
Pod Times Square
Best for efficient, budget-conscious city stays within easy walking distance of Broadway and Times Square.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Pod Times Square is a compact, design-forward Midtown hotel with small 'Pod' rooms and rooftop Italian dining; read this if you want an efficient, budget-conscious base for Broadway and Times Square. Hard Rock Hotel New York - Partner of ALL Accor is a music-themed, upscale Midtown property with more rooms and nightlife options; read this if you prefer a branded, larger hotel experience near Rockefeller Center and Times Square.
Updated · about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) apart

Best for efficient, budget-conscious city stays within easy walking distance of Broadway and Times Square.

Best for travelers who want a recognizable, music-branded Midtown hotel with on-site nightlife and larger guest capacity.
When Pod Times Square wins: choose Pod if you want small, efficiently designed rooms, lower rates, and a rooftop dinner/drink option a short walk from Broadway without extra frills.
When Hard Rock Hotel New York wins: choose Hard Rock if you want a larger, branded Midtown property with a nightclub, 24-hour fitness, meeting rooms, and multiple room-type choices for a more upscale stay.
Bottom line: both put you within easy reach of Times Square and Broadway. Pick Pod for compact, practical stays and value; pick Hard Rock for a bigger, music-themed hotel experience and more on-site services.
| Category | Pod Times Square | Hard Rock Hotel New York Partner of ALL Accor |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Compact, design-forward, low-frills city hotel | Music-themed, upscale Midtown hotel |
| Location (address) | 400 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 | 159 W 48th St, New York, NY 10036 |
| Distance from each other | about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) north to Hard Rock | |
| Size (rooms) | 665 guestrooms | 446 air-conditioned rooms |
| Who can stay | All ages welcome; registering guest must be 18+ | All ages welcome (not adults-only) |
| Pools / beach | No on-site pool or hot tub | |
| Restaurants & bars | Serafina in the Sky (rooftop Italian) + Bar 42 lobby bar | 1 restaurant and 1 bar/lounge (on-site dining and bar available) |
| Spa / wellness | No on-site spa; small fitness center on 28th floor | Not published |
| Nightlife & entertainment | Rooftop dining and a lively lobby bar/terrace | Nightclub on site; music-themed atmosphere |
| Business / groups | One meeting/event room (North Lounge) with modest capacities | 4 meeting rooms available |
| Accessibility & family features | ADA-accessible rooms, family-friendly rooms (Bunk Pod), cribs available | Wheelchair-accessible paths and rooms (may have limitations); children stay free using existing bedding |
Pod Times Square sits in Midtown West, a short walk from Broadway and Times Square.
Ideal if you want immediate proximity to Broadway, Port Authority and Midtown transit.
Hard Rock Hotel New York is centrally located between Times Square and Rockefeller Center.
A good pick if you want Midtown sights like Rockefeller Center within immediate reach.
Pod offers compact, efficiently planned 'Pod' rooms and a few larger apartment-style Pod Pads.
Expect very compact rooms designed for short city stays or budget-conscious travelers.
Hard Rock lists a wide range of room types from Classic to Deluxe and suites.
Choose Hard Rock for more room-type options and larger-suite choices compared with Pod.
Pod's on-site dining centers on a rooftop Italian restaurant and a ground-floor bar.
Pod gives you a convenient rooftop dinner option plus a single lobby bar for casual meals and drinks.
Hard Rock offers on-site restaurant and bar/lounge service and breakfast for a fee.
Hard Rock delivers the standard hotel mix of a restaurant and bar suitable for evening plans without leaving Midtown.
Pod's rooftop restaurant and terrace are its signature social spaces.
Pod's rooftop is its main standout amenity; don't expect pool or spa services.
Hard Rock highlights nightlife and a music-themed environment.
Hard Rock's nightclub and music focus shape its on-site social scene more than rooftop dining.
Pod provides basic fitness access and practical guest services geared to city travelers.
Pod covers basic wellness needs and useful services for short urban stays.
Hard Rock offers 24-hour fitness and a nightlife option plus meeting facilities.
Hard Rock provides fuller on-site services for guests seeking fitness, meetings and evening entertainment.

Compact rooms, efficient layout and lower-frills pricing make Pod a strong choice for value-focused city stays.

Hard Rock's nightclub and branded music focus suit travelers who want an active on-site evening scene.

Pod's Serafina in the Sky rooftop restaurant and terrace give you skyline dinner options without leaving the hotel.

Hard Rock lists four meeting rooms and more extensive on-site event capacity than Pod.
Both are within easy walking distance of Broadway, but Pod Times Square is steps from many theaters and about 0.4 miles from the center of Times Square.
Neither hotel lists an on-site pool. Pod explicitly has no pool or spa; a spa at Hard Rock is not published in the supplier listing.
Both welcome families. Pod markets family-friendly room types (Bunk Pod) and provides cribs; Hard Rock allows children and notes that children stay free when using existing bedding.
Pod charges a mandatory facility fee that covers in-room internet and domestic calls. Hard Rock lists complimentary wired internet access among featured amenities.
Explore how Pod Times Square stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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