The 10 Best Hotels in New York City

A stay at this Beaux Arts-style landmark building, which is best known for afternoon tea at its Palm Court eatery, even makes residents’ New York bucket lists. Three on-site restaurants, a high-end boutique and a coveted Fifth Avenue address make The Plaza Hotel a model of urban luxury. ‘Standard’ amenities include iPads and 24-karat-gold-plated fixtures in every room, as well as the hotel’s famous white-glove butler service.

The Surrey is the Upper East Side’s premier art hotel. Its private multimedia collection, including pieces by Jenny Holzer, Chuck Close, and nine others, is displayed throughout the property for guests’ pleasure. This entire Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel (the only of its kind in New York City) appeals to the eye, from its gray marble floors to the quilted walls in The Surrey’s Bar, Pleiades. Suites equipped with fireplaces, soaking tubs and six different pillow options showcase the hotel’s understated opulence.

This chain hotel in Chelsea may have the best amenities in New York City. Dramatic floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows distinguish The Standard, High Line’s rooms, while a biergarten, seasonal ice rink and Le Bain, one of the city’s most sought-after rooftop bars, round out its communal spaces. If guests can tear themselves from the trendy hotel, its namesake elevated park is mere steps away.

At The Jane Hotel, the staff dons retro bellhop uniforms, and cozy rooms are modeled after early-20th-century ship cabins. In the hotel’s popular lounge, a glittering disco ball hangs over oriental rugs and mismatched furniture. Its eccentricity and surprising affordability have made this West Village spot a local favorite for the over 100 years.

The Crosby Street Hotel’s interiors appear to have been thrown together almost casually, a testament to owner and designer Kit Kemp’s skillful eye. Custom upholstery and an art collection comprised largely of dog sculptures and paintings – both of which are hotel signatures – are, in fact, carefully considered here. The complexity of the hotel’s communal areas and 86 bedrooms and suites, inspired by SoHo’s artistic past, makes this British import Manhattan’s best design hotel.

The Nolitan is a Manhattan hotel for a new generation. Amenities such as skateboards and Wii, Xbox and PlayStation 3 consoles cater to young and young-at-heart travelers. Just outside of the hotel are some of New York City’s trendiest – and most Instagram-friendly – attractions, including Egg Shop and Balthazar. However, it’s worth staying in at The Nolitan, where pet-friendly rooms come equipped with affordable minibars and locally made bath products.

The William Vale Hotel is Brooklyn’s interpretation of a five-star luxury hotel. Its prime location in the borough’s most coveted neighborhood is reason enough to book this Williamsburg icon. Throw in a private elevated park, a locally beloved rooftop bar and balconies in each of its 183 guest rooms, and The William Vale solidifies its status as Williamsburg’s most unexpected attraction. Tip: Guests needn’t look beyond the hotel for entertainment; The William Vale is home to a 60-foot (18.2-meter) rooftop pool and a converted Airstream trailer serving burgers and fries.

An aesthetic evoking a luxury cruise seems to be the key to this themed hotel’s success. The Maritime Hotel’s porthole windows, dark wood interiors and textiles in nautical patterns have delighted design fans for years. The sea continues to inspire at La Sirena, the hotel’s restaurant specializing in cuisine from “the entire Italian Peninsula,” and at the subterranean TAO Downtown, where a koi pond is the first thing to greet diners.

Manhattan’s oldest thoroughfare lends its name to this Lower East Side hotel. The Bowery Hotel 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. Tip: 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 nature retreat in New York City sounds like a dream come true for travelers craving balance, but it’s a reality at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Expansive waterfront views of the East River and interiors incorporating greenery and reclaimed woods are especially restorative after a day in the concrete jungle. Amenities like eco-friendly hair dryers and organic cotton sheets help guests sleep better – on 1 Hotel’s custom organic mattresses, naturally.