Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel

What’s the best way to see Times Square? Not down on the streets, with the throngs of photo-snapping tourists and lost delivery guys. No, you’re better off surveying all of that crossroads-of-the-world commotion from high above—preferably on one of the terrace suites of the recently renovated Renaissance Hotel, a 26-story boutique effort under the Marriot umbrella.

It does take a bit of effort to get up to that terrace, however: Guests are instructed to take a public elevator from the ground-floor reception up to the third floor where, along with the hotel’s restaurant and lobby lounge, another elevator is located to bring them up to their room. But the view is worth the work, as are the comfortable, modernly dressed rooms—there 312 total, five of them suites—which are monochromatic save for bright pops of canary yellow. Bathrooms are set with organic Aveda products, each bedside is conveniently fitted with media panels for charging all of your gadgets and windows have been soundproofed so that you can view all that Times Square bustle without hearing it.

But if you want to get closer to the madness below, head down the third-floor, glass-encased R Lounge, which offers panoramic views of the square outside along with a menu of shareable plates from executive chef Dan Ritacco: Wedges of “grown-up” grilled cheese with fire-roasted tomato soup for dipping ($15), flatbread pizzas in Margherita and mushroom varieties ($15), and a puff pastry-topped pot pie brimming with rabbit, onions and peas.

TIME OUT TIP: You can escape the crazy of Times Square even further by walking the two minutes over to the Theater District and be transported via megawatt Broadway shows like Waitress, School of Rock or—if you can will your way to tickets—Hamilton.