The best luxury hotels in New York City

Frank Sinatra famously labelled New York City 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 those famous words were first uttered.

One of the busiest cities on the planet, New York can be different things to different people. To some it may appear congested, dirty and intimidating; to others it is vibrant, energetic and full of life, with endless sights to see, places to go and personal stories to be written.

The sheer scale of New York City also makes it home to hundreds of luxury hotels, from the boutique through to renowned brands welcoming guests the world over.

Some are home to members of New York City’s most revered names in dining, Michelin stars among many accolades, while others boast views of Central Park or Manhattan’s enchanting waterways.

Whether you crave hustle and bustle or are in search of a quieter corner of the five boroughs to base yourself, in no particular order, here are some of the most spectacular addresses you can call home during your visit.

 

Park Lane Hotel

Where you’ll find it: 36 CentralPark South

For many, New York hotels are simply a base, but Park Lane Hotel is a retreat where you’ll want to spend your time.

Every bit as elegant outside as in, Park Lane Hotel sits across the road from Central Park with its 628 rooms starting from 32 sqm through to the delectable one-bedroom Meadow Suite and its panoramic park views from both the bedroom and living area.

Of course, park views are available to any guest, even if their room faces another direction, simply by heading to the 47th floor garden oasis which transforms into the Darling Rooftop Lounge.

Seats in the indoor lounge are open season, whereas spots 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. 

Casa Cipriani

Where you’ll find it: 10 South Street

Deep in the bottom corner of Manhattan Island lies Casa Cipriani, housed within the 1906-designed Battery Maritime Building and listed on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1976. 

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 lacquered mahogany décor, guests can upsize to a suite with as many as three bedrooms with large living areas designed for entertaining if they wish.

The hotel 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.

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.

An on-site fitness centre offers daily personal training sessions, while reflexology and stress recovery sessions are among the treatments available in the hotel spa.

The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue

Where you’ll find it: 400 5th Ave, New York

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

In typical Langham fashion, dining is an experience worth relishing. The Michelin-starred Ai Fiori restaurant offers diners 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

Where you’ll find it: 700 5th Avenue

Peninsula Hotels carry with them an intrinsic sense of place, elegance and a reputation for glamour and sophistication.

Set in a classic 1905-built and immaculately maintained address in New York, you can walk through the front doors of The Peninsula New York and not only feel like you’re at home, but one that has been shared by stars of stage and screen, royalty and some of the world’s most eminent decision-makers.

A few blocks walk from the front door will take you to Central Park in one direction, Rockefeller Centre in another, with many of the world’s leading names in luxurious fashion and accessories all around.

Rooms start from 34sqm and are designed to immediately invite a calmness into your body through soft colours and gentle lighting.

Perfect for travellers from around the world, universal power outlets negate the need to first connect an adaptor, with an executive desk in rich mahogany featuring a multi-functional printer, making it easy to get your documents for the next day or your onward journey in order.

Marble bathrooms feature a spacious single vanity alongside a dual bathtub and shower, with two plush robes hanging from the door.

Guests of The Peninsula New York can enjoy numerous social settings to cap off their day.

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

Other spots where it pays to be seen are Clement Lounge for some light, Asian-inspired bites; or the tantalising Gotham Lounge which teases a selection of irresistible desserts to go with your evening cocktails.

The Wallace

Where you’ll find it: 242 West 76th Street

Staying on the Upper West Side of Manhattan brings with it an expectation of luxury and upmarket surroundings.

The Wallace knows this… and doesn’t disappoint, with grand European marble bathrooms and some of the most spacious rooms in Manhattan.

Located two blocks from Central Park in one direction and the Hudson River in the other, The Wallace is a fine base to explore the city’s finest institutions, such as the Museum of Metropolitan Art, Lincoln Centre and Columbia University.

The Wallace features 124 carefully decorated guest rooms and suites, starting from 23 sqm and each offering with parquet flooring, upholstered headboards and a desk.

Junior Suites take the available space to 36 sqm and add a pair of accent chairs and glass coffee table, while multi-bedroom offerings include a private wet bar in a separate living space.

While The Wallace doesn’t currently have a dining option of its own, a stylish cocktail bar and lounge is in development and due to open in coming months.

Renaissance Hotel Flushing

Where you’ll find it: 133 37th Avenue, Queens

If you’d rather not base yourself amidst the action of Manhattan, there are many amazing hotels in the surrounding boroughs where you can enjoy a more resort-like experience. Renaissance New York Flushing Hotel is one of them. 

Spanning two blocks in a four-phase complex nearing completion in Queens, the hotel sits atop a vast retail centre home to nearly 30 Asian restaurants, eight cinemas, a bar with outdoor beer garden and a fitness centre with a full-size Olympic swimming pool.

The 208 rooms themselves are less encumbered by the constraints of Manhattan and feature refrigerators, a large sofa and a standalone desk around the King bed. Bathrooms are stylish and feature Aveda amenities.

Dining within the hotel comes from the rooftop Prime Met restaurant, which serves a fusion menu of Asian and American delicacies and a drinks menu featuring imported whiskey and sake.

Marriott Bonvoy members holding Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador cards can also partake in snacks and drinks in the hotel’s 11th floor Club Lounge, as can guests booking Concierge Level rooms.

Aman Hotel

Where you’ll find it: 730 5th Avenue

Unapologetically exclusive, Aman New York is being heralded as Manhattan’s most luxurious and as much a destination as the city itself.

Offering 83 suites and an absolute base nightly rate of US$3,200 per night (if you can get it), loyal sybarites are queuing up not just for a stay but also to join its even-more-exclusive members club, paying US$200k as a joining fee alone.

For the money required to get inside the door, the 75 sqm of space provided make them more of a residence than a hotel room, but it’s the Aman lifestyle that guests pay for, not the bed.

Aman New York features a three-level wellness spa featuring 10 treatment rooms including sauna and steam rooms, a 20-metre pool, Moroccan Hamman, and cryotherapy chamber.

The 14th floor Garden Terrace is flanked by soothing water features, fire pits and boasts panoramic views over the city to ensure maximum comfort for its year-round clientele, even in the bitter New York winters.

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

To cap things off, Aman’s jazz club features daily performances from some of the city’s finest musicians.

The Ritz-Carlton NoMad

Where you’ll find it: 1185 Broadway at 25 W 28th Street

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.

On the ground floor, Turkish cuisine is celebrated at the 140-seat Zaytinya restaurant through an innovative mezze menu and Mediterranean-infused cocktails, under the careful watch of Michelin starred chef, José Andrés, who will also open a Spanish restaurant at the hotel later this year.

The hotel maximises views for every guest with its 250 rooms soaring high into the sky. Among these are 19 suites and 16 penthouses featuring subtle floral gestures and designed to reflect residential living with custom-designed furnishings.

But it’s the 195 sqm Ritz-Carlton Suite that will 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.

Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s

Where you’ll find it: 456 Greenwich Street, Tribeca

If you’re seeking a touch of Parisian flair in your New York visit, Le Fouquet holds a certain je ne sais quoi.

Whisked from Manhattan into a classic French mansion via the cobbled streets of Tribeca, the hotel features 97 boudoir-esque rooms decorated in quaint European charm. 

Among its delights are parquet flooring, sumptuous curtains, quilted headboards, and Toile de Jouy wallpaper, together with marble bathrooms featuring high ceilings and tall windows. Higher room categories also house separate living rooms.

If the frantic activity of Manhattan has worn you out, you can rejuvenate at Spa Diane Barrière, where a hydrotherapy pool with water fitness circuit, and a sauna and steam room, and a menu of treatments utilising organic plant-based French beauty brands await.

When it’s time to dine, Brasserie Fouquet is on-hand to plate up decadent French cuisine as a tribute to the group’s original 1899-founded Parisian restaurant, found on the Champs-Élysées. 

Under the tutelage of Michelin-star chef Pierre Gagnaire, diners can savour true French gastronomy amid a dimly lit, warm and romantic environment.

To complete the occasion, Titsou speakeasy bar evokes the classic intimacy of 1920s Paris.

As an alternative, the more casual Par Ici Café is vegetarian themed and specialises in the ‘slow food’ concept in a typical French café setting.

The FIDI

Where you’ll find it: 11 Stone Street, Financial District

This new-build 27-storey tower in New York’s Financial District is exactly where The FIDI takes its name as the first two letters of its surrounds.

The FIDI is a 27-storey new-build offering 143 spacious rooms decorated with wooden cabin vibes. It’s an intriguing juxtaposition of rustic bedrooms with bold postmodern art interpretations in the bathrooms, which guests will find layered with hexagonal marble rings in different shadings.

Guests comfortable with navigating Manhattan’s crazy streets will find a sanctuary at The FIDI, with free parking for guests – a prized luxury if you plan on venturing out each day to explore surrounding boroughs, suburbs or even the city itself.

For dinner, take a seat at The Mint to enjoy some new-age American favourites inspired by Mediterranean culture. 

Upstairs, the intimate Mint Bar and cocktail lounge is sure to become a favourite among Wall Street’s executives, with a two-storey jewel box terrace complete with a disco ball for when it’s time for the party to begin.

Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards

Where you’ll find it: 33 Hudson Yards

Curiously described as the ‘fittest hotel on earth’, travellers eager to get their sweat on can relish in a wide variety of exercise programs and individual challenges to ensure they wake each morning fully charged and ready for the day ahead.

Located in Hudson Yards, an increasingly trendy enclave of Manhattan between Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, the hotel is only a few streets west of Midtown and Times Square, surrounded by some of the city’s newest and most innovative attractions.

These include the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere and City Climb, where you can dangle from the edge of a skyscraper. Couple this with luxury boutiques and intriguing galleries and you’re in one of Manhattan’s most exciting precincts.

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

Elevating this 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, with yoga equipment also available.

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.

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

Four Seasons Downtown

Where you’ll find it: 27 Barclay Street, Tribeca

Naturally, the Four Seasons moniker is synonymous with luxury and opulence. New York Downtown is no exception.

Boasting 368 expansive rooms and suites named after New York boroughs and precincts, guests can book spaces starting from the 37 sqm Brooklyn Room up to the 223 sqm Empire Suite. 

There’s even a Gotham Suite, should fans of the caped crusader be so inclined to check-in, while many rooms feature spellbinding views over Midtown… even without Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego lurking.

Guests can select from a choice of three bed styles – plush, signature or firm – while marble bathrooms feature an in-mirror television, separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers.

Famed US chef Wolfgang Puck has applied his creative nous to the Four Seasons dining options, built around signature restaurant ‘Cut’ open for three meals each day.

The hotel has dedicated an entire floor to its health and wellness facilities, with a seven-room spa facility and indoor heated lap pool to help guests warm up their muscles.

Should improving your personal health be an objective (and why wouldn’t it be?), guests can even partake in a Life + Longevity package which includes a full-day comprehensive check-up which crafts a personalised wellness program to manage any future risks and maintain an active lifestyle.

The Wall Street Hotel

Where you’ll find it: 88 Wall Street

Newly opened, this Australian-owned ode to excellence and grandeur can be found right on America’s most famous street in finance, just a few blocks down from the NYSE itself.

Housed within the historic Tontine Coffee House building, named after an investment type which once served as a legendary meeting spot for stockbrokers, the hotel features 180 elegant rooms and suites.

Inspired by classic New York homes, the Wall Street Hotel’s rooms embody the rambunctious swagger of political eras before it through curated libraries, handcrafted in-room spirit carts and original artworks, enveloped by calming colour tones.

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 the classic French brasserie with menu items prepared using exotic ingredients imported from Southeast Asia. 

Vermouth is the focal palette cleanser in the beverage list, with numerous cocktails embodying the fortified aperitif including the appropriately located Manhattan.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

Where you’ll find it: 35 East 76th Street, Madison Avenue

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.

You’ll even find a baby grand piano in some of the suites, of which many offer grand sweeping views of Central Park.

The dining front does not disappoint either. 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 favorites at Cafe Carlyle, where you may even find iconic New York talents such as Woody Allen enjoying a meal on any given day.

Read our in-depth review here. 

The Plaza Hotel

Where you’ll find it: 5th Avenue at Central Park South

Almost synonymous with the city itself, 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 rooms – including 102 luxurious suites – boast tall ceilings, luxurious bedding with regal headboards and spa baths with 24-carat gold-plated fixtures.

Guests who wish to enhance their stay may book the hotel’s multi-room Legacy Suites, where a sumptuous mixture 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 scene is what you would expect from a hotel of this calibre, with Palm Court featuring decidedly out-of-place ceiling-high palm trees and custom cane furnishings underneath 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. 

Don't be fooled by its 100-year-old façade, The Plaza is another masterpiece from the design mind of Thierry Despont.

The Plaza Hotel also features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a pampering Guerlain spa, and a 560sqm Warren Tricomi Salon renowned for its subtle sophistication.

St. Regis Hotel

Where you’ll find it: Two East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue

The St. Regis New York is one of the crown jewels among the city’s elite hotels and another with an elite sense of place - both in terms of public places to be seen and private quarters to start each day.

Tempting travellers with some of the most opulent rooms in town, St Regis’ around-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 square metres, the hotel boasts some of the largest rooms in the city. with blissful beds and elegant Waterford crystal chandeliers, juxtaposed with deep coloured fabrics of blue, red, green or purple offering the 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

Where you’ll find it: 455 Madison Avenue

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

Where you’ll find it: 25 East 77th Street

Ensconced in a gracious pre-war building that overlooks Madison Avenue in the heart of Manhattan’s swanky Upper East Side, The Mark promises 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 1000sqm 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.

Mandarin Oriental 

Where you’ll find it: 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street

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 will 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.

Granite and marble bathrooms with separate bath and shower also provide plenty of space to lay out your personal effects.

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 head to the MO Lounge where you can bookend your day with all-day comfort snacks and expertly-crafted drinks.