Planning a family trip to New York City means deciding where everyone will sleep, eat, and unwind after a full day in the city, and the right suite makes that decision easier.
The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York offers four suite types for families visiting the city: the One-Bedroom Apartment, One Bedroom Terrace Apartment, East River Penthouse, and Cornell Penthouse.
Each suite separates the bedroom from the living space, but they differ in square footage, kitchen setup, and layout.
The Fifty’s team compares all four side by side, covering size, layout, and amenities, so families booking a stay can match a suite to their needs before they arrive.
East River Penthouse at The Fifty
What Counts as a Family Suite at The Fifty
The Fifty separates its family-suited suites from its standard rooms based on whether the bedroom is closed off from the main living space. That separation gives every member of the family, parents and kids alike, a space to retreat to, rather than sharing one open room for the entire stay.
Four suite types at the Fifty are:
- The One-Bedroom Apartment and One Bedroom Terrace Apartment each carry a self-contained spacious bedroom, closed off from the main living space, giving parents a quiet retreat once the kids settle in for the night.
- The East River Penthouse and Cornell Penthouse, situated at the top of the building, expand on that same separated layout with larger footprints and additional defined zones for cooking, dining, and lounging, useful for larger families or multiple generations traveling together.
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One-Bedroom Apartments: A Separate Room for Parents and Kids
The One Bedroom Apartment and One Bedroom Terrace Apartment at The Fifty both separate the spacious bedroom from the main living space.
This layout gives parents a private area once the kids settle in at night, while daytime routines, such as breakfast or getting ready to head out, can happen in the shared living space without disrupting anyone still asleep in the bedroom.
The One-Bedroom Apartment at The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York
The One-Bedroom Apartment
At 790 square feet, this one-bedroom apartment gives families room to spread out, with a fully equipped kitchen for cooking meals during the stay.
The suite includes a refrigerator, stovetop, , and microwave, allowing families to stock groceries, prepare meals on their own schedule, and manage dietary needs without relying on restaurants for every meal.
The self-contained spacious bedroom gives parents a quiet space of their own. The closed-door living room includes a sleeper sofa, which converts into sleeping space for kids by night and folds away to reclaim the living area by day.
One-Bedroom Terrace Apartment at The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York
The One-Bedroom Terrace Apartment
Ranging from 500 to 700 square feet of meticulously designed interior space, the One-Bedroom Terrace Apartment carries over the same separate-bedroom logic but infuses it with indoor-outdoor configuration.
The apartment features a compact kitchen, optimized for quick meal prep, snack storage, and morning routines, alongside a professionally appointed workspace.
This dedicated desk area is ideal for hybrid-working parents who need to check in on work or take a quick call without disrupting the family’s vacation rhythm.
The standout feature of this suite is a private, furnished outdoor terrace showcasing striking views of the Midtown East skyline, giving parents a quiet spot for morning coffee or an evening drink while kids relax inside.
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The Cornell Penthouse at The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York
Penthouses: The Largest Family Configurations
Larger families and multi-generational groups often need more space than a standard hotel layout can provide.
The Fifty’s two top-floor penthouses answer that need with expansive, high-altitude layouts that separate living areas while keeping everyone in one suite.
The East River Penthouse
Twenty floors above Midtown East, the East River Penthouse is the largest configuration at The Fifty.
At 1,169 square feet, the sprawling layout eliminates the classic “hotel room friction.” The master bedroom functions as a closed-door sanctuary for parents, while the primary living zone features a premium sleeper sofa that easily handles sibling sleeping arrangements.
Closed-off Living Area at East River Penthouse suite
The floor plan is intentionally wide, meaning open suitcases, strollers, and shopping bags can stay out in the open without blocking walkways or creating tripping hazards during late-night trips to the bathroom.
The generous square footage lets family life happen without anyone getting in each other’s way. Early rising kids can eat breakfast at the kitchen counter and watch cartoons in the living room, while parents sleep in or older kids enjoy quiet time..
Spreading out like this helps families avoid midday burnouts.
True to its name, this penthouse features floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sweeping, sun-drenched vistas looking out toward the East River and the city’s skyline.
Kids can watch the city lights turn on at dusk, making the penthouse feel like an experiential part of the NYC trip itself.
The Cornell Penthouse
Perched even higher on the 22nd floor, the 1,098-square-foot Cornell Penthouse trades standard hospitality design for the atmosphere of a sophisticated, turn-key Manhattan luxury apartment.
This layout suits families who want their daily routines to stay organized and predictable while traveling. The Cornell Penthouse features defined zones for cooking, dining, and lounging. It also has expanded closet space, which is great for storing bulky strollers, shopping bags from 5th Avenue, and keeping family outfits wrinkle-free.
Cornell Penthouse living area
The dedicated dining area is a practical asset for families. It gives everyone a proper table to sit down together for a meal, map out the day’s sightseeing over morning bagels, or set up a board game station for the kids.
When it’s time to wind down, the separate living room serves as a relaxation hub, allowing parents to watch a movie or read a book in peace.
The living and dining areas feature hardwood flooring, complemented by wool area rugs in the seating and sleeping zones. For traveling families, this is ideal because hardwood is easy to clean and naturally low allergen, so toddlers can safely play on the floor, and accidental juice or snack spills wipe up in seconds.
Being up on the 22nd floor means absolutely zero street-level noise reaches the penthouse, which makes it the ultimate sleep zone for families whose kids are easily awoken by city sounds.
Family Packages That Add to the Stay
To maximize the overall value of your suite booking, The Fifty runs dedicated packages for family stays.
Each package helps parents in a practical way, like keeping kids engaged or adding a bit of magic to the trip.
a. Big Apple Family Getaway
Curated specifically to engage younger children and take the guesswork out of navigating Manhattan as a family, Big Apple Family Getaway package transforms check-in into an exciting milestone for kids.
Upon arrival, your children are greeted with a signature welcome backpack packed with their choice of custom art and creative activities.
This is a great asset for parents, providing immediate, screen-free entertainment to keep kids occupied in the suite while you unpack and settle in.
The package also includes a curated neighborhood guide packed with family-tested, hyper-local recommendations for nearby parks, casual dining, and kid-friendly attractions, saving you hours of scrolling on your phone.
This offer is structured for families traveling with children ages 3 and older. To take advantage of it, make sure to book using Promo Code: NYKID.
b. American Girl™ Package
American Girl™ Package is created to turn a visit to the iconic American Girl Place® on Fifth Avenue into a seamless luxury experience from the store all the way back to your suite.
The package brings the magic of Fifth Avenue directly into your suite. It comes pre-equipped with a doll-sized travel bed, allowing your child’s doll to have their own dedicated sleeping arrangement right alongside them.
The suite also features a personalized welcome letter addressed to your child, making them feel like VIP guests the moment they step through the door.
To help ease the morning rush before a busy day of sightseeing, the package includes a complimentary continental breakfast for two adults and one child.
This experience can be booked using Promo Code: AMGIRL at the time of booking.
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Street view of The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York
About The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York
The Fifty Sonesta New York pairs residential-style suites with on-site amenities designed for traveling with kids:
- Breakfast in the Club Room: Skip the expensive Midtown diners. Head to the second-floor Club Room from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM daily for a continental breakfast to fuel the family before hitting the city.
- Family Game Nights (Disconnect to Reconnect): You don’t need to pack heavy toys. Borrow from the hotel’s complimentary menu of classic board games and books.
- 24/7 Snacks and Essentials (The Market): For unpredictable toddler cravings or forgotten toiletries, the on-site Market is open 24/7 for quick grab-and-go snacks, drinks, and travel items.
- Bring the Family Pet (PAWS Program): If your family vacation includes a furry friend, the PAWS (Pets Are Welcome At Sonesta) program makes pet travel seamless with transparent policies and welcoming amenities.
- Screen–Free Entertainment (Sonesta x Yoto): Sonesta Travel Pass members get free rentals of Yoto Players, smart audio devices loaded with kid-friendly audiobooks, music, and activities.
Join Sonesta Travel Pass for Exclusive Rates and Perks
Sonesta Travel Pass is Sonesta’s award-winning free loyalty program, giving members exclusive rates and perks at The Fifty Sonesta New York and across the Sonesta portfolio.
Members earn tier bonuses on every stay: 25% for Silver, 50% for Gold, and 75% for Platinum.
Guests who book direct and join Travel Pass unlock the full value of a stay at The Fifty, from the suite itself to the amenities and rewards that come with it.
