The Best Vacation Apartments in New York City

This residential-style luxury hotel has simple, elegant rooms but the location, just two blocks south of Central Park, is the most compelling reason to book. The range of one- and two-bedroom suites cater particularly to business travelers, although everyone will love the free valet parking, laundry and dry cleaning services. There’s also a modern fitness center, plus a private club lounge peering over the Manhattan skyline.

This 38-story landmark was the tallest apartment hotel in the city when it opened in 1927, and it’s maintained an equally lofty standing among well-heeled travelers ever since. Just across Fifth Avenue from the Pulitzer Fountain at the southeast entrance to Central Park, the Sherry-Netherland is crowned by a gothic-style minaret and graced with a European-style fresco in the lobby, while the 50 rooms and suites are appointed with similarly refined decor.

Just a block from Times Square, in the thick of Midtown Manhattan, this modern high-rise is the ideal launchpad for families sinking their teeth into the Big Apple. The 411 guest rooms are bright and basic, with 32-inch TVs to keep the kids entertained, and kitchenettes containing full-sized refrigerators and stovetops. Heavenly Beds by Westin and all-natural Pharmacopia toiletries guarantee a comfortable stay, while the rooftop patio looks over the humming Garment District location.

The 17 floors of this five-star hotel have loomed above the ritziest townhouses of the Upper East Side since 1927, with suites that are every bit as cultured as the fashion houses they neighbor. Sandwiched between Park and Madison Avenues, the Lowell received a $25m (£18m) makeover in 2017 and was decorated by Los Angeles designer Michael Smith, adding wood-burning fireplaces, king-sized beds and landscaped terraces to the 74 suites. Don’t miss afternoon tea in the Pembroke Room or a French meal at the Majorelle restaurant.

This all-suite retreat claimed the crown of the tallest hotel in the United States when it opened in 2014, and floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of its soaring height. While another hotel, the Courtyard, sits beneath the 35th floor of this glass tower, everything higher belongs to the Residence Inn. The 261 pet-friendly rooms offer kitchens and a free grocery delivery service for guests who are eager to eat in and admire the dizzying views.

The decorative art deco exterior might be a throwback to the 1920s, but the 355 gold-hued rooms inside are straight out of the 21st century. If you’re not eating your way through the restaurants of the Theater District and Hell’s Kitchen, each room features a microwave, mini-fridge and coffeemaker, plus there’s a a relaxed Brazilian steakhouse on site. The self-service laundry, 24-hour fitness center and free weekday wine hour are other drawcards.

Hidden in a tree-lined corner of the Upper East Side, Gardens Suites Hotel provides a residential retreat from the thrum of Midtown Manhattan. These 132 minimalist suites are much more spacious than most in New York. Kitchens come with full-sized fridges and ovens where you can cook food from the store at reception, and many airy lounge rooms open onto pet-friendly terraces livened up by murals from local artist Rubin415.

Antique furniture and a saltwater aquarium welcome guests to the lobby of this lavish boutique hotel, while L’Occitane bathroom products, feather beds and luxury Frette linens roll out the red carpet in the 154 suites. The grandeur extends to the food and drink menu, too. The penthouse bar – aptly named Upstairs – stirs up cocktails with a 30th-floor vantage of the Chrysler Building. The Empire Steakhouse, plus Italian eatery Bistango, deliver dinner on the lobby level.