The best luxury hotels in New York City

Frank Sinatra famously labelled New York as ‘a city so nice, they named it twice’. He may have been promoting his song at the time, but the label stuck and remains as true today as when the words were first spoken.

Of course, it should be said New York means different things to different people. To some it appears congested and intimidating, while others see it as energetic and full of life, with endless sights to see, places to go and stories to be written.

Regardless of which camp you fall into, the city absolutely remains worth visiting – it’s a spectacle, a way of life, and unapologetically unique. So what are you waiting for?

In no particular order, and by no means a definitive guide, these are some of the very best hotels New York has to offer.

 

Aman New York

Aman New York made headlines across the globe when it debuted in August 2022, with onlookers quick to name it ‘Manhattan’s most luxurious hotel’. One look at its lavish interiors (and room rates) is all the explanation you need for that grandiose title. 

A night in one of its suites starts at $3,250, though if your bank balance will allow you can also sign up to an exclusive members club, paying US$200k as a joining fee alone.

From the Junior Suite on Fifth Avenue to the Aman Suite, each comes with a functioning fireplace (a first in New York City) while the oversized bathrooms house oval soaking bathtubs, marble rain showers and double vanities.

Beyond the rooms are a three-level wellness spa with 10 treatment rooms including sauna and steam rooms, a 20-metre pool, Moroccan Hamman, and cryotherapy chamber.

Up on the 14th floor and flanked by water features, fire pits and panoramic view of the city is the Garden Terrace – an alfresco dining destination serving light meals and drinks all day long. A retractable roof keeps it toasty warm in winter.

Complementing this is fine Italian dining at Arva, which celebrates Sicilian cuisine using local ingredients; and Washoku Japanese dining at Nama, complete with its Omakase bar.

Capping things off is The Jazz Club, a speakeasy-style sanctuary featuring entertainment from some of the city’s finest musicians. 

Park Lane Hotel

For many travellers, New York hotels are simply a base to set out and explore the city. Park Lane Hotel, on the other hand, is a retreat where you’ll want to spend your time.

Every bit as elegant outside as in, it sits across the road from Central Park – leafy views are afforded from many rooms – and houses 628 rooms starting from 32 sqm through to the delectable one-bedroom Meadow Suite.

Even if your room faces the wrong direction from the park, you can still enjoy a vista from the 47th floor garden oasis, which transforms into the Darling Rooftop Lounge. Seats indoors are open season, whereas those on the outdoor terrace require a booking.

Dining at Park Lane is a true bastion of Manhattan indulgence, falling under the watchful eye of native New York restaurateur, Scott Sartiano, who also heads up two ground floor bars and restaurants in Harry’s and Rose Lane.

Both serve breakfast daily along with a variety of upmarket share plates and main meals.

The Ned, NoMad

Another hotel leaning into the private members schtick is The Ned Nomad, which welcomes both travellers and members across its 167 surprisingly-restrained rooms (at least, compared to its Qatar sibling).

If rooms and restaurants are open to the public, what does membership get you, you ask? That’d be access to rooftop restaurant Ned’s Club Upstairs affording views to the Empire State Building, as well as a private events floor and yet more options downstairs.

Bedrooms range in size from intimate (read: a bathtub alongside the bed in the deluxe and studio rooms) to large-scale suites where there’s ample room to stretch out and relax.

The general public are welcome at Cecconi’s restaurant – open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and Little Ned, which dishes up time-honoured bar staples and classic cocktails.

The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue

The words ‘Fifth Avenue’ are weighted with expectation. The artery connecting north and south dubbed ‘Millionaire's Row’ is home to some of the most prestigious boutiques and hotels in Manhattan. Among them is The Langham, New York.

Spanning 22 floors and boasting 234 exquisitely-styled rooms, including the gorgeous One Bedroom Empire State View, with its full-length outlook of the landmark building, the five star hotel is a powerhouse of refined elegance.

Naturally, dining is worth relishing. The Michelin-starred Ai Fiori restaurant offers a taste of the glittering French and Italian Rivieras, while Bar Fiori’s award-winning wine list and cocktails dial up the indulgence even further.

Guests staying in Club rooms and suites enjoy access to The Langham Club, a fourth-floor sanctuary offering all-day refreshments and a cocktail hour, together with an array of other desirable perks. Club access is also available on a pay-per-use basis.

The Peninsula New York

Peninsula Hotels carry with them an intrinsic sense of place, elegance and a reputation for glamour and sophistication. However, there’s an endearing warmth to them as well.

Walking through the doors to The Peninsula New York not only leaves you feeling like you’ve arrived home (albeit a classic 1905-built and immaculately-maintained home). Not only that, it’s one that’s been shared by stars of the stage and screen, royalty and more for years.

Rooms start from 34sqm and are designed to instantly evoke calmness through soft colours and gentle lighting. Marble bathrooms feature a spacious single vanity alongside a dual bathtub and shower, with two plush robes hanging from the door.

Of course, much like at its sibling hotels in London, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, guests of The Peninsula New York can enjoy numerous social settings within setting foot outside.

During the warmer months (May-Sep), head up to the 22nd floor to Salon De Ning for a drink and curated charcuterie snacks overlooking Fifth Avenue.

Alternatively, they can swing by Clement Restaurant for contemporary all-American fare; or the tantalising Gotham Lounge, which teases the taste buds with a selection of irresistible afternoon teas and evening cocktails.

The Ritz-Carlton NoMad

Located around five blocks between both the Empire State Building and curiously-designed Flatiron Building, The Ritz-Carlton NoMad forms part of a new mixed-use development shared with exclusive residences.

Planted in the city’s Flower District, the hotel features an exquisite art and sculpture collection devised by local New Yorkers, complemented by floral installations to create a blooming welcome for guests.

Among its 250 rooms are 19 suites and 16 penthouses featuring subtle floral gestures and custom-designed furnishings. But it’s arguably the 195 sqm Ritz-Carlton Suite that’ll truly take your breath away.

Sitting on the 37th floor and featuring wraparound views of the city and two rivers, guests of this lofty residence enjoy a private entrance, separate living and dining areas, walk-in closet, their own Peloton exercise bike, and media room.

 

For even higher views, guests can access the glittering Nubelez rooftop bar and lounge to build their own jamon, queso, and embutidos boards in a space reflecting New York’s glamorous history, quite literally, via multiple mirrors.

The Wall Street Hotel

Just a few blocks from the New York Stock Exchange, Australian-owned outpost The Wall Street Hotel is a relatively new addition to the local hotelscape but has certainly made a big impression in that short time.

Inspired by classic New York homes, its 180 elegant rooms and suites embody the rambunctious swagger of political eras before it through curated libraries, handcrafted in-room spirit carts and original artworks.

Guests can opt for the homely 26 sqm Pearl Street King room through to the exuberant 65 sqm Great Pearl Suite, complete with separate living and dining rooms, powder room and two bathrooms.

This elegance extends to the hotel’s public facilities, with first encounters facilitated by a stately grand lobby lounge perfect for a coffee or an evening aperitif while you agonise over the daily New York Times crossword.

Michelin-star Chef John Fraser helms the hotel’s dining offering via La Marchande, a modern take on a classic French brasserie. Signatures include French Onion Dumplings and seared ‘Bone Marrow, unearthed at the table before it’s folded in a fresh baguette. 

Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards

Squirrelled in Hudson Yards, a trendy Manhattan enclave between Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards is only a few streets west of Midtown and Times Square. It’s not the location that sets it apart though.

Curiously described as the ‘fittest hotel on earth’, it’s a hotel for active travellers – one inviting guests to get their sweat on in a wide variety of exercise programs and personal challenges to ensure they wake fully charged and ready for the day.

Each of the 222 rooms contains extra-large blackout curtains and soundproofing technology, with the goal of blocking out the Manhattan evening ‘ambiance’ (read: honking horns and traffic) and ensuring all guests enjoy a deep, restful sleep.

Elevating the fitness focus are the services of an Equinox Sleep Coach, a digital room attendant who can guide you through a series of stretches to help you wind down in the evening, or conversely, warm up your body in the morning.

The theme continues with the hotel’s dining offering, with high-performance breakfasts and nutritious dinners and after-hours sleep-promoting fare, menus are crafted for renewal and recovery.

Somewhat unique for a Manhattan hotel, the hotel has two swimming pools: a 22-metre indoor lap pool available alongside an outdoor pool, with summer cabanas able to be booked to soak up some New York sun. 

Mandarin Oriental New York

This park-facing gem requires little introduction. Located at Columbus Circle, just a few blocks from Broadway, Hell’s Kitchen and Times Square, Mandarin Oriental enchants with sweeping vistas over the Hudson River or the park itself.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in its 244 deluxe rooms and suites provide a sense of space and serenity, inviting you to sleep with the curtains open so you can wake up to the soothing sunrise over New York’s famed Central Park.

Various room types feature starkly different decor, ranging from the warmth of cream, brooding burgundy red, sleek silver or a dark and modern blue, coupled with similarly coloured carpets and plush furnishings.

Amenities don’t fall short either. After swimming laps at the 22-metre heated lap pool, unwind at the pampering 1,350 Spa, a revitalising hideaway offering anti-ageing facials, mind-clearing massages and detoxifying treatments.

Or if retoxing is more your style, head to the MO Lounge restaurant – overlooking Central Park and the Manhattan skyline – where you can bookend your day with all-day comfort snacks and expertly-crafted drinks. 

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

If walls could talk, we can only imagine the stories they would tell of The Carlyle, abuzz with art, culture, elite parties and other secrets we can only wish we knew.

One of the city's very finest treasures, this recently renewed Art Deco jewel is an easy walk from Central Park on the stylish Upper East Side.

The 35-storey 1930s Beaux Arts building is entered via a lavish black and gold hued marble lobby reminiscent of a bygone era of refined class and unabashed opulence.

Within its plush confines are an extravagant array of 192 rooms and suites, each replete with original hardwood flooring and exquisitely decorated by design gurus Tony Chi and Thierry Despont, along with all the mod-cons travellers today know, need and love.

The dining front does not disappoint. French haute cuisine and seafood classics at The Carlyle Restaurant, crisp Martinis with a side of live jazz music at Bemelmans Bar, and timeless New York favourites at Cafe Carlyle.

Read our in-depth review here.

Casa Cipriani

Housed within the 1906-designed Battery Maritime Building in the bottom of Manhattan – a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976 – sits Casa Cipriani.

Boasting a private members club (with annual dues of US$3,900 plus a $2,000 joining fee), it’s a hotel aimed at those who enjoy the finer things in life – indeed, a Cipriani tradition.

Operating separately is a 47-room boutique hotel, of which some feature balconies and terraces overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. Custom furnished around mahogany décor, guests can upsize to a suite with as many as three bedrooms.

During their stay, guests enjoy access to the same privileges as club members, including valet parking, access to exclusive show and event tickets, private art and cultural tours, use of a chauffeured courtesy car and more.

The hotel also features three restaurants and bars, one serving classic Cipriani recipes that have stood the test of time. After dinner, patrons can adjourn to a private jazz club or rooftop bar to enjoy views of an illuminated city.

The Plaza Hotel

Almost synonymous with the city itself, and immortalised in Christmas classic Home Alone 2, The Plaza Hotel’s Manhattan address and that of its guests do not get much better.

Situated at the southern edge of Central Park, The Plaza Hotel exudes history and timeless elegance, with a stay here worthy of a badge of honour.

Once owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump and exquisitely furnished in the richly decorative style of Louis XV, The Plaza’s 282 guest and suites boast tall ceilings, plush bedding and spa baths with 24-carat gold-plated fixtures.

Guests wishing to enhance their stay can book the multi-room Legacy Suites, where a mix of velvets, leathers and custom-designed art are complemented by an attentive, white glove butler service and Fifth Avenue or Central Park views.

The dining is what you would expect from a hotel of this calibre, with Palm Court featuring decidedly out-of-place palm trees and custom cane furnishings beneath a signature stained-glass dome paying homage to the original, built in 1907.

Enjoy a lengthy tea selection and no shortage of macarons at the Palm Court’s afternoon tea or sip bubbly in the Champagne Bar before stepping out the iconic revolving doors for a night out.

The St. Regis Hotel New York

One of the crown jewels among the city, The St. Regis tempts travellers with round-the-clock butler service and a privileged location in central Manhattan sets this hotel in New York’s upper echelon.

From its front door, it’s an easy walk to Times Square, the Theatre District and Central Park, just four blocks away. An in-house Bentley is available to drop off guests within a 10-block radius of the property.

Starting at 40 sqm, rooms are among the largest in the city. with blissful beds and Waterford crystal chandeliers juxtaposed with fabrics of deep blue, red, green or purple – a perfect combination of old world glamour and modern designs.

On the dining front, a delectable seasonally-focused menu awaits at the Astor Court restaurant, the hotel’s all day dining venue offering modern interpretations of traditional dishes.

Of course, a stay at St Regis New York would not be complete without a visit to its iconic King Cole Bar, an elegant yet understated cocktail bar that claims to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary.

Lotte New York Palace

A 19th century mansion turned hotel, The Lotte New York Palace is a luxury hideaway designed for travellers with a taste for the finer things.

Facing St. Patrick’s Cathedral, this stately and historic Madison Avenue landmark is all about timeless elegance, with 733 rooms outfitted in soothing neutral tones with brocade drapes and custom furnishings.

But the star of the show is the mansion’s exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel, The Towers at Lotte New York Palace Hotel. Annexed to the historic building in 1974 are an additional 176 rooms and suites with upgraded amenities, better views and of course, personal butler service.

From classic hand-crafted cocktails in a gloriously ornate gilt-lined setting to delightful New American fare in the iconic Villard Restaurant, this is a hotel that will keep foodies in their element from dawn till longer after dusk.

A prestigious Ila Only Spa – the first in the United States – is also onsite for nourishing treatments such as a range of signature  stress-relieving treatments – crafted using farm-grown organic ingredients – and state-of-the art sound healing experiences.

And for exploring Manhattan itself, there’s a Mercedes GL350 to chauffeur you around, or a Maybach, if you’d prefer.

The Mark Hotel

Ensconced in a gracious pre-war building in the heart of Manhattan’s swanky Upper East Side, overlooking Madison Avenue, The Mark describes itself as an oasis of calm in the hustle and bustle of the city.

Art and culture form the backbone of The Mark’s place in Manhattan – the hotel emblematic of the style and sophistication of high-brow humour you’d find in a New Yorker Magazine cartoon.

Sumptuous and tranquil, the 141 spacious Art Deco-inspired rooms and suites range from a Madison Queen to a five-bedroom suite with kitchens, as well as The Mark Penthouse, a 1000 sqm haven currently holding the record for the most expensive hotel suite in NYC at US$75,000 per night.

Dining indulgence comes from the hand of celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at The Mark. A very New York experience here includes ordering The Mark Cheeseburger, exquisitely prepared with truffle dressing and brie.

There’s no shortage of services and extras either. Schedule a workout session at the hotel’s state-of-the art fitness centre before slipping into the Frederic Fekkai Salon for a manicure, pedicure or stylish do-up before a fancy night out.