After having read reviews here ( mostly the negative ones) I must say that we were in for a really pleasant surprise!
We felt very welcome at once - the staff; Doorman - receptionists - concierges all were polite and welcoming at our arrival and during our whole stay ( stayed for one week.)
We had a prepaid "Deluxe Queen room with City View". A very nice room, clean, and stayed clean every day during our stay. We asked for a room higt up, ad got one on floor 23. OK wiew, no traffic noise.
Lovely breakfast restaurant. - breakfast being served from 07.00 - 1130.
Continental buffet was included in the prepaid price - (consisted of sliced fruits, bagels, croissants and assorted cakes (!!) cream cheese an jam / jelly. (A bit different an scarce compared to European hotel buffets, but any way.. it was OK)
New York is a very expensive city. So was the breakfast menu in our hotel (Tried it once - 20 Dollars for one portion of pancakes..).

Best location ever.

My boyfriend and I just returned from a 3 night stay at the Helmsley for our first time in NYC. This was hands down the best experience I have ever had both on a vacation and with a hotel. Some of the reviews I read after booking it made me skeptical but they were all wrong. Check in is at 3pm and when we arrived at noon our room was already ready. Check out was fast too and they have security after midnight which is nice. Also the location is literally unbelievable ! I will most defiantly be staying here whenever I am back in NYC !!

Nice old style hotel. Amazing location on the south edge of Central Park. Subway access just out the door across the street and two doors down. Good beds and pillows. Good views of either the city or Central Park. Maid service was exceptional.

Lots of staff in the lobby....not very attentive other than the concierge. The Reception staff and the many staff members hanging out in the lobby need to figure out they are there to serve the customer not chat with each other. I wonder where the manager is??

The restaurant looks over Central Park in a lovely room. Nice continental breakfast with lovely fresh fruit and pastries. Lots of wait staff....not very attentive. I wonder where the manager is??

We had problems with the door locks and had to have security visit several times in the five days that we stayed there to open our door and to "work on the lock". When revisiting Reception to get new keys they were not friendly. One time they gave us new keys without checking IDs!! Security was always pleasant when they came up to fix the lock, but it is annoying to have to go downstairs several times each time the key does not work to get someone to come and fix the faulty locks. I wonder where the manager is??

Overall I would say they need to do some updating but it is a lovely old hotel with class. Management needs to beef up expectations for being customer friendly. Because of the location I would consider staying there again if the rates are good.

We enjoyed our stay at the Helmsley. The bed was super comfortable and the pillows were perfect. The staff was very helpful. We were hoping to relax in a hot tub but there wasn't one. That was probably the biggest downfall for us.