Is Arlo Midtown worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Arlo Midtown is a solid choice if you want a central Midtown Manhattan base with compact, modern rooms, on-site dining, a seasonal rooftop bar, and 24/7 fitness access. It’s not for travelers who need large rooms, an on-site pool, or included meals — expect a mandatory Urban Fee and smaller room footprints.
In this guide
- Location — close to theaters, transit, and convention venues
- Rooms — compact options with terrace and suite choices
- Dining & rooftop — on-site choices but not all year-round
- Amenities, fees and policies — what to budget for
- Meetings & events — flexible Midtown venues
- Practical tips — check-in, accessibility and arrival notes
Location — close to theaters, transit, and convention venues
Arlo Midtown sits at 351 West 38th Street in Manhattan’s Garment District, positioned between Times Square and Hudson Yards. The hotel is within easy walking distance of Broadway theaters, Madison Square Garden, the Javits Center, Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Nearby subway stops include 42nd St–Port Authority and 34th St–Penn Station; Arlo Midtown does not provide an airport shuttle. This makes the property convenient for convention or theater trips where transit access matters most.
- Times Square: about a 6-minute walk
- Madison Square Garden: roughly an 8-minute walk
- Javits Center: roughly a 5–8 minute walk
| Nearby Landmark | Typical walk time (listed sources) |
|---|---|
| Times Square | About 6 minutes |
| Madison Square Garden | About 8 minutes |
| Javits Center | About 5–8 minutes |
Rooms — compact options with terrace and suite choices
Rooms at Arlo Midtown are generally compact and designed for city stays. The property offers a mix of standard rooms, terrace rooms, City and Urban variants, and suites for more space.
If a balcony or outdoor space matters, book one of the terrace-named rooms (for example, Room, 1 King Bed, Terrace or Room, 2 Double Beds, Terrace). Suite options (Suite, Suite (Arlo)) provide larger layouts and separate living areas when available.
- Room (Urban) — 1 King Bed (compact, city-facing)
- Room, 1 King Bed — flexible bedding (1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds)
- Room, Terrace, City View — king bed with city-facing terrace
- Suite & Suite (Arlo) — larger living area and king bed
| Room name | Beds (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Room (Urban) | 1 King Bed |
| Room, 2 Double Beds | 2 Double Beds |
| Room, 1 King Bed, Terrace | 1 King Bed |
| Suite (Arlo) | 1 King Bed |
Dining & rooftop — on-site choices but not all year-round
Arlo Midtown offers multiple on-site outlets: Altair (modern-American restaurant), The Bar Room at Altair (cocktails and small plates), and the Café at Altair (coffee and pastries). Altair serves breakfast through dinner and weekend brunch; reservations are possible via OpenTable.
The rooftop bar ART Midtown is a seasonal, open-air venue on the 26th floor with skyline views and food/drinks when it’s operating. Check current seasonal status before you plan rooftop time, since it operates only in spring–fall and may be closed off-season.
- Altair — breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch; smart-casual dress code
- The Bar Room at Altair — craft cocktails, light fare; daytime and evening hours
- Café at Altair — grab-and-go coffee and pastries, no reservations
- ART Midtown — seasonal rooftop bar; reservations recommended when open
| Outlet | What it serves / notes |
|---|---|
| Altair | Modern-American, breakfast–dinner, weekend brunch |
| The Bar Room at Altair | Cocktails, small plates; midday–evening hours |
| Café at Altair | Coffee, pastries; lobby-level, early morning–late evening |
Amenities, fees and policies — what to budget for
Every reservation at Arlo Midtown includes a mandatory Urban Fee that is added to the nightly rate. The Urban Fee covers benefits such as in-room high-speed Wi‑Fi, two canned waters daily, daily Citi Bike passes, access to Alo Moves content, and 24/7 fitness-center access.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool or a standalone spa; instead it provides a 24-hour fitness and wellness studio with Peloton bikes, cardio equipment and weights. On-site parking is not available, but the hotel partners with an off-site garage for validated parking; check rates with the front desk.
- Urban Fee: mandatory (covers Wi‑Fi, two canned waters, Citi Bike passes, Alo Moves, fitness access, and F&B discount).
- No on-site pool; 24/7 fitness center available.
- Pets: allowed — up to two dogs or cats per room (under 75 lbs), $20 per pet, per night fee.
- No on-site parking; partner garage with validation is available.
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Urban Fee | $37 plus tax per room per night; includes Wi‑Fi and listed perks |
| Pool | None (hotel offers fitness/wellness studio instead) |
| Pets | Allowed (up to two dogs or cats under 75 lbs); $20 per pet, per night |
Meetings & events — flexible Midtown venues
Arlo Midtown has a variety of meeting and event spaces, from small alcoves to combined Studios. The combined Studios space measures 1,350 sq ft and can seat up to 40 or stand up to 80 guests; the rooftop (when in season) can host private events as well.
For private dining, Altair and The Bar Room have dedicated event capacities and the hotel offers A/V and hybrid meeting capabilities. Event pricing varies with space and scale; contact the hotel events team for exact quotes and availability.
- Studios combined: 1,350 sq ft — seats up to 40, stands to 80, two TV screens and full A/V
- Dining Room: 1,101 sq ft — seated up to 70, reception up to 170
- Alcove 1 & 2: each 160 sq ft; seat up to 8 and can combine for small meetings
- Rooftop event capacity (seasonal): up to 90 guests
| Space | Seated / Reception capacity |
|---|---|
| Dining Room (Altair) | Seated 70 / Reception 170 |
| Bar Room (Altair) | Seated 50 / Reception 120 |
| Combined Studios | Seated 40 / Standing 80 |
Practical tips — check-in, accessibility and arrival notes
Standard check-in begins at 3:00 PM and the front desk accepts arrivals up until midnight; early check-in (9am–12pm) and late check-out options are available for fees subject to availability. Complimentary luggage storage is offered for early arrivals.
Arlo Midtown offers accessible routes, an accessible fitness center and accessible public washrooms. The minimum age to check in is 21 — anyone under 21 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older, and a valid photo ID plus a method of payment are required at arrival.
- Check-in: starts 3:00 PM; front desk open 24 hours (call after midnight if needed).
- Early check-in (9am–12pm): $50 fee, subject to availability.
- Late check-out until 3pm: $75 fee, subject to availability.
- Payment: hotel places a security authorization (deposit) at check-in; contactless tap-to-pay not accepted.
| Item | Policy / Note |
|---|---|
| Minimum check-in age | 21 years old (under-21s must be with an adult 21+) |
| Security deposit | Authorization taken at check-in; release timing depends on bank |
| Tap-to-pay | Not accepted (Apple/Google/Samsung Pay not supported) |
