The Pool Bar

TWA Hotel One Idlewild Drive JFK Airport, Jamaica
(212) 806-9000

Recent Reviews

Bill S.

I'm a pilot and had a short layover in JFK. This is our short stay hotel and I have to say when I walked in, I giggled. Just the coolest look, cool looking room, had a rotary phone that worked. Absolutely awesome. Then I went to sleep...or tried to. Construction equipment Beep, beep, beep all night long. Pounding and what sounded like a hammer drill mixed in as well. I'm in hotels 200+ nights a year, I can sleep through most things...but this was the worst night sleep I've had anywhere. Worse than South America. Worse than China. It was awful. Talk about a let down.

Rosie M.

Agreeing with other reviewers. Excited to stay here. Love the concept of the hotel. It is a hike to get anywhere, but it's convenient because you're in the airport. Overall, you're better off staying in the city. The rooms, even the suites are very bare. No water, coffee, or tea in the rooms. The rooms are small. But at least the bed is comfortable. Went to have breakfast at the paris cafe - we had the avocado toast, the French toast and oatmeal. The food was "ok" to be generous. Leaving the hotel to eat is a better idea. The cafe itself looks run down. The pink carpet is all stained, the pleather on the pink chairs (that you sit in) is cracked and coming apart. If you look to the sides by the windows it is dirty and dusty. Went to the Connie airplane. There is 1 bartender, and you have to get your own drinks. There is nothing wrong with getting your own drinks, but inside of the plane looks dirty and run down.After the Connie Bar, we decided to get nachos at the Rooftop Bar. We were seated for 20 minutes. No one acknowledged us. There was a girl on her phone behind the bar - the entire time. I was watching her to see if she would acknowledge us. Never did. Additionally, another girl flirting with a guy by the kitchen and two men in the kitchen talking. We decided to get up and leave. When we got up and walked away, that was when the girl behind the bar decided to walk up to us. Too late. If you want to see the twa hotel, it's better to come in passing. The employees do not look like they want to work - maybe, because it's New Year's Eve? Additionally, the amenities were run down. Overall, the TWA hotel is perfect for influencers seeking photo opportunities. It is not a great place for guests who want to enjoy the hotel amenities. I do not recommend this hotel.

Devin B.

What brought us here wasn't enjoyment but we absolutely found it in our short 10 hr stay. Due to issues with our flight we were forced to push our stay in NY 12 hrs over night until the first flight back to CA. With the TWA on airport property it was a no brainer to be able to lay down and get 5 hrs of rest before another full day. The vibe is absolutely 1960s and a walk back in time! The complaints from other reviews about only being able to book online and self check in, while is an option, it's isn't the only option with a staff member at the front who can take care of your check in if you walk over from the airport on short notice. We got the kids to bed and decided to take a tour around and were blown away at the heated infinity pool overlooking the runways open until 11pm! An old TWA airplane turned cocktail lounge was also a neat treat to see. With tons of food and beverage options this is a great place to kill time before a flight or as a stay in between travel! We will absolutely be adding this into our next adventure to NY!

Eric L.

I really enjoyed my stay here, perfect place to relax and chill after a long flight. You can book a room here for a few hours instead of the entire day. I ended up booking for 4 hours and got some well needed rest. The entire vibe of the hotel is a blast from the past experience. Perfect start to a New York vacation or visit.

Carol M.

A few years ago, i was watching Project Runway ( which i love) and the Season opening was in the magical lobby of the renovated TWA Terminal lounge. Gorgeous red carpets, penny tile and the architectural lines that came straight out of The Jetsons. I joked to my friend that we should just go to NYC for one night to see it. Instead, we decided to make it a girls trip. And let me tell you, this hotel is everything! It's a museum, where they encourage you to be interactive- climb on what you like, sit in a car, drink on a plane, take a dip in the heated pool that overlooks the tarmac .. it's just fantastic It's a beating to get to the city, but we knew that going in. The staff was amazing, the drinks were delightful and the playful atmosphere filled our adventurous souls. So, if you ever have the opportunity to visit. Be it for a layover or a one day excursion- we all HIGHLY recommend it

Brian Blodgett

Even in winter the pool is warm, grab a towel and jump

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Colette H.

I loved it here, and I'm so glad I was able to come here finally.I've been trying to get to this hotel for awhile. I was in the area and had some time to stop in.I love the renovations and the ambiance here; when you step inside, it's like going back in time ie. the music, decorations, snack bar, bathrooms, seating area, etc. This place is like stepping into a time machine. I'd love to come back here and stop in their food areas and go to the year round rooftop pool. I always love a great pool.You can purchase a day pass here or you can stay overnight and have full access to all of the amenities.I'm looking forward to coming back again soon.

Charles Brody

I went to the Paris café for breakfast food was good, however it amazed me how they’ve neglected to maintain the place. In particular, all the seats in the booths had cracked leather or plastic surfaces and were taped over with masking tape and the carpets were in desperate need of shampooing. It’s hard to imagine that a place like this which has gone to such lengths to make it special and has a landmark destination has allowed this neglect to occur which would only amount to perhaps a few thousand dollars of needed repair .

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 3

Anna W.

Staying at the TWA Hotel was a very cool experience that lets you step back in time a bit. From their informative displays of brand history to the old uniforms on display, there is plenty to see. Their gym is fully equipped with every machine you could want and the heated rooftop pool has a unmatched view of the south-east side the runway. We were charged $25 to swim which was a disappointment. I highly recommend you prioritize to stay even if it's just to pass time on a layover. The rooms where very clean and artfully designed with an option to pay more for a runway view. The service I received at the desk was a bit disappointing as I had a lot of questions by the time I got to my room such as when is checkout? Is there a gym? Is the restaurant open and are reservations needed? All of which I did eventually get answered. I was also not notified in advance that I would be charged to swim.

Stephen Zubrycky

It’s incredible how much the staff of this place holds its customers in utter contempt. Many of the staff members were just plain rude. The water was also ridiculously hot. It’s a shame because this is a cool concept and could be terrific if done well.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

Julie

Had a great solo experience here. Service was courteous and professional. It's a bit pricey but both food and drinks were good.The pool seem a little crowded at one point but i still had a good time. Valet parking is expensive too.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Tenders

Alyssa E.

One of the most unique hotels in the world. The TWA Hotel was once an airline terminal at JFK, utilized by Trans World Airlines until the company went bankrupt in 2001. Designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962, this architectural masterpiece is the definition of retro futurism. The building was restored, maintaining its integrity, and reopened as a hotel in 2019. The interior is truly incredible; a well-executed time warp to 1962. The music, staff uniforms, furniture, and even certain food and cocktail offerings, are period correct. Within the terminal are several bars, lounges, restaurants, and shops, along with a fitness center, rooftop pool, and even a vintage airplane turned cocktail bar.We stayed for 1 night in a Deluxe King With Historic TWA View room, which was $521 after taxes. The room was tiny, but stylish. The bathroom had incredible lighting and nice toiletries, the bed was comfortable, and the view was great. Check in was seamless, and all of the staff we encountered were genuinely friendly and helpful. 1 night was not enough; I wished I had longer to explore the space. During our time here, we dined at The Paris Cafe (menu by Jean-Georges), had cocktails aboard Connie (a Lockheed Constellation aircraft), and swam in the wonderful rooftop pool whilst watching planes take off. The pool is open for hotel guests only from 7am-10:30am; after that, reservations are required. Overall, an unforgettable experience. Whether you are just stopping in for cocktails during a layover, or staying a few days on vacation, I highly recommend the TWA Hotel. I am already looking for an excuse to come back.

Christopher Martinez

Rosa is amazing!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Deshika B.

Heaven!That's the best way I can describe the look and feel of this hotel. My experience was second to none, and I keep hoping that I'll have another layover here!I stayed at the TWA hotel for about 2 days, and was able to enjoy various amenities. My favorite being the cafeteria, which is a giant, half circle lunch room set up with chairs, jukeboxes, and various retro photos and vehicles. You can choose anything to eat from paninis, to hot dogs, sandwiches to pizza and wings. They even have various desserts, pastries, ice cream, and chips, as well as more drinks than I can name, and the most delicious gummy bears ever.On the top floor, there is a super cool pool, with views of the airport and the surrounding construction, which hopefully will provide a better view once the airport is finished.From my room, I had sweeping views of the courtyard, a gorgeous restaurant across the way, and the tram. My room was well sized, with an extremely comfortable bed, large and spacious bathroom, and beautiful entryway. My only complaint is there are no microwaves on property, but my food barely made it through the door before I ate it all.You can also take a self guided tour of the hotels many exhibitions, like a retro hair salon, a complete 60s living room setup, an old offices from the late 50s/60s, and several rooms inspired by popular board games of the time such as twister or Yahtzee.With a seamless check in, easy to navigate halls, and hundreds of cool things to view, this is definitely in my top 5 lists of hotels, and I cannot wait to return!

Jody W.

Convenient? Yes! Kitschy? Yes! Cool concept? Absolutely!Loved parking in terminal 5, however, parking is available through the hotel as well. So, book an early flight and chill at one of the restaurants/cocktail lounges the night before. The Jet Blue terminal is right there-like a time travel portal from 1962 to the modern day.Onsite restaurants are certainly overpriced but that was expected. The room was small and almost clean but definitely not worth the price. You're paying for convenience and the cool throwback immersion attempt to the early 60's.We had a good time....in spite of the borderline nasty check-in experience and tepid service at the restaurant. The check in counter is part of the old TWA terminal where you'd drop off your luggage and get paper tickets back in the day. It's sparsely staffed so follow the prompts for self check in and avoid the less than pleasant staff interaction.Souvenir shop is nice-prepare to pay an exorbitant amount for a sweatshirt if that's your jam.There's a photo booth which is fun-actual printed photos in black and white (or color)...plus in email.Great concept. Pay for the convenience and overlook the shortcomings.

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