A larger-than-life blue flip-flop sculpture greets guests on the ground floor of Margaritaville Resort Times Square—an unmistakably playful prelude to the lobby check-in one floor above, where check-in takes place in the lobby.
garybogdon.commm
Blending the urban setting of Manhattan’s Times Square with Caribbean beachside vibes presents a challenge to even the most savvy hotelier. The target customer ostensibly wants to stay in the heart of the largest city in the U.S., but be able to escape to their own private island. It takes a special kind of magic to make 7th Avenue feel like St. Barts, and The Margaritaville Resort Times Square has this tricky choreography down.
At the Margaritaville Resort Times Square, the Jimmy Buffett-inspired chain of hotels threads the needle. It maintains the Caribbean vibes synonymous with the Margaritaville brand via smart aesthetic choices. Some are subtle, from white-louvered window shutters for wall accents to the whale tails for faucet knobs in the bathrooms.
Margaritaville Resort Times Square Lobby Check-in Echoes Jimmy Buffett’s Commitment To The Environment
The lobby lounge with breezy cabanas at Margaritaville Resort Times Square echoes Jimmy Buffett’s signature coastal aesthetic and his commitment to creating relaxed, environmentally-inspired spaces.
garybogdon.commm
Buffett, who used his brand and influence to help the environment, speaks loudly through the simple touches throughout the hotel. The seventh-floor lobby features tropical foliage and larger-than-life parrots on the walls. Margaritaville’s signature giant blue flip-flop greets guests on the ground floor, creating a first impression that the Margaritaville Paradise cruise ship just pulled into Times Square.
Don’t let the vibes fool you; this hotel is more than a place to unplug. Unwinding is optional, but so is starting your day with a workout in the Fins Up Fitness Center, grabbing a hot coffee on the ground floor, or hosting a meeting with full A/V capabilities in a private conference room (rental cost: $1,200) on the seventh floor. According to Travel Perk, 43% of Millennials say they’ve extended a business trip to include leisure time.
Margaritaville Resort Times Square Guest Rooms Are Tech-forward With Luxury Island Decor
Guest rooms at Margaritaville Resort Times Square pair bright coastal design with city views. Turquoise accents, ocean photography, and Jimmy Buffett’s signature “Changes in Attitude” pillows bring island calm to the heart of Manhattan.
garybogdon.commm
Unlike the beach, you don’t have to worry about bringing cash or losing your WiFi connection. Tip the housekeepers via a QR code in your room—just point your smartphone to it and you’ll easily be able to offer a digital gratuity. Considering the property opened in 2021 (it’s the first tenant of a brand-new structure on the former Parsons School of Design site), perhaps the cutting-edge digital amenities are to be expected.
Still, as luxury destinations go, the Margaritaville is full of contradictions. It’s equal parts family-friendly and business-savvy, city and beach, laid-back and fast-paced. What makes it work, besides a loyal nation of Parrotheads that devour all things Buffett, is the attention to detail.
Margaritaville Resort Times Square Blends Five-Star Touches with Jimmy Buffett’s Laid-Back Aesthetic
The LandShark Bar & Grill at Margaritaville Resort Times Square brings coastal cool to the concrete jungle, with skyline views, nautical design, and a menu that channels Jimmy Buffett.
garybogdon.commm
The staff are as polished as the property, with the attentiveness of a five-star island resort: staff member greets guests with eye contact and authenticity, requests are handled promptly, and there’s a touch of “you belong here” in every exchange. The paint is clean and fresh, clearly the result of significant upkeep. As reflective of the tightly woven brand, Buffett’s songs ripple through the experience, from the rooftop cocktails at the “5 O’clock Somewhere” bar to the “cheeseburger in paradise” at the Margaritaville Restaurant & Tiki Bar.
The quirkiness of the Margaritaville brand and its loyal fans stands in contrast to the polished setting of a light-filled, 32-story Manhattan high-rise. But its bonafides are inscrutable. Stonehill Taylor, the firm behind The Ace Hotel New York and The TWA Hotel at JFK, handled the architecture. Interiors are by The McBride Company, known for immersive environments with a narrative arc. Together, they’ve created a hotel that winks, rather than shouts, at its tropic inspiration.