Marrakech Hotel, A Budget-Friendly Stay on Upper West Side

Recently I toured a boutique hotel on the Upper West Side. “Upper West Side?” I thought, “I don’t recall ever seeing a hotel in that area of the Upper West Side.”

But, once I got off the 1 train on Broadway and 103rd St I saw it. A dark purple awning highlighting the name Marrakech Hotel. A short walk off the streets and up the stairs and I was taken into a warm, serene space. The colorful tiles, warm rich colors of the walls, furniture, and decor (most of which is authentic from Morocco) transported me to an exotic place.

After a great first impression (not to mention an extremely cordial and friendly front desk staff), I was introduced to General Manager, Keith Acker. He takes great pride in his establishment calling it “the hidden gem of the Upper West Side”.

In the lobby area you’ll see the Kazbar Lounge, a favorite of both visitors and locals.  Order one of their speciality drinks, like the Marrakech Martini or Oasis Ice Tea while there. A wonderful place to meet up with friends, and relax over drinks. They have also hosted sports viewing and other social events, such as speed dating or birthday parties. Drink prices range between $8.00 to $12.00, and though no food is served, people are welcome to bring in their own or order in from one of the many wonderful restaurants found on the UWS, or from one of the restaurants listed on the hotel’s Preferred list. The lobby also offers free WiFi and high-speed Internet access for guests to lounge by the bar and work.

Boasting 127 recently renovated guest rooms, each offers an intimate living space featuring an authentic Moroccan-style décor bringing the passion and allure of North Africa’s city. The building itself is over 100 years old, and many of the rooms were built around the set infrastructure, making each room different, and thus every stay experience unique. This also means there are no elevators, which might be an issue if you have problems climbing stairs. I wasn’t able to really measure the noise factor as most guests were out and about when I was there. I also didn’t experience an overnight stay, so can’t speak to the actual experience of a night there.

Only 15 minutes to Midtown and providing access to anywhere in NYC, including the Columbia campus for visiting students and families, this is a perfect location. The 1 train is located on the corner, but if you’d rather stay local, you are close to both Central Park and Riverside Park, shops, restaurants, and many other local favorites.

Average price for a room is about $89 during low season (January) to a little over $200 during peak season (November-December).

Marrakech Hotel 2688 Broadway, New York, NY 10025 * Tel: 212-222-2954

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