It feels a bit silly writing a review of the Margaritaville Resort in Times Square because if you’re considering going to a Margaritaville hotel, you’ve already decided to do it. But if you need more convincing, here we go.
Margaritaville was originally founded in Key West in 1984 by the king of “Gulf Rock” himself, Jimmy Buffett. The chain, originally just a restaurant, is named after the singer's popular song of the same name and has become a staple for beach bums around the United States and the Caribbean. Since then, the iconic beach spot has been operating over 50 resorts including a multi-floor resort in Times Square that opened in 2021.
Recently, I chose to spend a night in said Times Square Resort, in the name of journalism. I will admit that I arrived a bit cynical. Not a fan of Hawaiian shirts, Oakley sunglasses or Birkenstocks, I truthfully believed that I was better than the Parrotheads. But it turns out, Margaritaville might be the most overlooked hot spot in midtown.
I arrived at the top of a long escalator, which let me out in the main Margaritaville restaurant. A towering two-story ceiling opened up to a large Planet of the Apes-esque Statue of Liberty sculpture, with a glowing, trippy margarita in place of a torch. The ceilings are painted blue with fake pillowy clouds and, with a closer look, you’ll notice that angelic acoustic guitars, flip-flops and cheeseburgers are floating in the cloud. It’s a Sistine Chapel for hedonistic retirees.
The bar is tiki-themed (of course) with totem poles affixed to either side and a thatched roof. There are big fake palm trees scattered across the eatery. It's a beach resort, even if we’re nowhere near the beach.
The spot doesn't let itself wander into the modern minimalist aesthetic so many other NYC hotels embody—there isn’t a single Eames chair, no Boysmells candle or Basquiat-style painting. It stays true to what it has always been, a Florida Keys beach resort, the fact that it’s in the center of one of the chicest cities in the world doesn’t deter it. It’s refreshingly itself and aimed directly at the clientele that loves it.
What are the rooms like?
The room trades the bright yet worn-by-nonexistent-indoor-weather colors of the restaurants below it with a coastal grandma meets Maxxinista vibe. It still gives beach but in a more subdued, relaxing space. There’s a pillow across the bed that says “changes in latitude, changes in attitude” in a “live, laugh, love”-inspired font. There’s pristine white bedding, and if you look closely you’ll notice it has a small slightly-off-white parrot print on it. I later found out that this bed itself has a cult following of its own and is available for purchase. The bed is maybe the most comfortable bed I’ve ever laid in—so I get the hype. There’s a waterfall shower and the sink handles look like whale tails. The room also comes with two caramel chocolates that had no right being so good, and the floor-to-ceiling windows give way to some pretty stellar views down 7th Avenue.
I wanted to hate this place and its vibe so badly, but I couldn’t. It’s your wine aunt's beach house. It’s comfortable and it’s homey in a suburban middle-class way, yet it still has that special occasion vibe reserved for high-rise hotels. It’s clean, and there are waffle towel bathrobes. Considering that a room here goes for about $200 less a night at the lux Knickerbocker Hotel one block away, it supplies you with a comfortable place to sleep at a fraction of the cost.
Of course, when you enter the room, Jimmy Buffett songs are playing on the TV—you can choose to mute him or not.
What is the pool like?
The pool on the 6th floor is small, and surrounded by beach lounges with umbrellas as well as fake palm trees everywhere. While in the pool, it does genuinely feel like you could be a beach resort. Once you’re poolside and can see off the edge of the building, however, it’s almost surreal to see the grit and grime that is the side streets of Times Square. The pool is kid-friendly while the walk-up bar is (obviously) not. The poolside seating is first come, first serve—so time it right to get the best seat.
What are the food and drink offerings at Margaritaville Resort Times Square?
There are five bar and restaurant options throughout the resort. Each spot offers a slightly different vibe, with a thorough line of extensive cocktail offerings. Landshark and the Margaritaville Restaurant & Tiki Bar are the only two spots that serve full entree offerings. But the real show stealer is the 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar, which offers elevated takes on the Margaritaville cocktail menu and small bites, expanding across the 31st and 32nd floors, the 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar is the resort’s rooftop bar offering, with outdoor and indoor seating and views of both Times Square and the Hudson River. I ordered the tropical paloma, and wagyu sliders, and enjoyed my cheeseburgers in paradise.
What is the neighborhood like at Margaritaville Resort Times Square?
Home to some of New York City's biggest tourist attractions, Times Square as a neighborhood is a tourist attraction in its own right. From the hotel, you can see the New Year's Eve ball, and you are within walking distance of all of the biggest Broadway theaters. A block from Bryant Park, and close to most of the city's subway lines. There’s a reason its nickname is “The Center of the World” and it’s a solid middle-ground place to stay if you want to easily explore the city.