Great location, poor value
For years the Empire Hotel, across the street from Lincoln Center, was a seedy, rundown venue. In those days, it deserved the comment I once heard from American composer Morton Gould: "I don't mind the cockroaches, I just wish they wouldn't charge you double occupancy for them." But the hotel closed for a few years, was rumored to be converted to condominiums when the real estate bust hit, and it was eventually taken over by the World Hotels chain and completely renovated. It is now clean, elegantly appointed, and continues to benefit from being across the street from Lincoln Center.
Unfortunately, the renovation did not include re-building the rooms. They are tiny, as are the bathrooms - where there is barely enough room to change your mind. The poorly designed shower makes it impossible to test the water temperature before being subjected to it -- unless you are a contortionist. You must stand under it to turn it on. The shower also has only a half-door, so you must get the bathroom floor wet. But, on the positive side, for its small size the bathroom has very good shelf space for your toiletries and medicines.
There is no easy-chair in the room (no space for it) - a bed, desk and desk chair, and a few feet of floor space to navigate your way around. This would be acceptable, perhaps, if the price weren't so high - I paid $399 for a room there recently.
If you're willing to pay the price, and need to be close to Lincoln Center, then it is acceptable. The service is very good, the folks are nice and efficient, and, as I said, it is clean and elegant.