The Best Hotels With a Balcony in New York City

Surrounded by hip restaurants, cocktail bars, bakeries and concept stores, this SoHo institution is a cozy, lavish little hideaway with plenty of character. Settle in for a night at the scarlet-trimmed Bistrot Leo or enjoy your aperitif on the intimate, cushioned rooftop, A60. Its two suites and designer penthouse all have private balconies overlooking sociable Thompson Street; the plush, mirrored furnishings in teal, slate and cream are a homey take on luxury.

The Financial District, down towards the southern tip of Manhattan, used to be all work and no play – now, with the arrival of several must-try bars and restaurants, as well as new headquarters for the likes of Condé Nast, it’s a luxurious lifestyle zone to match NY’s more traditional neighborhoods. Slick little Artezen has affordable rooms in mellow grey and navy, with bedding, towels and robes all from the mogul’s brand of choice, Frette.

A stone’s throw from Central Park, this fabulously maximalist little townhouse delights in clashing prints, eye-catching art and creatively cluttered light fixtures, in every shade imaginable. Its rooms are lovingly and individually designed, some with embellished fabric headboards, others with sweet corner balconies or full-on sofa-strewn terraces. Pop into the cheerful, multitextured bar for live jazz on Friday nights.

Once gritty and grimy, New York’s Lower East Side is now the place to be: brunching at its venerable Jewish delis, sipping cold brew in its hipster cafés or drinking in its sneakily luxurious dive bars. At the heart of it all is the member’s-clubby Ludlow, with a Spanish casa-style lounge and fireplace, conservatory restaurant draped with hanging plants and wood-paneled urban gym. Terrace rooms have sweet little brick balconies, from which you can watch the stylish set flit around the neighborhood.

Close to the Chrysler Building, on the east side of Midtown, this vivid little boutique hotel loves a pop of paintbox color: crimson sofas against crimson walls, butter-yellow bedrooms and cerulean splashed against ocean blue. Ceiling-height windows open onto a chic balcony in the premium queen terrace suite, while the penthouse terrace suite has a slender outdoor space running along the length of it.

A couple of blocks away from the neon-wrapped mayhem of Times Square, the Aliz has calm, functional rooms with glossy jacquard wallpaper and faux-crocodile black closets. Book the deluxe king balcony room for a sliver of private outdoor space – heaven in summer. Don’t miss the 40th-floor cocktail bar for a maple-syrup-laced old-fashioned, with a view of the twinkling skyline.

Dreamt up by Ian Schrager, the entrepreneur behind New York’s legendary Studio 54 nightclub, Edition is an opulent, minimalist brand of luxury that has attracted loyal fans from all over the world. The Times Square outpost is the brand’s second opening in the Big Apple – book the cream balcony suite where your neatly hedge-trimmed outdoor space overlooks the buzzy grid of Midtown.

In the same classic-sightseeing triangle as the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park and Rockefeller Center, this quirky crash pad has the feel of an offbeat contemporary art gallery. Glassy mezzanines, Warhol prints and curved white edges give a calm but characterful feel, while sun-drenched corner balconies in its deluxe suites have cushioned loungers ready for lazing. Beat the crowds to the top sights, then come back to recline when the streets get too busy.

The hotel extension of the UK’s efficient, futuristic Yo! Sushi brand, Yotel is all Japanese-style white curves edged with neon-purple mood lighting. The junior suite with terrace is an affordable Manhattan option with outdoor space – glam personal terraces with blingy white daybeds and hot tubs set in wooden decking. Checking in via a self-service kiosk and having your luggage taken care of by a robot concierge is the quirky start you’ll want to your New York stay.

Right in the action of Midtown, amid historic theaters and legendary watering holes, the Kimpton Muse has a polished, dark-wood aesthetic that feels traditional yet calm and modern. Switched-on service from the chatty, youthful staff keeps regulars coming back, while king premier balcony rooms are a top-value find with outdoor nooks that offer a fair amount of privacy, and several suite categories with balconies come with dining areas or chaises longues as standard.