Top 20 hotels in new york city

No one forgets their first thrilling glimpse of New York, with its twinkling, gleaming skyscrapers lining its length and the Empire State Building at its heart. This is a city whose USP is sensory overload: a place where art and architecture, culture and cuisine, shopping and nightlife collide in a 24/7 adrenaline rush, setting the pace for the rest of the world. New York is also a place of great beauty: where beaux-arts architectural splendour sits alongside gleaming 21st-century towers of glass and steel, where the indulgent shopping pleasures of Madison and 5th Avenues lie a short stroll away from Central Park.

And a city where you can eat pretty much anything — whether that’s in Michelin-starred restaurants in shiny glass towers with cuisine by some of the world’s best chefs, or tiny bars — before retreating to an old-world Uptown hotel such as the Carlyle or heading for the sexy sophistication of The Dominick in SoHo. Here’s our pick of the best luxury hotels in New York.

Main photo: The St Regis, Midtown

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1. The Four Seasons, Midtown

Best for shopping
With a Rolls-Royce “house car” at guests’ disposal, vaulted onyx ceilings in the lobby and a charming bower of African acacia trees in the restaurant, the prestigious Four Seasons is a classic that never seems to date. Occupying its own floor, the penthouse suite sits atop the 52-storey art deco-styled building, showcasing hand-lacquered walls by artist Nancy Lorenz, four cantilevered glass balconies and a grand piano with an Empire State Building backdrop. The hotel is in prime shopping territory: dozens of fashion’s big names are within a five-minute stroll on Madison Avenue.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

2. The Ritz-Carlton, Midtown

Best for Central Park views
Sitting at 50 Central Park South, the Ritz-Carlton occupies one of the most prestigious addresses in Manhattan: in a plum position for shopping, museums, galleries and dining. Rooms offer sleek townhouse-inspired design with fabulous Carrara marble bathrooms. The “grand park view” rooms provide a telescope too, for gazing at the imposing architecture bordering Central Park. Indulge at the superlative La Prairie spa where the caviar massage and facial is a signature treatment. Contour, the Matisse-inspired “gastro lounge”, offers a day-to-night experience across three smart spaces.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

3. The Crosby Street Hotel, Soho

Best for modern design
The Crosby brings a dash of London cool to NY’s SoHo. Splashes of eye-popping colour, bold fabrics and dramatic art installations characterise founder Kit Kemp’s eclectic interiors. Every fashionable detail, from the bar with its candy-striped banquettes to the kooky curios, feels distinctive and designer. No two rooms are alike, but all have high ceilings, Miller Harris products and big urban film-set views. A great base to explore the cool funky end of Manhattan, the Crosby attracts an artsy crowd, hanging out on the breezy restaurant terrace and the hotel cinema’s Sunday night film club.

Spa N
Pool N
Price ££

Book a stay*

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4. The New York Edition, Flatiron

Best for foodies
Ensconced in the Flatiron district, this smart, sexy hotel is fashioned from the handsome former Metropolitan Life building, which borders the hippest neighbourhoods — NoMad to the north, Greenwich Village to the south, Gramercy Park to the east and Chelsea to the west. A real foodie destination, Eataly — paean to all things deliciously Italian — is just across Madison Square Park, with Grand Central Station nearby for classic oysters and cocktails. The Michelin-starred Clocktower is an intimate, low-lit space with artistic black and white photography adorning the walls and British classics on the menu.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

5. The Beekman, Lower Manhattan

Best for old world charm
The soaring nine-storey Victorian atrium of this Martin Brudnizki-designed hotel is nothing less than astonishing. Combining reimagined historic architecture with a modern residential tower, the Beekman is styled as old-world glamour meets modern luxury in Lower Manhattan. Two penthouse suites are fashioned from twin turrets — huge vaulted spaces with mezzanine bedrooms. Award-winning chef Tom Colicchio oversees three restaurants including the convivial Temple Court bar and a wisteria-draped rooftop place. Offering culinary and literary adventures for cultural thrill-seekers, the Beekman is clubby, intimate and not a little decadent.

Spa N
Pool N
Price ££

Book a stay*

6. The Peninsula, Midtown

Best for service
Perfectly positioned on 5th Avenue just a few minutes’ walk from Central Park, the Peninsula offers instant access to New York’s most prestigious shopping thoroughfare. This imposing beaux-arts hotel is an architectural showstopper, from its sweeping double staircase in the lobby to Salon de Ning, one of the most enchanting rooftop bars in Manhattan. It also has that Midtown rarity: a pool with a sundeck. With impeccable service and a strong adherence to tradition, the Peninsula is for those who like their luxury reassuringly old world — and a private 24-hour e-concierge service to cater to every whim.

Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££

Book a stay*

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7. The Carlyle, Upper East Side

Best for people watching
A revered New York landmark, this grand art deco icon steadfastly endures almost a century on, thriving in its sleek 21st-century incarnation as part of the Rosewood collection. It’s known for its privacy, exclusivity and unparalleled luxury, and the marble lobby has welcomed the world’s great and good since 1930. An extensive design update has created smart contemporary rooms and suites, and there’s a lavish chandeliered Sisley-Paris spa. The legendary Café Carlyle first hosted jazz greats in 1955, and the Gallery, an exotic Turkish tea parlour with hand-painted gold and navy wallpaper, is a city institution. Dine at Dowling’s at The Carlyle for timeless American dishes rustled up by chef Sylvian Delpique.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

8. Loews Regency New York Hotel, Upper East Side

Best for design lovers
This beautifully appointed Park Avenue hotel on the Upper East Side is all about low-key, power-play glamour and knockout design. The Lobby Lounge showcasing “sculptural illustrator” Nina Helms’s ornate springtime tree along one wall sets the elegant mood. The six signature suites all have their own terrace, and include a playful pop-art tribute to Andy Warhol, and a classic Italian-inspired 1970s apartment. Popular with Wall Street execs and design aficionados alike, the exceedingly cool and intimate Regency Bar & Grill has semi-circular banquette tables redolent of the Mad Men era.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

9. Equinox Hotel, Chelsea

Best for a party
Bordered by the High Line just north of Chelsea, the Equinox is smart, sexy and hip, with a stunning roof garden where the Electric Lemon Terrace offers uber-glam partying against a backdrop of twinkling city lights. “Train, plunge and indulge” is the Equinox mantra, with a 25m saltwater lap pool, an outdoor dipping pool, state-of-the-art gym with Soulcycle, yoga on the roof deck and a beautiful spa. If you still can’t get to sleep in the king-sized beds, aided by soundproofing and blackout blinds, there’s a sleep coach too.

Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££

Book a stay*

10. The Mandarin Oriental, Midtown

Best for Asian dining
Facing east, high above Central Park, the Mandarin Oriental is a seductive fusion of refined Asian influences and sharp modern design. Orchids, silk furnishings and lacquered finishes feature in rooms with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s an impressive 25m lap pool and a spa with a tea parlour and an amethyst crystal steam room. A recent addition, Mo Lounge offers all-day dining with a menu of Eastern-inspired dishes. Come sunset it becomes one of the city’s most desirable cocktail bars, attracting a glamorous party crowd drawn to the sophisticated vibe and a pulsating New York below.

Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££

Book a stay*

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11. The St Regis, Midtown

Best for families
Grand, richly decorated public spaces dominate at the St Regis New York, where the gold-accented lobby sets the tone. Designer suites offer ample living space with views over Central Park and there’s a first-class butler service. The Bloody Mary was invented here in the King Cole bar which, still resplendent with its 1932 nursery-tale mural, is the place for a cocktail. Breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner are all served in the convivial Astor Court. It’s a particularly good hotel for families, and the concierge will ensure children’s favourite toys are waiting in their suite.

Spa N
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

12. The Dominick, SoHo

Best for glamour
A shimmering glass tower on SoHo’s Spring Street, this ultra-hip Lower Manhattan landmark has quickly established a reputation as an exclusive vertical retreat. It has a popular poolside Terrace on 7, where a young cool crowd sun themselves and snack on Hawaiian street food from the concept restaurant El Ta’Koy. The chef Shaun Hergatt’s one-Michelin-star Vestry restaurant focuses on seafood and foraged produce. After invigorating body scrubs and massages in two traditional Turkish hammams, guests can hang out in generous rooms featuring big bathrooms and even bigger views. Beneath are some of the best shopping streets in the city.

Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££

Book a stay*

13. The Sherry-Netherland, Midtown

Best for historical interiors
Welcoming guests through a gilded revolving door on its 5th Ave entrance, the Sherry-Netherland is the epitome of old-school plush. Full of character — gargoyles, frescoes, crystal chandeliers — this architectural jewel on Central Park features one of the most ornate lobbies in Manhattan, modelled on the Vatican library. With its Harry Cipriani restaurant — almost an exact duplicate of its Venetian namesake — the Sherry is beloved by guests drawn to the European elegance of old New York. It even has its own mini-outpost of Delvaux, the Belgian luxury leather goods brand known for its exquisite bags.

Spa N
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

14. The Evelyn, Midtown

Best for old New York style
Sitting in the heart of the NoMad district, The Evelyn received a plush upgrade in 2018, which transformed this handsome beaux-arts hotel. Interiors have hints of luxury ocean-liner style and art nouveau details, offering old New York-style coupled with modern hospitality. Bar Benno is esteemed chef Jonathan Benno’s take on a Parisian-style bistro and isn’t to be missed. The Empire State Building is just a few blocks north, and Chelsea and the Meatpacking District are a short walk away.

Spa N
Pool N
Price ££

Book a stay*

15. The High Line Hotel, Chelsea

Best for something different
Check in to this brick gothic revival favourite for a taste of old New York. The former seminary (which was built on part of the estate owned by Twas the Night Before Christmas author Clement Clarke Moore) has 60 rooms, with period fireplaces and mantels, antique furniture and carpets, and reproduction 19th-century wallpaper. Happily, many rooms look out onto one of the city’s best green spaces: the elevated High Line Park that runs through west Chelsea. The private courtyard and seasonal cocktail bar create an urban oasis to retreat to after long days exploring the city.

Spa N
Pool N
Price ££

Book a stay*

16. The Lowell, Upper East Side

Best for special occasions
This elegant five-star hotel just off Madison Avenue provides white-glove service to its guests and has just 74 guest rooms, with sophisticated decor from London architect Mark Pinney and American interior designer Michael S. Smith. Many of The Lowell’s intimate, residential-style rooms have wood-burning fireplaces, while some suites have plant-filled terraces; all have small gourmet kitchens. Afternoon tea is served in the Pembroke Room, while the hotel’s signature restaurant, Majorelle, presents a well-curated French menu.

Spa N
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

17. The Chatwal, Midtown

Best for theatregoers
This landmark boutique hotel, just steps from the heart of the Theater District and Times Square, was designed by architect Stanford White (of McKim, Mead & White) for the Lambs in 1905, a theatrical club whose members included the Barrymores, Charlie Chaplin, and Cecil B. DeMille. Inside, the lobby is an art deco dream of mirrored glass, curved and bevelled edges, and amber lights, while the Lambs Club bar is a favourite spot for pre-theatre dinner or post-theatre. Decor in the 76 rooms and suites harks back to days of glamourous transatlantic travel, including butler service and closet doors that resemble steamer trunks.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

18. Lotte New York Palace, Midtown

Best for festive stays
This neo-Italian Renaissance pad in midtown Manhattan, was designed by the beaux-art architects McKim, Mead & White and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Opulent rooms have views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center all year round, but a grand courtyard is especially luminous during the holiday season — a frosted fantasy of Christmas trees, shimmering lights, and glittering baubles. The hotel also grants special access to the city’s aquarium.

Spa Y
Pool N
Price £££

Book a stay*

19. The William Vale, Williamsburg

Best for views of Manhattan
Every one of the 183 rooms at this Williamsburg hotel has a balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows — all the better to take in the Manhattan skyline just across the East River, along with much of Brooklyn. The Westlight rooftop bar, on the 22nd floor, offers another perch with panoramic views of the same. In summer, take a dip in the 18m Vale Pool, while the seasonal Winter Spa offers outdoor barrel saunas and cedar soaking tubs. The hotel celebrates its home borough, with pieces by Brooklyn artists decorating the lobby, and even has its own green space, Vale Park, an elevated garden open to guests and the community that hosts cultural events.

Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££

Book a stay*

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20. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Dumbo

Best for second or third timers to the city
Built inside Brooklyn Bridge Park (part of a public-private partnership that funds the park), this hotel takes its green credentials very seriously, from reclaimed timbers on the lobby floors to living green walls to grey water recycling. But it’s the views from 195 rooms and suites of the Brooklyn Bridge, World Trade Center, and lower tip of Manhattan, especially at night, which will take your breath away — some even have hammocks placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Dine at Osprey where the menu is local and seasonal, relax at the Bamford Haybarn Spa, or head to the rooftop lounge and pool to soak up more of the stellar views.

Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££

Book a stay*

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