On an island like New York, location is everything. There’s the proximity to the nearest subway station, the local vicinity to restaurants (we’re really talking about pizza here), bars and, of course, Starbucks, to consider when finding the perfect digs in the city that never sleeps. Priming for top spot on our hotel radar right now is Moxy Times Square – a quirky, modern hotel stripped of unnecessary bells and whistles, and full of essentials for the ultimate city stay. Come prepared with your best ‘gram game – this is one hotel where you can’t afford to be camera shy.

Located on the corner of 7th Ave and W 36th Street, the hotel is a millennial haven. We’re talking a supersonic check-in process, due partly to the fact there’s no true front desk (but there’s a candy cart), staff on-hand at all hours and a split flat display board in sync with the hotel’s eccentric playlist (featuring both Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” and Betty Who’s “I Love You Always Forever”). And being this close to Times Square you’d be forgiven for thinking the millennial-cool lodgings come with a skyscraper price tag, but the clever design of the 612 rooms makes Moxy one of the city’s most affordable hotels in its class.

The trade-off for a prime location? Space. Rooms vary between 14sqm to 32sqm, but what they lack in size they more than make up for in ingenuity, thanks to Toronto-based design firm Yabu Pushelberg (whose clients include Peninsula, Rosewood and Aman Resorts). Stripped of mini bars and redundant wardrobes, the rooms are a feat in utilitarian sensibility, with foldable furniture that can be hung up to create more space. And regardless of whether you stay in a room on the upper floor or lower storey, the bustling soundscape of the city fades away, leaving you with your own private sanctuary for rest or revelry.

The innovation continues in the bathroom designs. In the larger rooms, an integrated sink and vanity outside of the bathroom means your travel partner can lap up the luxury of the spacious walk-in rain shower, undisturbed. Lightning-fast Wi-Fi throughout also means you can chronicle your adventures between pit stops while charging your phone (using one of the many charging ports) with relative ease.

And it’s not all for the solo traveller, there are also room offerings for groups, from the luxe 32sqm studio suite to more quirky options, including loft-style bunks and twin quad-style spaces. There’s even the playful ‘crashpad’ rooms for those who’ve danced the night away (read: too much tequila), available to book through the rooftop bar for one night only.

Whether it’s early morning runs in Central Park, shopping on Madison Ave or trips downtown, New York adventures require New York appetites. Adapting to guests’ various needs is the chameleon-like Bar Moxy – the hotel’s meeting hub. It’s here that the playful and versatile Moxy brand comes to light. As a multipurpose venue by day, with three flexible meeting spaces, a plug-and-play lounge and The Pickup, a grab-and-go food station in a greenhouse-inspired space behind the copper-wrapped cocktail bar, Bar Moxy caters to the dynamic millennial. By night the space moonlights as an energetic New York lounge complete with DJ and serious cocktail list.

While there’s no ‘official’ room service, Egghead on the ground floor (on 7th Ave) serves up all-day breakfast for the weary traveller or late-night bacchanalian (ask nicely and they’ll deliver to your room). Open to both guests and the public, the venue is an ode to the humble egg sandwich with freshly sourced ingredients from upstate New York. There are also a host of comfort food classics – think crispy chicken sandwiches, waffle fries and warm chocolate chip cookies.

On the second floor, 145-seat restaurant Legasea draws in the local suits (not that they’re likely to be wearing suits – the hotel is located in the heart of the tech start-up, media and advertising district) and guests with its seafood-focused menu (modern takes on classics, including the Chatham Cod Fish and Chips and spicy crab beignets) and bronze pendant and subway tile-adorned interiors.

Hedonistic escapades await at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge – the city’s largest all-season hotel rooftop. And sitting on the 18th floor, the venue boasts unrivalled skyline views of the Empire State Building. Having played host to the likes of Heidi Klum, Rihanna and Beyoncé, it’s well versed in dealing with the A-list as well as a packed house. Arriving early and staying late is the key to a night out here – made even easier by the fact that a short elevator trip is all that lies between you and your bed. And with a miniature putt-putt course aptly named Foreplay, this is where New Yorkers truly come out to ‘play’ after a day in the office. As the sun rises, the space transforms again to become one of the city’s enviable brunch spots and yoga studios.

Thanks to its prime location in midtown, bucket-list attractions are within walking distance. Major department stores are also a stone’s throw away (Macy’s is a three-minute walk) as is Byrant Park and the New York Public Library. But it’s the breezy 10-minute walk to the neon-lit Times Square that makes Moxy one of the city’s most accessible hotels for those looking to tick off the major hot spots on their list. Herald Square subway station (on the next block on 6th Ave) also means that exploring the rest of Manhattan is just a subway ride away.

If you really have to sleep in the city that never does, it’s hard to beat this distinctively cool and playful version of a New York Hotel. Rooms begin at approx. $195 per night and are pet-friendly. Moxy Times Square, 485 7th Ave, New York, moxytimessquare.com