The McKittrick Hotel: Basic Information
Here is some basic information about the McKittrick Hotel, including its address and location in New York City.
| Address: |
530 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
(Map)
Located on West 27th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues
|
| Established: |
1939 |
How to Get to the McKittrick Hotel
The McKittrick Hotel is located some distance from the nearest subway station, so taking a taxi or private car is often the most convenient option.
You can also reach the venue by subway or bus, but some of the surrounding streets can feel quiet and dark late at night, so take extra care when walking.
Private car service from our sister site, At New York is also available.
Nearest Subway Station:
Approximately a 20-minute walk from 23 St station on the C and E lines.
Map of the McKittrick Hotel
Below is a map showing the location of the McKittrick Hotel in New York City.
History of the McKittrick Hotel
A Luxury Hotel That Never Officially Opened
The McKittrick Hotel was completed in Chelsea in 1939 and was intended to become one of New York City’s most glamorous and luxurious hotels. Designed with wealthy travelers and prominent business figures in mind, the project attracted considerable attention before its planned opening.
However, the outbreak of World War II in 1939 disrupted the economy and caused widespread uncertainty. Reservations were reportedly canceled in large numbers, creating serious financial difficulties for the hotel.
The McKittrick Hotel ultimately closed approximately six weeks before its scheduled opening and never officially welcomed hotel guests.
The Building Remained Unused for Many Years
After the hotel project was abandoned, the building changed ownership but remained largely unused for many years.
There were attempts during the 1950s to revive the property as a hotel, but these plans never came to fruition. During the 1960s and 1970s, parts of the building were temporarily used as commercial office space.
Chelsea was still largely an industrial neighborhood at the time. Because the building was tucked away near narrow streets and did not lend itself easily to industrial use, it once again faded from public attention after the late 1970s.
How the McKittrick Hotel Was Transformed for Sleep No More
Sleep No More Brought the McKittrick Hotel Back to Life
After decades of obscurity, the building found new life as the setting for the immersive Off-Broadway production
Sleep No More.
Inspired primarily by Shakespeare’s
Macbeth,
Sleep No More transformed the building into a theatrical world that audiences explored on foot. Instead of sitting in assigned seats, visitors moved freely through rooms and corridors, encountering scenes involving murder, romance, suspense, and mystery at close range.
The venue was unlike a conventional theater. The building itself became part of the production, creating an experience that combined immersive theater, dance, mystery, and the unsettling atmosphere of a haunted hotel.
Audience members wore distinctive masks throughout the experience, allowing them to move silently through the space as anonymous observers.
Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, believed to have been written around 1606, is one of his four great tragedies. The story follows the Scottish nobleman Macbeth, who murders King Duncan and takes the throne after being driven by ambition and encouraged by his wife.
The production also drew inspiration from the visual atmosphere and psychological suspense of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film
Vertigo.
Finding the Right Venue Took Nearly Three Years
Sleep No More was created by British theater company Punchdrunk in collaboration with New York-based production company Emursive.
The creative team needed a venue capable of recreating the atmosphere of a 1930s hotel while also supporting the production’s unusual format, in which audience members freely wandered through the entire space.
Stage producer Jonathan Hochwald and producer Randy Weiner were among those involved in the search for a suitable location. Rather than looking for a traditional theater, the team needed a large building that could accommodate multiple rooms, corridors, and simultaneous scenes.
After an extensive search, they found the building that would become known to audiences as the McKittrick Hotel — an ideal setting for the mysterious world of Sleep No More.
Nearly 100 Rooms Were Transformed for Sleep No More
The environment for Sleep No More was created across roughly 100 rooms spanning six floors of the McKittrick Hotel.
Rather than completely rebuilding the property, the designers preserved much of the building’s aged character and used detailed sets, furniture, props, and lighting to transform each space into part of the fictional world.
One of the most memorable spaces was Hecate’s Apothecary, associated with the witch Hecate from the world of Macbeth. Every detail, from dried plants to mysterious objects and diagrams, helped create the eerie atmosphere for which Sleep No More became famous.
Hecate’s Apothecary on the fifth floor
(1) Drawings on the wall: diagrams suggesting recipes or plans for making poisons.
(2) Birdcage: associated with divination using sacrificed animals.
(3) Dried flowers: including herbs such as bay leaves and parsley.
(4) Dress form: used as part of the room’s unsettling visual storytelling.
(5) Comb on the desk: suggesting the collection of hair or other personal items.
(6) Ropes hanging from the ceiling: arranged to resemble a pentagram, a symbol associated with witchcraft.
What Are the Obie Awards?
The Obie Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway theater in New York City.
Originally known as the Village Voice Off-Broadway Awards, the name “Obie” comes from the pronunciation of the initials “O.B.” for Off-Broadway.
Unlike the Tony Awards, the Obies traditionally do not follow a fixed set of competitive categories or publish a conventional list of nominees. Multiple artists may receive awards in a given year, and honors may also recognize outstanding contributions that do not fit into a specific category.
Inside the McKittrick Hotel
Three Distinct Experiences at the McKittrick Hotel
The McKittrick Hotel complex covers approximately 100,000 square feet and became known not only as the home of Sleep No More, but also for its distinctive bars and entertainment spaces.
The McKittrick Hotel & Sleep No More
The main setting for
Sleep No More. There were no conventional theater seats; instead, audience members explored the building on foot and discovered the performance as they moved from room to room.
Gallow Green
Gallow Green is the McKittrick Hotel’s rooftop garden and bar. Filled with greenery and rustic wooden furniture, the space became known for brunch, dinner, cocktails, and its atmospheric open-air setting.
Manderley Bar
The Manderley Bar is a jazz-inspired bar inside the McKittrick Hotel, designed to evoke the atmosphere of a 1930s hotel lounge. The space has also hosted live music and offered drinks and light dining.
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