Manhattan, NY — Holiday Inn Express NYC Times Square, located at 343 West 39th Street, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted March 17, 2026, with data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 19, 2026. The establishment scored 26 out of a possible range that places it at the upper boundary of the B grade, two points away from a Grade C designation.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited two violations during the March inspection — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, Code 04L, documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food and non-food areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, evidence of rodent activity in a food service environment represents a direct risk of food contamination and is among the violations that carry the highest point values in DOHMH's scoring system.

The non-critical violation, Code 10F, identified a non-food contact surface or piece of equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or positioned to allow adequate cleaning access on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. While classified as non-critical, such conditions can contribute to pest harborage and sanitation deficiencies over time if left unaddressed.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishment sanitation standards in New York City. Rodent activity violations like Code 04L are weighted heavily under the DOHMH scoring system because mice can contaminate food, food contact surfaces, and preparation areas with pathogens including Salmonella and Listeria. The FDA Food Code similarly identifies pest control as a foundational element of safe food handling.

A score of 26 places this inspection near the top of the Grade B range. Establishments that score in this band during a re-inspection may be subject to additional review, and scores at or above 28 on a subsequent inspection would result in a Grade C posting.

Inspection History

The March 2026 result represents a notable shift from the establishment's recent record:

  • November 18, 2024: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • December 20, 2023: Score 24
  • September 30, 2022: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • March 28, 2022: Score 31

The two most recent cycles before the current inspection produced strong Grade A results. The March 2022 score of 31 — which would have placed the establishment in Grade C territory — shows that the current elevated score is not without precedent in the restaurant's history.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores as follows:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest violation severity)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Grades must be posted in a visible location at the establishment's entrance. A Grade B does not result in closure but does indicate documented violations requiring corrective action. Establishments receiving a B or C grade may request a re-inspection.

Consumers can review the full inspection record for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Holiday Inn Express Nyc Times Square including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.