a gym, a 24-hour lobby convenience store and a lobby bar. There’s also a breakfast restaurant, though that’s the only option for hot food throughout the day (unless you buy a microwavable meal to heat up in your room).

Dogs weighing up to 75 pounds and cats are welcome guests here — the fee is $75 flat for up to four nights and $125 for stays of five nights or longer.

Rates at the Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street start at $132 or 40,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

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As its name suggests, the AC Hotel New York Times Square is close to Times Square, but it’s also only a nine-minute walk from Madison Square Garden. If you plan on visiting some attractions in Times Square and seeing a Broadway show during your trip, this hotel has a prime location — most Broadway theaters are within a 15-minute walk. 

Who else should stay here? Art lovers with Marriott Bonvoy status. The hotel displays works by local artists throughout the property’s shared spaces, including in the airy midcentury-inspired lobby. Other shared amenities include Boqueria, a Barcelona-style tapas bar; Castell Rooftop Lounge, a year-round venue with phenomenal city views; and a 24-hour fitness center.

Regarding the rooms, they’re a tad small, but they do have floor-to-ceiling windows that make them feel more spacious (and blackout curtains to keep things dark inside). Some do have balconies, which might be worth the splurge, depending on the time of year. Otherwise, they’re relatively simple in design with streamlined wood furniture.

Rates at the AC Hotel New York Times Square start at $175 or 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Best credit cards for booking hotels in Madison Square Garden

There are over a dozen excellent travel rewards credit cards out there for hotel stays. The right one(s) for you will depend on if you’re loyal to a particular program or chain, whether you want premium perks and if you value benefits like annual free nights, automatic elite status and lucrative earning rates.

Here are three great credit cards to use for booking stays across a variety of hotel chains and independent properties while still enjoying money-saving features and high-end benefits.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earning ratesThis card earns 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly with the airlines or through the Amex Travel portal (on up to $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar year). Plus, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar. Remember, Amex points transfer to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio and to Choice Privileges at a 1:1 ratio, and there are sometimes transfer bonuses.

BenefitsThis card is absolutely packed with perks, but among the travel-related ones you’ll want to maximize, including some hotel-specific benefits, are:

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Annual fee $695 (see rates and fees

Read our review of the Amex Platinum card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Earning ratesEarn an unlimited 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel and an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.

BenefitsCardholders get $300 in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel, plus 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary, starting on your first anniversary (worth $100 toward travel). Through the Capital One Premier Collection, cardmembers can enjoy free breakfast, on-property credits and room upgrades (if available) on stays at participating properties booked through Capital One Travel. They also receive up to $100 in statement credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Annual fee$395 (see rates and fees

Read our review of the Capital One Venture X

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Earning ratesThis card accrues 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points). It also racks up 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal; and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

BenefitsCardholders receive a $50 statement credit on hotel stays purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal upon opening the card and each following cardmember anniversary. They also receive a 10% bonus based on their total spending during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $10 spent. This card also has some of the best travel protections in the industry, including trip cancellation insurancetrip delay insurance and primary rental car coverage among other policies.

Annual fee$95

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred

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For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here