Tasteful tower in a tacky place
Tip to visitors to NYC: avoid staying near Times Square. OK, now that that's out of the way, if you must stay in the area for a business meeting (like my stay) or other personal reasons, this is the place to be. Another tip is to aware that the published room rates don't include taxes, which amount to almost $70, for a grand total of about $500 a night!
It's located on a very busy street corner (43rd & 8th Ave.) but because the lobby is a giant escalator ride away on a distant second floor, you are above the hovering masses. The lobby is tasteful and spacious with dark woods and contemporary touches that are not tacky- rare for a hotel. The bar, called Bar 10, is nicer than most but earns it name with $10+ beers.
Like most midtown hotels, the rooms are modest but not small. I get upgraded rooms, so your results may vary. The furniture and bed were plush and there was an Apple Macintosh desktop computer ready for my free use. Again, this may be an upgrade only thing but it was a very nice touch and it was a pleasure to simply sit down and access the internet without typing in jumbled login codes- if they bother to give you one at all.
The bathroom was upscale and had a dedicated walk-in shower, marble tile and 2 bathrobes. No cheap plastic tub and curtain or shrink-wrapped cups here.
Room soundproofing was adequate but even a bank vault can't shield you from the din of horns and sirens that make NYC "exciting."
Overall, I prefer the Westin at Times Square vs. the nearby W, as it is brighter and roomier and has fewer hipster wannabes hanging about. However, given the choice, I would pick the W in Soho in a heartbeat.