These are the best NYC hotels for every type of traveler.

By Lauren Dana Ellman
Published on April 5, 2024

New York City is home to hundreds of hotels catering to travelers of all sorts. Grand luxury landmarks like The Plaza and The Carlyle? It’s got ’em. Chic boutique stays in trendy neighborhoods? Options abound.

To help ease your trip planning and choose the hotel that’s right for you, we’ve curated a list of the best places to stay in New York City, considering factors like location, amenities, and price. Expect recommendations from travel experts and Travel + Leisure favorites, including World’s Best Award and It List winners.

Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York

For a slice of Paris in the heart of New York’s trendy Tribeca neighborhood, check into the 97-key Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York, which has rightfully earned a spot on our 2023 It List.
The Martin Brudnizki-designed property features spectacular elements, including European-style chandeliers, bespoke wallpaper, opulent marble bathrooms with striking brass accents, and oversized windows that let in plenty of natural light. 
The two-story Fouquet’s Penthouse, with three terraces, antique mirrors, Calacatta Oro marble, and a stunning soaking tub, is considered the hotel’s crown jewel. “I think the penthouse is one of the city’s very best hotel suites, with rich furnishings, plenty of outdoor space, an opulent primary bathroom, and whimsical touches,” says special projects editor Elizabeth Rhodes, who filmed an episode of T+L’s Suite Life at the hotel in 2023.
Additional amenities include a tranquil spa with an indoor pool, a speakeasy-inspired bar, a Cannes Film Festival-inspired screening room, and an upscale signature brasserie (don’t sleep on the roast chicken or dover sole) with prime people-watching.
The Details:

• Standout amenities:  Lavish spa with an indoor pool, swanky brasserie, Cannes Film Festival-inspired screening room
• Location: Tribeca
• Starting rates: From $1,000 per night

Aman New York

The World’s Best Award-winning Aman New York is beloved among T+L editors and readers alike, and it’s easy to see why. Housed in the 102-year-old landmark Crown Building, the 2023 It List recipient boasts an underground Jazz Club and a 14th-floor Garden Terrace with a fire pit and blue stone-covered fountain that feels worlds away from always-bustling Midtown.

“I was most taken with the fireplaces in each of the 83 rooms. They’re flanked by two windows, which legendary Aman designer Jean-Michel Gathy kept from an early iteration of the Crown Building’s design,” said T+L senior editor Maya Kachroo-Levine of her 2022 stay. They’re also all fully soundproofed.

But perhaps the hotel’s best — and most noteworthy — feature is the three-floor spa, which features a 65-foot-long, fireplace-lined pool plus two “spa houses” with expansive outdoor terraces, cold plunges, hot baths, and either a wood-clad sauna or hammam.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Access to the 24,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, tranquil 14th-floor terrace, complimentary house car service, daily breakfast, butler service
Location: Midtown
Starting rates: From $1,950 per night

Nine Orchard

Nine Orchard seamlessly blends old and new with beautiful Beaux-Arts architecture, design-forward rooms equipped with specially commissioned work from local artists, and bespoke speakers programmed with curated music stations.

The landmark building in which the hotel is housed has been restored to its former Neo-Renaissance glory with replicated clocks, intricate millwork, and a 60-foot domed rooftop tempietto, a little temple. The 12-story boutique hotel — named on our 2023 It List highlighting the best new hotels — is also a favorite among in-the-know locals, who can be spotted sipping martinis in the late-night haunt, Swan Room or noshing on steak au poivre and oysters Rockefeller at the upscale bistro, Corner Bar.

Fora travel advisor Julia Flood especially recommends the property for folks who “want to immerse themselves in the Lower East Side vibe, just around the corner from the infamous/iconic Dimes Square,” an artsy micro-neighborhood between the Lower East Side and Chinatown. Plus, she says, “The hotel feels like you’re visiting your trendy New York pal (the rooms are even numbered like NYC apartments – 5C, 10E).”

The Details:
Standout amenities: Fantastic food and beverage options, in-room speakers
Location: Lower East Side
Starting rates: From $595 per night

The Ned NoMad

Housed in a 1903 Beaux-Arts building in the buzzy NoMad neighborhood, 2023 It List winner Ned NoMad is best described as part boutique hotel and part membership club.

The interiors ooze with art deco charm. Think glimmering chandeliers, elaborate mosaic flooring, ornate crown molding, and jewel-hued upholstery. The impressive art collection features over 300 works from contemporary artists like Laurie Simmons and Hank Willis Thomas.

Cecconi’s on the first floor serves up house-made pasta and wood-fired pizzas, while the Little Ned Bar is the place to see and be seen while sipping martinis. Finally, you can retreat to one of 167 charming rooms, all with art deco-inspired touches and many with sumptuous clawfoot soaking tubs.

The Details:
Standout amenities: A fan-favorite on-site Italian restaurant, small gym
Location: NoMad
Starting rates: From $588 per night

Hotel Chelsea

“If you’re looking for history, fashion, art, and music in one hotel, that would be Hotel Chelsea,” says Fora travel advisor Nicole Canal of this It List property. The historic hotel — which recently reopened following a 12-year closure — has hosted famous folks like Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol, and Bob Dylan.

Although many rooms have been redesigned, you can still find an original carved fireplace from 1884, paintings from Stanley Bard (the hotel’s previous owner), and a gorgeous wrought-iron spiral staircase above the front desk. You can choose from rooms, suites, and spacious apartments to accommodate groups small and large. Plus, says Canal, each accommodation has “a unique design with art on the walls to remind you of the history of this famous hotel that dates back to the 1800s.”

Don’t miss the on-site Spanish restaurant, El Quijote. In 1969, music icons Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix enjoyed sangria and shrimp here before driving to Woodstock. The Cafe Chelsea is popular amongst locals and well-heeled travelers, as is the European-style lobby bar. Sneak off to the spa for some much-needed R&R; amenities include a Swedish sauna, steam and rain showers, soaking tubs, and a cozy fireplace-equipped lounge.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Historic drinking and dining venues, rooftop spa and fitness center
Location: Chelsea
Starting rates: From $220 per night

The Wall Street Hotel

Voted the best hotel in New York City by T+L readers as part of the 2023 World’s Best Awards, The Wall Street Hotel is well worth visiting when in the Big Apple, even if just for a quick martini at the bar, Lounge on Pearl, or a meal at La Marchande restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef, John Fraser.

Housed inside the Tontine Building, the former New York Stock Exchange headquarters, this family-owned property is especially popular with business travelers given its convenient location. Still, leisure travelers will also enjoy a stay here. Attention to detail is apparent: Each of the 180 guest rooms features heated flooring, Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speakers, and treat-filled bar carts. “The bar, Lounge on Pearl, with its NYC murals and turquoise carpet, is full of cozy corners perfect for mingling with a cocktail, but you’ll definitely want to stay the night. The rooms are spacious and designed in calming tones, with impressive marble bathrooms and soaking tubs,” said T+L senior editorial director Nina Ruggiero. “It’s just what FiDi needed.”

Also noteworthy: The hotel has a partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, a non-profit working to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035. You can donate at checkout or purchase oyster-inspired gifts (a portion of the proceeds are donated to the org).

The Details:

• Standout amenities: Buzzy all-day bar, in-room bar carts stocked with goodies, shoe shine, bike and scooter rentals, 24-hour fitness center
• Location: Financial District
• Starting rates: From $499 per night

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel

According to Fora travel advisor Molla Arena, this Upper East Side mainstay exudes timeless elegance and serves as “the quintessential destination for a traditional luxury stay in NYC.” While you can’t go wrong booking any of the 192 rooms and suites, the latter truly stand out. Many have whimsical murals, soaking tubs, and living rooms with city views.

The service is just as spectacular as the accommodations: Doormen dressed in top hats and white gloves greet guests, and the staff inside are equally warm and charismatic — and not at all stuffy. The World’s Best Award-winning hotel is also known for its iconic bar, Bemelmans, where you can sip some of Manhattan’s best martinis while listening to live music and admiring murals from none other than Ludwig Bemelmans, the artist behind the “Madeline” children’s books.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Beautiful spa, salon, and fitness center; four on-site bars and restaurants, including the historic Bemelmans Bar; Rosewood Explorers children’s programming and amenities
Location: Upper East Side
Starting rates: From $795

The Plaza Hotel

The Plaza comes to mind when I think of luxury hotels in New York City. A New York City landmark in its own right, the World’s Best Award-winning hotel — which has been featured in films like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Home Alone 2” — has 282 rooms and suites. Each features lavish beds with elaborate gold headboards and bathrooms with mosaic floors, walls with gilded floral motifs, 24-karat gold-plated fixtures, and hand-crafted white marble vanities — some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

“The Plaza has some fantastic one-of-a-kind suites. I stayed in the fabulous Jazz Age-inspired Fitzgerald Suite during my last stay, and the details were exquisite,” said Rhodes. The pink-hued Eloise Suite, for example, comes with toys, dolls, clothing, and themed gifts and is a little girl’s dream come true. Other highlights include afternoon tea or Champagne in the Palm Court and the fourth-floor Guerlain Spa.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Stunning spa, beautiful drinking and dining venues, white-glove butler service available upon request, house car service
Location: Upper East Side
Starting rates: From $895 per night

The Pierre Hotel

Housed in a 41-story landmark, The Pierre Hotel is, in a word, glamorous. I was blown away by how friendly and conscientious the door attendants were; when my traveling partner and I pulled up, two immediately greeted us, opened the car door, and grabbed our bags so we wouldn’t need to carry anything into the hotel. After a quick check-in process, we were whisked up to our room. Pro tip: For a worth-it splurge, book a room with Central Park views.

Before heading down to an indulgent dinner at the on-site Perrine restaurant, we wandered through the romantic Rotunda, which boasts a fresco-covered ceiling reminiscent of what you’d find in Italy. The Two E Bar/Lounge serves afternoon tea in a sophisticated setting, and it’s also a great spot to listen to live jazz.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Turndown service, house car service, daily tea and coffee service in the lobby, two fine-dining restaurants, a swanky bar and lounge for afternoon tea and live jazz
Location: Upper East Side
Starting rates: From $791 per night

The Whitby Hotel

“The Whitby is the perfect location for a first-time trip to NYC,” says Fora travel advisor Julia Flood. Its Midtown Manhattan location is within easy walking distance to Central Park, the shops on Fifth Avenue, Times Square, and the Theater District. She continues, “Admittedly, oftentimes Midtown can be seen as boring or corporate; however, the Whitby is anything but that!” The travel pro describes every corner of the hotel as “exquisite” and notes that “the attention to detail and service are excellent.”

The 86 rooms and suites, designed by Firmdale Hotels founder and creative director Kit Kemp, feature a touch of fun and whimsy with bold color schemes, eye-catching tufted headboards, and patterned throw pillows and seating. Afternoon tea is served in an equally striking space, while the bright and airy bar and restaurant is, per Flood, “the place to be in Midtown Manhattan!”

The Details:
Standout amenities: Buzzy bar and restaurant, gym, fully stocked mini-bar, screening room, afternoon tea service (added cost), drawing room
Location: Midtown
Starting rates: From $925 per night

Loews Regency New York

Perched along Park Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Loews Regency New York is a favorite among frequent and first-time NYC visitors. The 379 spacious guest rooms are decorated in a neutral color palette with pops of pale lavender and mineral green. There are also 58 suites, many with private balconies or terraces. Six are specially curated by designers like Nate Berkus and Meyer Davis.

The Regency Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a sophisticated setting; the Sant Ambrose Coffee Bar offers java, pastries, sandwiches, and the like. Before or after heading out to go sightseeing or shopping, pop into the on-site Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa for some pampering.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Expansive fitness center, 10,000-square-foot spa and salon, complimentary morning coffee, free shoeshine, turndown service upon request, 24-hour room service, children’s toys and games
Location: Upper East Side
Starting rates: From $599 per night

The Greenwich Hotel

“If your fingers are crossed to bump into your favorite celebrity, The Greenwich Hotel is where to be,” says Canal of this five-star hotel. Spearheaded by none other than Robert DeNiro, the property “hosts high-profile guests often enough that they had to put into place a rule about photographing their public spaces.”

Those craving a serene retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle can head to the on-site Japanese-inspired Shubui Spa. Canal also recommends the buzzy on-site restaurant Locanda Verde, which serves up Italian staples like homemade pasta. Last but not least, the hotel is home to 73 beautiful rooms (each individually designed), 11 suites, and two penthouses.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Tranquil spa, packing and unpacking service upon request, house car service, lush courtyard, swimming pool, gym, great restaurant
Location: Tribeca
Starting rates: From $825 per night

Park Lane New York

Located along Billionaire’s Row, the 47-story Park Lane New York underwent significant renovations a few years back. Its new playful — albeit still sophisticated — aesthetic offers whimsical murals hand-painted by local artist collective En Viu across the rooms and public spaces. There are 610 rooms; even the standard ones offer sweeping city or park views, plush linens, a window seating area, and striking black-and-white-hued bathrooms.

The on-site food and drink offerings make this hotel a true stand-out. The stylish, indoor-outdoor Darling is the only rooftop bar on Central Park South, and it serves up specialty cocktails and gourmet bites like seafood towers. There’s also the Parisian-inspired Rose Lane, an 80-seat lobby bar complete with an outdoor promenade, and the glamorous Park Lane Cafe serves dinner and drinks on the second floor.

The Details:
Standout amenities: The only rooftop bar on Central Park South, 24-hour room service
Location: Upper East Side
Starting rates: From $350 per night

The Lowell Hotel

Check into The Lowell Hotel “when you want to feel like you have a parallel life where you have a swanky pied-à-terre on the Upper East Side,” says Flood, who describes the 2022 World’s Best Award-winning property as “old-school chic New York in the best way possible.”

Most of the rooms inside this landmark, 17-story hotel are curated by Michael S. Smith, the same designer responsible for the 2010 makeover of the Oval Office. Think custom headboards, polished oak floors, and antique rugs. Some units offer rare, ultra-luxe features like wood-burning fireplaces and manicured terraces.

In the mornings, take the lobby’s grand marble staircase to the second floor to enjoy breakfast in the Pembroke Room. Majorelle, which offers year-round outdoor seating, is a popular spot for lunch and dinner. Alternatively, sip martinis in style at Jacques Bar or unwind at the guests-only Club Room.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Posh restaurant with year-round outdoor seating, stylish bar, fitness center, turndown service, guest-only lounge
Location: Upper East Side
Starting rates: From $785 per night

The Baccarat Hotel

Step inside this jewel-box hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and be dazzled. The gorgeous Grand Salon glitters with elegant crystal chandeliers, crystal animal sculptures, and bright red floral arrangements — and that’s just the beginning.

The buzzy bar area is anchored by a 60-foot bar and boasts design touches like natural wood walls and black-and-white tiled flooring. Here, drinks are served in stunning Baccarat crystal, and people-watching is top-notch. On my last visit, I also enjoyed afternoon tea (though I splurged and upgraded to Champagne) in the aforementioned Grand Salon.

The rooms feature a clean, neutral color palette with pops of black and silver and, of course, Baccarat stemware for sipping wine in a plush bathrobe. Despite the pull of the accommodations, I spent most of my free time enjoying the serene Spa de La Mer and indoor heated pool area, which is lined with plush cabanas and has chic checkered flooring.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Pool, spa, art collection, house car service, three restaurants and bars, elegant afternoon tea (for an added cost)
Location: Midtown
Starting rates: From $1095 per night

The William Vale

Make your way into trendy Williamsburg to stay at The William Vale, which made not one but two 2022 World’s Best Awards lists, coming in at No. 3 in the best NYC hotels category and No. 14 in the best city hotels in the continental U.S. category. Like the hotel’s exterior, the rooms are contemporary and striking — floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air balconies offer plenty of natural light and glorious views.

I’ve dined at Leuca, the on-site Italian restaurant, and have nothing but great things to say about the food (split the wood-fired pizza and bolognese) and the space (casual yet elegant). Post-dinner, head up to Westlight, the rooftop bar serving small plates and cocktails, though note that it tends to get (very) crowded around dusk.

In the winter, the fourth-floor terrace transforms into a spa with wooden barrel saunas and cedar hot tubs. In the summer, you can enjoy the sparkling swimming pool.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Swimming pool (seasonal), winter spa (seasonal), fitness center, rooftop bar
Location: Williamsburg
Starting rates: From $185 per night

Wythe Hotel

The Wythe Hotel, a historic factory-turned-boutique hotel, is named after the street where it’s located. Its 70 rooms offer exposed brick, original 100-plus-year-old timbers, expansive windows, high ceilings, and, in most cases, skyline views. Bright and airy lofts provide extra space, while bunk bed rooms are well-suited for families and groups.

When you’re not out and about enjoying the neighborhood — or venturing into Manhattan — sip drinks and indulge in seafood-forward fare at the sixth-floor Bar Blondeau alongside locals. The all-day restaurant, Le Crocodile, serves fresh-baked pastries at breakfast, salads and sandwiches during lunch, and satisfying dinners like roast chicken. Around the hotel, you’ll also find a collection of gallery-worthy sketches and works from local contemporary artists.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Impressive contemporary art collection, two chic restaurants and bars
Location: Williamsburg
Starting rates: From $400 per night

TWA Hotel

The TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport feels like a fun blast from the past. The hotel is housed in the former TWA flight center, which was constructed in 1962. Today, it’s a nostalgic tour-de-force and JFK’s only in-airport hotel. The property is decked out in vintage TWA travel posters and there are exhibits displaying decades-old playing cards given out as in-flight amenities, old TWA uniforms, and vintage furnishings from the TWA headquarters.

The 512 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, blackout curtains, midcentury modern furnishings, terrazzo-tiled bathrooms, and bespoke work desks. You can also choose from six food and beverage options, including a food hall and a 1958 plane-turned-cocktail bar. The rooftop pool, which overlooks the runway and is open year-round, is the icing on the cake.

“I love it,” says Paul Brady, T+L’s news director. “The vibe is amazing, the food’s pretty good — Jean-Georges V. in the house — the rooftop pool is incredible with tarmac views, and there’s a bar inside a plane.”

The Details:

• Standout amenities: Year-round rooftop pool, six bars and restaurants, expansive fitness center
• Location: Jamaica, Queens
• Starting rates: From $249 per night

SoHo Grand Hotel

“The Soho Grand Hotel is chic, sexy, and quintessential SoHo,” says Fora travel advisor Angela Marini. As such, guests and locals alike flock to this World’s Best Award-winning hotel to see and be seen. Marini is quick to call out the property’s buzzy vibe, especially in the Grand Bar & Salon, which teems with DJ-fueled energy in the evenings.

Don’t sleep on the other on-site venues: The Club Room offers live music and dining Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. through 10:30 p.m., followed by DJs and dancing from 10:30 p.m. until closing; seasonal open-air eatery Gilligan’s serves locally sourced seafood and refreshing drinks; and the SoHo Diner is a classic diner.

After a fun-filled evening of drinking, dining, and dancing, you can head to your room or suite for a reprieve. Even entry-level accommodations wow with sophisticated weave-textured walls, vintage crystal sconces, headboards with bronze detailing, and bathrooms equipped with subway tiles and aviary wallpaper courtesy of famed New York cartoonist Saul Steinberg.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Four bars and restaurants, 24-hour fitness center, shoeshine (upon request), complimentary access to The Roxy Cinema at sister property Roxy Hotel, bike rentals
Location: SoHo
Starting rates: From $187 per night

Refinery Hotel

Housed in a 1912 neo-Gothic tower, the Refinery Hotel has a fascinating history; before opening as a hotel, it was a hat factory and a Prohibition-era tea room. “I love the hotel’s central location — it’s ideal for tourists who want to see it all when they visit the city,” says Rhodes.

The industrial-chic rooms come with 12-foot-tall concrete ceilings, dark-brushed oak floors, striking artwork, and spacious bathrooms. The first floor boasts a jazz bar and restaurant, and the rooftop offers picture-perfect views of the Empire State Building.

“Don’t forget to check the hotel’s ‘Offers’ tab to see if they have any unique experiences available when you visit. Last year, I had a fun Succession-themed staycation at the hotel, complete with in-room caviar service,” notes Rhodes.

The Details:
Standout amenities: Three bars and restaurants, fitness center, complimentary coffee service in the lobby, free glass of wine or bottled water upon arrival
Location: Midtown
Starting rates: From $492 per night

Pendry Manhattan West

Located within the swanky Manhattan West development, the Pendry Manhattan West brings California cool to the Big Apple through design elements like lush greenery, modern furnishings, and light wood accents.

You’ll feel instantly at ease upon entering the hotel, which is housed in a 23-story glass tower. Snag a seat by the cracking fireplace or post up at the ground-floor Bar Pendry or the fourth-floor Chez Zou with a cocktail or two. Then, it’s off to Zou Zou’s, which serves incredible Eastern Mediterranean cuisine (order the whipped ricotta dip and Moroccan fried chicken and thank me later). Each room and suite features floor-to-ceiling windows, and the latter offers free-standing tubs and separate living rooms.

The Details:
Standout amenities: 24-hour fitness center, five bars and restaurants
Location: Midtown West
Starting rates: From $803 per night