Margaritaville Resort Times Square

The honest review

Margaritaville Resort Times Square sits at 560 Seventh Avenue, less than a mile from the actual Times Square crossroads, and it delivers something no competing hotel in that corridor can match: a year-round heated rooftop pool with open-sky views of midtown Manhattan. For families with kids who have been cooped up on flights or trains, that pool is genuinely therapeutic.

The Jimmy Buffett tropical theme is laid on thick — think pastel colors, beach vibes, and a vibe that leans more party-resort than hushed luxury. Whether that charms you or makes you wince depends entirely on your family's taste. What is not debatable is the practicality of the location. Broadway theaters, the TKTS booth, Rockefeller Center, and the entry points to Central Park are all walkable. Madison Square Garden is a five-minute cab ride. The subway access from Seventh Avenue covers virtually every line in the system, meaning you can reach the Brooklyn Bridge, the American Museum of Natural History, or the Staten Island Ferry without a taxi.

Rooms run on the smaller side, as is standard for Manhattan at this price tier. Families of four will want to book a double-queen room or a suite with a sofa bed, and should set realistic expectations: this is New York square footage, not a suburban resort footprint. Storage is tight if you pack heavily. That said, the rooms are clean, modern, and well-maintained — cleanliness earns consistently high marks in recent guest reviews.

The rooftop is the genuine draw. The heated pool operates 365 days a year, flanked by sun loungers and a bar. In summer it gets crowded, particularly on weekends when day-pass guests join hotel guests. Families with young children should aim for early-morning swims before the crowd builds. The rooftop bar scene transitions to adults-oriented in the evenings, so pool time is better suited for daytime hours with kids.

The on-site Margaritaville restaurant serves American comfort food — burgers, tacos, seafood — and the menu is accessible enough for picky eaters. Room service is available, which matters enormously when you have jet-lagged children who need dinner at 5 p.m. There is no formal kids' club or supervised children's program, so families need to be self-directed in their itinerary planning.

For the price point and the location, Margaritaville Times Square is one of the more honest family values in Manhattan. You are not getting butler service or a luxury spa, but you are getting a pool, a convenient base, clean rooms, and enough fun atmosphere that kids feel like they're somewhere special rather than just another beige hotel box. Book the highest floor double-queen you can afford — the skyline views alone give the experience a significant upgrade.