
Pod Times Square
Best for travelers who want a low-cost, efficiently located Midtown base with small, design-forward rooms and a rooftop restaurant.
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Pod Times Square is a compact, budget-conscious Midtown West hotel with very small 'Pod' rooms and rooftop dining for practical city stays. The St. Regis New York is a historic five-star Midtown luxury hotel with refined service and classic amenities — read this if you’re choosing between a no-frills efficient base and old‑school luxury in Midtown Manhattan.
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Best for travelers who want a low-cost, efficiently located Midtown base with small, design-forward rooms and a rooftop restaurant.

Best for travelers who want classic five‑star luxury, formal service, meeting space, and a central Midtown address near 5th Avenue.
When Pod Times Square wins: choose Pod if you prioritize low nightly rates, very compact rooms, quick access to Times Square/Broadway and a rooftop dinner or casual lobby bar — ideal for short city stays, theater trips, or groups on a budget.
When The St. Regis New York wins: pick The St. Regis if you want traditional five‑star service, a historic luxury address close to 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center, more meeting/banquet options, and a full suite of high-end hotel services.
Bottom line: Pod is a practical, small‑room Midtown option that keeps costs down and puts you steps from Times Square; The St. Regis is the choice for travelers who want refined, full‑service five‑star luxury and are willing to pay for it.
| Category | Pod Times Square | The St. Regis New York |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Practical, design‑forward, budget city hotel | Historic, formal five‑star luxury |
| Location (neighborhood) | Midtown West / Hell’s Kitchen, very close to Times Square and Port Authority | Midtown Midtown East, steps from 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center |
| Size (rooms) | About 665 guestrooms across 28 floors | 238 guestrooms |
| Ages / policy | All ages welcome; registering guest must be 18+ | All ages welcome (no adults‑only rule published) |
| Pools | No pool on site | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Serafina in the Sky (rooftop Italian) + Bar 42 lobby bar; casual rooftop and lobby options | 2 restaurants and 1 bar/lounge; room service and full breakfast available (surcharge) |
| Spa / wellness | No spa; small fitness center (28th floor) — availability may vary | Not published |
| Business & events | One meeting room (North Lounge), small event capacities | Extensive meeting/conference space: 13 meeting rooms, 3,944 sq ft conference space |
| Accessibility & services | ADA‑accessible rooms, complimentary luggage storage, coin laundry, multilingual staff | Wheelchair-accessible paths and services, multilingual staff, concierge, valet parking (surcharge) |
| Sustainability / special features | No pool or spa; charges a mandatory facility fee covering internet/phone | Multiple sustainability items listed (reusable tableware, no single‑use plastic items, LED lighting) |
Pod sits in Midtown West/Hell’s Kitchen, one block from Port Authority and a short walk to Times Square and Broadway.
Best for travelers who want to be in the Times Square/Broadway area and move around the city easily.
The St. Regis is on East 55th Street, very near 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center — a classic Midtown East luxury location.
Best for travelers who want a traditional Midtown luxury base close to 5th Avenue and high‑end shopping.
Pod’s rooms are intentionally small and efficient, marketed as 'Pods' with a few compact layouts.
Expect very small, efficiently arranged rooms; suitable if you spend most of your time out sightseeing.
St. Regis offers traditional five‑star guestrooms with pillowtop beds and designer toiletries.
Choose St. Regis for larger, traditionally furnished rooms and full housekeeping/service options.
Pod keeps on‑site dining casual: rooftop Italian dinner service and a lively lobby bar for drinks and breakfast.
Good pick if you want a casual rooftop dinner and an easy lobby bar without upscale formal dining.
The St. Regis lists two on‑site restaurants and a bar/lounge, plus room service and full breakfast (fee).
Better if you want multiple formal dining options and in‑house room service with luxury restaurant service.
Pod does not have a pool or spa; its rooftop restaurant and terrace are the defining public spaces.
Pod’s rooftop dining and terrace replace leisure amenities like a pool or full spa.
The St. Regis is known for its full‑service luxury hotel experience and event spaces more than for a pool or beach.
St. Regis’s defining features are its service, event/banquet spaces and classic luxury services rather than pool/beach facilities.
Pod offers a small fitness center and a casual rooftop nightlife scene at Bar 42 and Serafina in the Sky.
Pod suits travelers who want a compact gym and casual rooftop nightlife rather than spa treatments.
St. Regis lists a 24‑hour fitness facility and on‑site hair salon; spa treatments are not published in the supplied listing.
St. Regis offers more comprehensive in‑house services and concierge support for wellness and nightlife planning.

Pod Times Square — compact rooms, close walk to Broadway/Times Square and lower nightly outlay.

The St. Regis New York — historic five‑star service, refined rooms and extensive meeting/banquet space.

Pod Times Square — Serafina in the Sky and Bar 42 provide rooftop dining and a lively lobby bar.

The St. Regis New York — 13 meeting rooms and nearly 3,944 sq ft of conference space for events.
Pod Times Square is located in Midtown West about a 6–10 minute walk to Times Square and is a few minutes from Broadway theaters; The St. Regis is farther east and nearer to 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center.
Pod Times Square has no pool or spa. The St. Regis New York’s supplier listing does not publish pool or spa details.
The St. Regis has significantly more meeting and conference space (13 meeting rooms and 3,944 sq ft of conference space); Pod offers a single North Lounge meeting room for smaller events.
Yes. Both properties welcome guests of all ages; Pod notes the registering guest must be at least 18, while The St. Regis has no adults‑only designation published.
Explore how Pod Times Square stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·