A colleague booked me into the San Carlos for a 3 day business trip to NY. I welcomed the quick check-in, great location, large room, and efficient service. My room was nice, but by no means cheap. Overall, I was impressed, until breakfast, that is. The hotel serves an appalling "continental" breakfast. I was staying in a lovely room in what I thought was a smart hotel, yet when it came to breakfast about 40 guests were cramped into a windowless room which served the most awful pastries I have ever had (a colleague verified this!), with not enough seats and terrible plastic plates and cups, yuk, what a shame.

I would probably try one of the other hotels on the same street next time, or if I stay in the San Carlos I'd skip breakfast. I think management should review the breakfast situtation as it is so poor I don't think offering it does the hotel any favours.

Great location, nice two room suite with good facilities.
Helpful staff, very basic continental breakfast

We had a great time in New York. The San Carlos was a great place to come back to after long days of sight seeing and shopping. The staff could not have been more courteous. It was a pleasant surprise to be greeted by name and to receive prompt and gracious service.

We (family of 3 with an 18 year old daughter) stayed in San Carlos in July 2008. Chose it because of a special deal that gave 3rd night free for a 3 day suite booking and of course because of the positive views here in the Tripadvisor. However, I must say San Carlos didn't meet the high expectations set by those positive views. It is a very typical boutique hotel that there are even 5 in the 50 meter radius from the hotel (in fact stayed at Affinia50 opposite San Carlos last year and preferred it more). San Carlos is not bad but there is nothing really special for the price you are paying. Yes, there is a complimentary continental breakfast included but it is in a windowless corner room and with a very limited offering that can be beaten by any basic 2 star airport hotel. Maybe the worst disappointment was for the service. It wasn't overly friendly and you had to ask for everything rather than the service being offered. It was also disappointing that during the first day the receptionist was selling us a helicopter tour and his only reason was "You should really do it because we get a commission for it. You should help us make our living". I hate it when the service people see customers being there just to make their living rather than them being there making the customer happy. Left a really bad taste about the whole place which was a shame. Won't be back.