Fantastic location
I stayed at the Excelsior for 7 nights. I checked in very late at night but I still got the type of room I requested. This hotel was perfectly situated for what I wanted. As many others have stated, it is in a quieter area (you're still in a big city) right by the Museum of Natural History, a subway stop, many delicious restaurants and markets, and a short walk through Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The only issues I had were a couple of brusque front desk staff, the bathroom had no fan (had to open a window to let the steam out), and traffic noise; the latter two were minor. Everything was clean (I am very picky about this, especially bathrooms), just a little worn as one should expect when staying in older buildings. Good water pressure in the shower. There's no fridge or coffee maker but I found many markets and shops nearby that sold coffee/juice/smoothies, fruit, and fresh bakery items (I highly recommend the Westside Market on Broadway and W77th). Several times I took cabs from midtown after Broadway plays and it was always around $10 (with tip). 30min cab ride to/from LaGuardia. Lots of people walking dogs and with kids in this area (there's a small dog park across the street). I would definitely stay here again.