Equinox Hotel New York

From the moment we arrived, the tone was clear: image is everything. The receptionist was dressed in an all-white suit (which summed up the whole vibe — performative, impractical, and deeply self-conscious). The staff are exclusively millennial, perfectly styled but hollow in energy. The rooftop pool? Less relaxation, more Mean Girls reunion. If you’re not part of a pre-approved clique, expect side-eyes and passive exclusion. Cold plunge and jacuzzi are the same — more social posturing than wellness. It’s not just bitchy; it’s borderline hostile if you’re not there to perform. Narcissism is the dominant energy here, and if you don’t worship at the altar of self-image, you’re simply not welcome. Inside pool was a health hazard. Used plasters (bandaids) on the sides, floors flooded, and zero supervision. A guest frisbee’d a flipper at me because he assumed I wanted his lane. I didn’t. Pool caps are mandatory — because hygiene — yet they apparently draw the line at biohazardous plasters. As for the spa, it’s not included in your (minimum) £1,000/night stay. We were told we couldn’t access anything and to use the “sauna on the gym floor instead.” Spoiler: there isn’t one. And for those wondering — yes, we checked twice. And unlike most luxury wellness hotels, the gym, spa, and rooftop areas are not reserved for hotel guests. They’re shared with Equinox Club members — so the overcrowding, queuing, and entitlement you experience? It’s not just seasonal — it’s structural. The gym is full of late 20-somethings who think wearing head-to-toe black Lululemon is a personality. They spend every weekend here and definitely call it “training”. The men’s locker room, meanwhile, felt more like a pseudo-sexual runway than a wellness facility. A strange, hyper-groomed tension lingers — and not in a good way. If you’re not there to look at others or be looked at, you’ll feel deeply out of place. And that’s by design. Everything runs on two lifts… for 30 floors. Want your room? First stop: Level 4. Switch lifts. Then wait again. This system would be irritating even if you weren’t tired, hot, or carrying luggage. Which we were. Good luck navigating it during peak check-in hours — unless, of course, you enjoy queue culture. The room is eye-wateringly overpriced. The bed? Not even a real bed. It was a sofa-bed mattress disguised as a double. Possibly the worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had — felt like sleeping on tile. The sheets were paper thin and scratchy, the kind you’d expect in a two-star airport layover hotel, not one charging four figures a night. You also get one duvet per person. Because nothing says romance like twin duvets. At least they didn’t forget the vibrator, condoms, and tip book for better sex. The design is slick, but functional decisions were clearly an afterthought. Also: the room doubles as a shameless Equinox merchandise showroom. Open any drawer and you’ll find protein powders, tech gear, skin boosters — all at boutique-inflated prices. You’re paying a grand to be advertised to. We booked via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts — supposedly with perks like breakfast credit and upgrade eligibility. In practice, we had to beg to use our breakfast credit, and no room upgrade was offered. At every turn, we were treated like bargain-hunters rather than premium guests. On our final night, we arranged for our included breakfast to be delivered the evening before — since we had an early departure and would miss breakfast service. This was agreed by staff as the only viable solution. But at checkout? We were charged for it — even though it was clearly a substitution, not an extra meal. We’ll be pursuing a refund for that charge separately, but the fact it happened at all speaks volumes about the lack of care or common sense. We also ordered room service that evening after being socially iced out by rooftop groups. On top of a hefty service charge, they added gratuity too. For context, we stayed six nights before this stay at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park, and even they didn’t double up! Pros: • Water in the room and food at Electric Lemon was good. • iPad room controls worked well. • Shower was well-designed. • Clean enough room We arrived at 6pm, gutted that traffic delayed us. After experiencing the hotel? We wished it had been ten times worse. My partner and I fit the exact demographic this hotel tries to court: young, well-paid, city-based. But unlike their ideal guest, we see through pretence. This place is all pout, posturing, and performativity — with none of the substance. What masquerades as “cutting-edge wellness” is actually just a content factory for narcissists. Wellness has become a costume here — it’s not something anyone’s genuinely doing. Recommended nightly rate? £200, maybe £300 for NYC. But this is not a £1,000+/night experience. We’ve already recommended Amex reconsider Equinox’s place in the FDH program. Style over service isn’t luxury — it’s theatre.

This is my first experience at the Equinox Hotel—and I rarely write reviews—but in this case, I had to make an exception. Simply put: Service, service, service—with genuine smiles and kindness at every turn. We haven’t even checked out yet, and I’m already blown away. The spa experience was truly exceptional—calming, luxurious, and incredibly well-run. The staff at the spa checkout were amazing: helpful, knowledgeable, and never pushy. They spoke about the products with such confidence and clarity that I felt great about making a purchase. Special shout-out to Jonathan, Jonah, and Luis—their warmth and professionalism really stood out. My husband didn’t visit the spa, but he’s been equally impressed with the hotel overall, and we’ve both agreed this will be our go-to hotel moving forward. The rooms are stunning—thoughtfully designed with a strong focus on health and well-being. Every detail feels curated for comfort and relaxation. Loving every moment so far!

A true gem in a great and peaceful location in Hudson Yard, around a 20-25 minute walk from Time Square. We had a wonderful stay and time at Equinox New York, a true 5-star experience. The staff ensured that we were well looked after throughout our stay. We received an upgrade at check-in and stayed in a Premier One Bedroom Suite on the 35th floor with separate lounge and 2 bathrooms. A fantastic room overlooking the New York skyline and the Hudson River. The room also has a well-stocked minibar but if you need a fridge, the staff is happy to supply another fridge for the room. It is obvious that the room and hotel are tailored to customers using the Equinox gym but that does not take anything away from the great experience and service this hotel provides. Ice must be delivered to the room as there are no ice machines on the individual floors. We celebrated our wedding anniversary, and the hotel kindly arranged for a surprise bottle of champagne to be delivered to our room for us to enjoy, with a beautifully handwritten card. We will definitely be staying here again when we come back to New York.

I stayed at the hotel as part of a work conference. While the hotel stay was nice, I was erroneously charged eating at the hotel cafe. When I flagged that incorrect charge during my checkout, the front desk promised to remove the fee. The charge was still not removed after a week. I called the hotel to follow up and was told that they would look into it. Nothing has happened yet.

Best place to stay in NYC! The staff, especially Richard at the front desk, went just above and beyond. Couldn’t be more impressed! The room was also beyond my expectations. Gorgeous view, huge bathroom, lots of cool gadgets. Very happy with my decision, thanks Equinox!