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I would definitely go to Soho. Times Square is very touristy... much, much more than Soho is. To be honest, most of the restaurants and bars in TS suck because they are filled with the same kind of people you were most likely around back home. It does not give you any kind of authentic New York experience, just a manufactured corporate snooze at top prices. Stay in Soho, that way you will be in close proximity to a better pick of places for dining and nightlife, as well as much better shopping. And a much more interesting crowd to observe and take in.
Soho. But I'd also look at Union Square. Or even the Upper West Side. Depends on what you're looking for out of the trip. Shopping? Eating? Strolling down the street? Don't stay in Times Square though.
SoHo... and while you're in NYC, check out Greenwich Village, and the Upper West Side... you'll be where there is less tourists than if you were to stay and eat in Midtown.
To play devil's advocate, SoHo is packed with tourists as well. Just different kinds. Instead of wide-eyed midwesterners like you might find in Times Square, in SoHo you'll generally find super fashion conscious suburbanites who think they're queen of the city because they bought an expensive bag in a SoHo boutique. Obviously a generalization, but I find the latter way more obnoxious, and SoHo is every bit as packed as Times Square.
Also, to a tourist, the cast-iron aesthetics of SoHo will be much less striking than Times Square. Imagine settling into your hotel room and having a view of the Coca-Cola sign, the ball, etc. vs. say, Spring Street. As a tourist, I'd take the first. I mean, Times Square is heavily toured for a reason. Debating "authentic New York" between Times Square and SoHo is like debating the authenticity of frozen pizzas. If authenticity is all that matters, then I'd advise them to stay in Sunset Park or Jackson Heights.
To play devil's advocate, SoHo is packed with tourists as well. Just different kinds. Instead of wide-eyed midwesterners like you might find in Times Square, in SoHo you'll generally find super fashion conscious suburbanites who think they're queen of the city because they bought an expensive bag in a SoHo boutique. Obviously a generalization, but I find the latter way more obnoxious, and SoHo is every bit as packed as Times Square.
Also, to a tourist, the cast-iron aesthetics of SoHo will be much less striking than Times Square. Imagine settling into your hotel room and having a view of the Coca-Cola sign, the ball, etc. vs. say, Spring Street. As a tourist, I'd take the first. I mean, Times Square is heavily toured for a reason. Debating "authentic New York" between Times Square and SoHo is like debating the authenticity of frozen pizzas. If authenticity is all that matters, then I'd advise them to stay in Sunset Park or Jackson Heights.
Ugh I work in Soho on Broadway to be exact and let me tell you it takes me 20 minutes to walk 1 block because all the tourists will form circles on the sidewalk or walk and then stop because they have never seen an H&M before.
If you wanna stay somewhere non touristy I would recommend the meatpacking district.
If you are considering something as pricey as the SoHo Grand, I would definitely look elsewhere. Hotel Thompson, W Union Square, the Morgan, etc. If you want to stay in Soho and can afford it, try the new Crosby Street hotel -- a few blocks from the crush of tourists a little west of there.
Forget what everyone else is saying about TS. Your a tourist and my best bet is you could careless as what is more authentic to new yorkers. Times square will offer you much more fun than soho. Times square is awesome and the only people that say otherwise are nyers who try to hard to sound like real nyers lol. The energy their is unmatched
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