Lonely Planet Review
Clean and comfortable rooms in an often-overlooked nook of Midtown's residential Murray Hill, this friendly five-floor walk-up grants budget travellers an excellent base (and private bathroom in all but two rooms) for cheap.
Open since 1996, the Murray wins many hearts in small things - like a recent renovation that put new wood floors in all rooms, as well as new beds, dressers and bathrooms. Compared to other budget hotels at this price level, the Murray is a notch more comfortable than most. The closet has doors to keep the duffel bag out of sight, and there's a small refrigerator on the floor for your yoghurt. Some rooms have new flat-screen TVs; wi-fi Internet is available for a daily charge. The only common area is the sofa, next to the tourist brochures in the tiny lobby, and a basement lounge area often filled with stored suitcases. There are a few smoking rooms. Outside, 30th Street is a leafy strip of residential townhouses - most from the 1920s.
Review by author
Robert Reid