The 11 Best Boutique Hotels in New York City

The Whitby Hotel injects some traditional British charm into the streets of Midtown Manhattan. The Kit Kemp-designed rooms at this boutique hotel in New York are brimming with trademark touches such as wild floral wallpaper, furniture in a mix of thoughtfully clashing patterns and sustainable RikRak toiletries that ensure guilt-free pampering in the walk-in showers. Downstairs you’ll find the charming guest rooms – a mishmash of gold sunburst mirrors and decorative china incite fond memories of eclectic aunts. Pull up a seat in the peach-walled Orangery for a spot of afternoon tea or catch a movie on the big screen in the in-house theater.

The Greenwich is part-owned by Robert De Niro – a heavyweight of the neighborhood’s art scene as one of the co-founders of the Tribeca Film Festival. The 88 rooms are individually styled with a well-traveled tropics-meets-bohemia vibe that is brought to life with Moroccan tiling, Tibetan rugs and sumptuous English leather sofas. Luxury amenities inject a touch of modernism, treating you to high-definition TVs, Bose Bluetooth speakers and high-end services such as the use of the hotel’s house car and personalized grocery shopping. The star treatment doesn’t end there; downstairs lies a subterranean pool bathed in Zen-style calm, where you can pamper yourself with plant-based treatments at the Shibui Spa and round off the day with inspired Italian dishes at restaurant Locanda Verde.

Born from the mind of renowned designer David Rockwell, the Chambers Hotel is an artistic oasis in Midtown Manhattan. The braided timber doors of the hotel open out onto soaring ceilings and a rich chocolatey palette, overlooked by the basket-woven balustrades of the mezzanine level. Traditional Zen elements are found throughout – Japanese soaking tubs invite you to relax in the bathrooms, Tibetan wool rugs add a cosy touch and nature is introduced through a scattering of potted plants. In restaurant Felice 56, you can dine among greenery reminiscent of the Tuscan countryside, and choose from an extensive wine list of fine Italian vintages.

Just down the street from the New York Public Library’s flagship branch, the Library Hotel takes inspiration from this Manhattan icon by theming each of its 10 floors after one of the classifications in the Dewey Decimal System. Small yet inviting with skyline views, the 60-room property is one of the best boutique hotels in New York and a book lover’s paradise, with over 6,000 tomes spread throughout the lobby, rooms and lounges. Make sure to check out the Bookmarks Lounge in the evening for rooftop views and cocktails such as Tequila Mockingbird and F Scott Fitzgerald.

Lord and Moris is conveniently placed for those looking to get the quintessential New York experience, plunged in the neon-lit heart of Times Square. Its entrance is guarded by two milk-white horse statuettes beneath a canopy of fairy lights, and the lobby combines a jungle-like living wall with polished grey Chesterfield sofas. An affordable Manhattan boutique hotel option, the rooms range from compact with bunk beds to the family-friendly group suites. They all have an essentials-only approach, but not at the expense of pillow-top mattresses or flat-screen TVs, while the sleek wooden furnishings and emerald walls help create a faux forest-style setting to relax in.

Starting life as a seminary in 1895, The High Line Hotel has since been reincarnated as a bewitching boutique hotel in the hub of West Chelsea. Founded by Clement Clarke Moore (who penned ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’) the Gothic red-brick building nods to its historic heyday with nostalgic touches such as rotary dial phones, flea market-found tennis racquets and working vintage typewriters that sit on the lovingly sourced antique furniture in every room. Otherworldly cocktails await in a garden inspired by the self-proclaimed psychic Ingo Swann, paying tribute with cosmic concoctions including the champagne and rum Seventh Sense. Head inside for a small-batch Kentucky whiskey in the mood-lit Lobby Bar, peppered with wild flora and roaring lion statuettes.

This landmark hotel opened on the Upper East Side in 1927 and has kept much of its timeless charm. Located just off Madison Avenue near Central Park, The Lowell is a quiet retreat from the bustling city without being far removed from the action. As one of the best boutique hotels in New York, most accommodations here feature fully equipped kitchens and a number have wood-burning fireplaces or private terraces. If you’re a tea lover, the Pembroke Room on the second floor serves afternoon tea complete with scones and finger sandwiches.

Housed in the former headquarters of Life magazine, this boutique hotel has adopted an equally adventurous spirit. The pet-friendly rooms are lit by Edison light bulbs and feature uplifting quotes on the crisp white walls – relax in front of 60-inch TVs and stream your latest obsession on Google Chromecast. Following a session in the 24/7 gym or a house-made pasta meal in restaurant Marilyn, descend into the reincarnated speakeasy-style bar (scheduled to open late 2020) that once served up luscious libations to the Life staff during the prohibition era. With the city on your doorstep you can quickly stroll over to landmarks such as the Empire State Building or indulge in a bit of retail therapy at nearby Macy’s.

The Tetris-style windows that span The Nolitan’s facade are the first hint at its distinctive design-led approach. Its rooms are a slick combination of hardwood oak floors, raw concrete walls and thoughtfully utilised spaces with bright open-plan bathrooms – book a corner room for views of Williamsburg Bridge. Pets are welcome in certain rooms and gamers can make themselves at home with the option to request a console, while you can also hire a complimentary bike, or even skateboard, if you prefer to explore the city on a set of wheels.

This British import, located in the middle of SoHo, may seem sleek and flashy on the outside with its glass-and-brick facade illuminated in electric blue. But on the inside, the Crosby Street Hotel proves to be warm, colorful, roomy and elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows, unique designer decor and excellent customer service. Other notable features include the Crosby Bar, which opens onto a private outdoor garden, and the 99-seat screening room, which hosts a film club on Sundays.