Bed down in the shadow of the Big Apple’s most renowned landmarks – and benefit from world-class amenities when you’re not off sightseeing.
Whether it’s your first, second or hundredth time, a visit to New York City is virtually guaranteed to involve sightseeing on some level. From icons like the Empire State Building and Grand Central Terminal to lesser-known attractions that only the locals know about, it’s all waiting for you in Manhattan. Make the most of your time on the world-famous concrete island with a stay at one of these high-end hotels, all located in the central downtown area.
The Standard, High Line
Chain Hotel
Courtesy of The Standard High Line / Expedia.com
Overlooking the Hudson River, this chain hotel in Chelsea has some of the best amenities in New York City. Dramatic floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows distinguish its rooms, while a beer garden, 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 away from the trendy hotel, its namesake elevated park – formerly a central railroad for transporting goods into the city – is just a few steps away.
Eccentricity and surprising affordability have made The Jane Hotel a local favorite for more than 100 years. Staff don retro bellhop uniforms, and its snug rooms are modeled after early-20th-century ship cabins. In the hotel’s popular lounge, a glittering disco ball hangs over Persian rugs and mismatched furniture. Grab a cocktail at the Victorian-style lobby bar – it’s easily the best way to accompany the French-Moroccan fare served at on-site restaurant, Old Rose.
The Crosby Street Hotel’s interiors appear to have been casually thrown together – 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 bySoHo‘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.
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 La Sirena, the hotel’s restaurant specializing in cuisine from “the entire Italian Peninsula,” and at the subterranean TAO Downtown, 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. You can 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 pin board by the lifts 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, to 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 bath robes and a minibar stocked with ready-to-pour cocktails, you won’t get bored easily.
Courtesy of The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel / Expedia.com
Built in 1881 as one of New York’s first skyscrapers, The Beekman has earned its place among the city’s most historic hotels. And thanks to a multi-million-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, what with the spiral staircase connecting its two floors.
The cushy minimalist rooms of Selina Chelsea are perfect for quiet mindful moments after a day of endless crowds and traffic. Each one features a wooden platform bed, and some even include their own Asian-style bath tub. You’ll also notice an array of Latinx art decorating the walls, all of which is for sale if you like what you see. Facilities at the hotel include a garden, a bar, pool and terrace. See if you can spot the High Line park from the rooftop terrace, and – when restlessness does get the better of you – amble along the railroad-turned-elevated-walkway for views of the trendy Meatpacking District and the chance to see local artists at work.
