The Best Luxury Hotels in Manhattan

Manhattan is home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, from penthouses fit for aristocrats to sleek celebrity boltholes
Manhattan is home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, from penthouses fit for aristocrats to sleek celebrity boltholes | Courtesy of the Bowery Hotel / Expedia
Laura Hampson

There really is nothing like visiting New York City for the first time. Each neighborhood offers something different, from hidden eateries and hip bars to endless parks and renowned museums. Manhattan happens to be home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including a Duchess-approved penthouse and Robert De Niro’s Tribeca bolthole. We detail the best of the best below.

1. The Surrey

Hotel

Rooftop seating area at the Surrey, Manhattan, with cityscape views
Courtesy of the Surrey / Expedia

Tucked away on a quiet street on the Upper East Side, the Surrey is an Art Deco wonder. Decor is mostly monochromatic, allowing skyline views to take center-stage. The rooms boast cloud-like beds and white marble bathrooms. Be sure to check out the mini-bar, too, for local ales and chocolate. Don’t be surprised if you see an A-lister enjoying a drink on the private rooftop garden – the hotel is known for being discreet.

2. The Bowery Hotel

Boutique Hotel

Sitting area at Bowery Hotel, Manhattan, with a glass roof
Courtesy of the Bowery Hotel / Expedia

Sandwiched between the Lower East Side and Midtown, the Bowery Hotel exudes an effortlessly cool atmosphere, with floor-to-ceiling factory-style windows that allow natural light to flood in. Common areas are decadently decorated, with warm lighting, carved mahogany walls and wood-burning fireplaces, while rooms are more pared-back with velvet furnishings and cream walls. Opt for an upper-floor suite for the best city views. Gemma, the Italian trattoria on the ground floor, is a master in seasonal cuisine – it’s definitely worth a reservation.

3. The NoMad Hotel

Luxury, Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Bedroom at NoMad Hotel, Manhattan, with a clawfoot tub by the window
Courtesy of the NoMad Hotel / Expedia

Perched in NoMad, one of Manhattan’s vibiest neighborhoods, the NoMad Hotel can be found inside a turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts building on Broadway. Rooms ooze elegance – they feature custom furniture, walk-in closets and clawfoot tubs with Côté Bastide amenities. Food is front and center here, with a Michelin-star restaurant serving everything from East Coast oysters to slow-cooked halibut and chicken with black truffle and foie gras stuffing.

4. The Sherry Netherland

Hotel

Spacious suite at Sherry Netherland, Manhattan, with a sitting area, wall-mounted TV and desk by the window
Courtesy of the Sherry Netherland / Expedia

A stalwart hotel with a rich history, the Sherry Netherland dates back to the 1920s when it was built at the southern entrance of Central Park by New York architects Schultze & Weaver. As soon as you enter the hotel, you’ll be transported back in time, thanks to the palatial lobby’s Renaissance-style frescoes and intricate wooden elevators. The individually decorated rooms continue the regal theme, with high ceilings, gilt-framed mirrors and views of the park. When you’re ready to explore, Barneys, Bergdorf and Tiffany are right on your doorstep, and the Met is a short stroll away.

5. The Lowell

Hotel

Rooftop sitting area at the Lowell, Manhattan, with a sculpture and hedge
Courtesy of the Lowell / Expedia

One of Manhattan’s most iconic hotels, the Lowell’s tonal pink-hued exterior stands out among its neutral neighbors. Plonked in the Upper East Side, Central Park is just minutes away – and that’s only when you can pull yourself away from one of the exquisitely decorated rooms and suites, complete with white marble bathrooms. Dining in-house is a must – French haute cuisine is served in the restaurant, which was inspired by the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.

6. The Whitby Hotel

Boutique Hotel

A large hotel room with floor-to-ceiling crittall windows at the Whitby Hotel.
Courtesy of the Whitby Hotel / Hotels.com

The Whitby’s checkered windows offer the first hint that something special lies inside. Part of the exclusive Firmdale Hotels group, British designer Kit Kemp’s signature style is immediately noted – with a mish-mash of colors, designs and textures. Rooms are large, but even still, the hotel’s two-bedroom penthouse, with its private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, is worth splurging on. When you’re famished, head to the restaurant with its aesthetically pleasing 30ft (9m) pewter bar, or enjoy a cocktail on the outdoor terrace.

7. The Mark

Boutique Hotel, Spa Hotel, Hotel, Luxury

Spacious suite at the Mark, Manhattan
Courtesy of the Mark / Expedia

An Upper East Side gem, the Mark is unapologetically lavish. It holds claim to housing one of the world’s most expensive hotel suites. The Penthouse, where the Duchess of Sussex famously hosted her baby shower, goes for a cool $75,000 (£54,000) per night. Yet, even the more reasonable rooms offer an expensive feel. Think Italian linens, sycamore fixtures and Ladurée macarons as a welcome gift in the fridge.

8. The New York EDITION

Hotel

Sitting area at New York EDITION, Manhattan
Courtesy of the New York EDITION / Expedia
Rising high above Madison Square Park, the New York EDITION is housed in one of the city’s original skyscrapers, a 41-story clock tower. The aptly named Michelin-star restaurant, the Clocktower, is helmed by Jason Atherton, and the menu is dotted with decadent offerings – but there’s also a Shake Shack in the park next door, if that’s more your style. Rooms are minimalist with a neutral palette, bar the occasional royal blue accent. Most boast unmatched views of the Empire State Building.

9. Baccarat Hotel

Hotel, Apartment

Bar and dining area at Baccarat Hotel and Residences New York, with chandeliers and wall art
Courtesy of Baccarat Hotel and Residences New York / Expedia
Just across from MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art), Baccarat places you in the very center of Midtown, a few steps from Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center. Interiors are courtesy of French designers, Gilles & Boissier, so expect a healthy dose of unabashed opulence. There are around 15,000 crystal pieces peppered throughout the hotel (including plenty of chandeliers). Rooms are a mix of ivory furnishings, parquet wood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows, while the marble bathrooms stock amenities by French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. For the parched, the French theme continues in wine form, down at the Grand Salon and the Bar.

10. The Greenwich Hotel

Suite Hotel

Bedroom at The Greenwich Hotel, Manhattan
Courtesy of The Greenwich Hotel / Expedia

Hidden away in trendy Tribeca, Robert De Niro’s Greenwich Hotel is set along a cobblestone street, just a block from the Hudson River. There’s a heady mix of international influences here, with Moroccan tiles, Italian marble, English leather and Tibetan silk rugs, and the courtyard mimics the feel of a Marrakech riad. Rooms vary in size and style; some boast private saunas, while others come with river views. Carve out time for the Shibui Spa – its heated indoor pool inside a lantern-lit bamboo farmhouse will soothe the senses.

Looking for more? Book into one of the best hotels in Manhattan.

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