The Best Hotels to Book in Downtown New York City

In terms of location, the Conrad is one of the best hotels in New York. On the banks of the Hudson River in Downtown Manhattan, it’s a ten-minute stroll to the city’s iconic neighborhoods of Tribeca, Greenwich Village, and Soho. Sleek, contemporary rooms have picture-frame windows, presenting that NYC skyline view like a work of art on the wall. In-room dining can be arranged in your suite or room, and the Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar serves signature poptails – cocktails in ice lolly form – with a backdrop of sweeping views from the Statue of Liberty to New York Harbour.

A good hotel in New York is not hard to find, but an iconic one is a different story. The Four Seasons in Downtown is housed in a turn-of-the-century skyscraper so you know views from the top-level suites are going to be incredible. The experiences offered by the concierge are not your average selection either – bike rentals to get around, a picnic in the park with hampers crafted by head chef Maria Tampakis or a three-hour walking tour of Lower Manhattan’s art scene – and are all exclusively available for guests of the Four Seasons. Fancy staying in? There’s an entire floor dedicated to the spa, overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

An aesthetic that evokes a luxury cruise seems to be the key to this nautically-themed hotel’s success. Think porthole windows, dark wood interiors, and textiles in nautical patterns throughout the rooms. The sea continues to inspire at the subterranean TAO Downtown restaurant, where a pond full of koi carp is the first thing to greet diners on arrival.

Manhattan’s oldest thoroughfare lends its name to this Lower East Side hotel – and the Bowery honors its historic neighborhood with factory-inspired floor-to-ceiling windows, timeless furniture, and staff outfitted in retro topcoats. Nods to the youthful energy of the modern-day Lower East Side include complimentary iPads and bicycles for hire. People-watching at the Bowery Lobby is a favorite pastime of locals, and only guests of the hotel can partake while enjoying fare from hotel restaurant Gemma.

A stay at Arlo SoHo puts you on the cusp of trendy SoHo and just a two-minute walk from the High Line park. Head out to explore the area on foot, or grab a bike outside – the hotel has several that are free for guests to use throughout summer and autumn. Inside, a buzzy community vibe rings across the library-style area and courtyard – be sure to check the pinboard by the elevators for post-it recommendations left by other guests. Meanwhile, rooms are cleverly designed with Scandi-style furnishings to make them appear larger than they are, and feature more than enough USB plug sockets to keep all your devices powered.

The glowing Roxy marquee sign above the entrance of this eight-story hotel suggests you’re in for a treat inside. You won’t be disappointed. From the tiered-banquette seating of the live jazz lounge to the retro in-house cinema, the burnt orange tones, and vintage clock radios displayed in the rooms, the place is dripping with 1920s nostalgia. Upgrade to a luxury Studio King suite for maximum indulgence – with Egyptian cotton sheets, Frette bathrobes, and a minibar stocked with ready-to-pour cocktails, you won’t get bored easily.

Built in 1881 as one of the first skyscrapers in New York, the Beekman has earned its place among the most historic hotels in the city. And thanks to a multimillion-dollar renovation not so long ago, it now comfortably ranks as one of the most magnificent, too. Just look at the central atrium – a nine-story tangle of wrought-iron balustrades built under a glass roof. It’s quite the feature, and an apt introduction to the other splendid surprises still to come. The downstairs Bar Room is all green leather sofas, faded portraits, and a row of beautiful mahogany-framed cabinets filled with classic tomes. Rooms carry off the same vintage vibe, and even the fitness center looks plucked from another epoch, with a spiral staircase connecting its two floors.

Floor-to-ceiling windows replace walls at this eclectic hipster hotel, in which all the rooms have wraparound views of Manhattan. At the base of the 21-story tenement building, you’ll find a secluded garden with lip-shaped topiary, a cafe with a covered patio and indoor mushroom farm, plus a neon-lit cocktail bar that hosts live DJs and themed events. Two East Village institutions – the Strand Bookstore and McSorely’s, said to be NYC’s oldest pub – are within a five-minute walk.

The wood-paneled Felice Restaurant at Gild Hall specializes in Tuscan cuisine, serving classic dishes such as pappardelle with sweet Italian sausage, porcini mushrooms, and truffle sauce beneath an upper-level wine bar with a superb selection of Italian wines. Accommodations feature brass fittings, leather headboards, and a dark palette of browns, grays, and blacks, and range in size from cozy doubles to a penthouse suite. One World Trade Center, the Seaport District, and Wall Street are all on your doorstep.

This sleek Hyatt hotel showcases a collection of original works by New York-based artists, as well as historic black-and-white photographs of Chinatown, donated by the Museum of Chinese in America – only eight minutes away on foot. Amenities comprise a fitness center, a co-working space, and the Crown, a glass-enclosed, 21st-floor cocktail and snack joint with dizzying views. Most rooms also overlook the city or Manhattan Bridge. Book a fourth-floor suite for your own private, landscaped terrace with Brooklyn vistas.