The Best Hotels in NYC

NYC › NYC Hotels
Updated: February 27, 2024
By Santorini Dave

My Favorite Hotels in Manhattan

• 5-star: Mandarin
• 4-star: ArcherPendry
• 3-star: citizenMSheraton
• For families: LowellAKA
• For couples: LibraryCrosby
• Times Square: Marriott
• Central Park: Pierre
• Penn Station: Renaissance
• Grand Central: Library
• Empire State Bldg: Langham
• Lower Manhattan: Crosby
• Financial District: Beekman

My favorite five-star hotel in NYC.

View of Central Park from the Mandarin Oriental in New York City.

Best hotels in New York City.
1. Mandarin Oriental • 2. Pierre • 3. Lowell • 4. citizenM • 5. Sheraton • 6. Marriott • 7. Pendry • 8. Renaissance • 9. Archer • 10. Langham • 11. Library • 12. Crosby St. • 13. Beekman

NYC Hotels – My Tips & Advice

The 8 Best Hotels in New York City

1. Mandarin Oriental – Upper West Side

Luxury hotel on Upper West Side near Central Park.

Hotel phone: 212-805-8800
Gorgeous five-star hotel nestled in the heart of Manhattan, the Mandarin Oriental offers a sublime escape amid the city’s bustling energy. With Central Park at its doorstep, this luxury sanctuary boasts 244 chic rooms, marrying contemporary elegance with Asian-inspired touches. Hudson River, Manhattan, or Central Park (recommended) views. There’s a nice pool and huge and luxurious spa. Lobby is on 35th floor. The last time I stayed here I did the afternoon tea, highly recommended.
Check Prices on Booking.com

2. The Pierre – Upper East Side

Luxury hotel on Upper East Side in New York City.

Hotel phone: 212-838-8000
A New York City landmark, The Pierre Hotel gracefully presides over the edge of Central Park, exuding an air of timeless elegance. With 189 lavish guest rooms and suites, the hotel is a testament to classic charm and contemporary luxury. The iconic Perrine restaurant and the delightful Two E Bar & Lounge invite guests to indulge in exceptional cuisine and sumptuous afternoon teas. Steeped in history, The Pierre has played host to numerous luminaries and unforgettable events, earning its storied reputation. Walking distance from Fifth Avenue’s luxury shopping and Manhattan’s finest cultural institutions, this sophisticated gem stands as a quintessential embodiment of the New York City experience.
Check Prices on Booking.com

3. Library Hotel – Midtown East

Best boutique hotel in New York City.

Hotel Phone: 212 983 4500
Just around the corner from the Grand Central Station, this library-themed boutique hotel (floors devoted to Math & Science, Arts, Technology – 10 categories in all) has intimate (i.e. not huge), well-appointed rooms with specialized art & libraries (related to the floor: mythology room on the religion floor with mythical art/books), mini-fridges, and city views. Suites add sitting areas and sofa beds. Has a ‘Love’ room which features the hotel’s only private terrace. Excellent value for the level of luxury – continental breakfast, refreshments and evening wine & cheese receptions, all complimentary. Great rooftop bar. I stayed here on my last visit to New York and loved it.
Check Prices on Booking.com

4. The Peninsula New York – Midtown West

Ornate exterior of a hotel in downtown NYC, with flags flying

Hotel Phone: 212 956 2888
Landmark hotel (1905) with classically-styled, comfortable rooms and suites with oversized work desks, sunken tubs with TVs and courtyard/city views. Suites add living rooms, sofa beds, dressing areas, oversized walk-in closets, powder rooms, decorative fireplaces, dining rooms, gourmet kitchens, and private studies, depending on the category. City-view rooms are much brighter and better than courtyard-view rooms.
Check Prices on Booking.com

5. Crosby Street Hotel – SoHo

Honeymoon hotel in Soho, Lower Manhattan.

Hotel Phone: 212 226 6400
Refined Kemp-designed boutique hotel in the heart of Soho, with fresh, spacious rooms and suites having colorful designer headboards, high ceilings, full-length windows, Bluetooth Bose units, marble bathrooms and lower Manhattan/garden views. Suites add sitting areas, living & dining areas, deep bathtubs, bespoke mini-bars depending on the class. The two-bedroom Crosby Suite is fantastic.
Check Prices on Booking.com

6. The Langham – Midtown West

Hotel near Empire State Building on 5th Avenue, New York.

Hotel Phone: 212 695 4005
Sophisticated urban hotel with contemporary rooms and suites (1-4 beds) with floor-to-ceiling windows, Nespresso coffee makers, mirror tvs in the marble bathrooms & deep soaking tubs, and courtyard/street/city views. Upgraded rooms have full kitchens with Miele appliances (stoves, ovens, fridges) and walk-in wardrobes. Suites add sitting areas & terraces with unparalleled views of the Empire State Building (just two blocks away).
Check Prices on Booking.com

7. Pendry – Midtown West

New York hotel near Madison Square Gardens and midtown shopping.

Hotel Phone: 212 933 7000
The best new hotel to open in Manhattan in several years. Trendy luxury with no stuffiness. One-bedroom suites comfortably sleep a group of 4. Short walk to Penn Station, Madison Square Gardens, and Hudson Yards (indoor mall). Steps from a Whole Foods grocery store, Starbucks, and the start of the High Line elevated walking path (one of my favorite outdoor attractions in the city).
Check Prices on Booking.com

8. Beekman – Financial District

Best hotel in Lower Manhattan and Financial District.

Hotel Phone: (212) 233-2300
Awesome luxury hotel located a short walk to Wall Street and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Several stunning restaurants. Rooms and suites are beautifully furnished. Penthouses are among the finest in the city.
Check Prices on Booking.com

Best hotels in Manhattan, NYC.
1. Mandarin Oriental • 2. The Pierre • 3. Library Hotel • 4. The Peninsula • 5. Crosby Street Hotel • 6. Langham Place • 7. Pendry • 8. Beekman

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.

  1. NYC with 18 Year Old

    First let me say your website is amazing! Full of awesome information. My husband and I are planning to surprise our daughter for her 18th birthday by bringing her to NYC for her first visit over her spring break April. I have already purchased tickets to Hamilton but am looking for other advice on must do items for an 18 year old. We will be in NY for 5 days. I am looking at the Hotel Giraffe as a possible place to stay seems to get good reviews. Any insights are greatly appreciated!

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      The Disney Behind the Scenes Tour is great for anyone that loves Disney, Broadway, or both. Mean Girls is lots of fun. Harry Potter And The Cursed Child is very well done. The 9-11 Memorial is superb and very moving. Pizza tours, cupcake tours, chocolate tours – always fun. Hotel Giraffe is a great choice.

  2. Apartment for Group of 6

    Hi Dave,
    We are visiting New York with children and would like to book a lovely hotel, fairly near to midtown, 4 star. There are so many to choose from we are totally confused. We would ideally like something that is a little more unique and not so bland that we find like some of the Marriots etc. Would you be able to recommend please? We were wondering whether an apartment might be better as there are 6 of us including friends which might be cheaper but we are struggling to find an apartment so central. Any help you can give is appreciated as we are going on October 30th and prices seem to be very high. Thank you in advance, Tania

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      AKA has 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and locations in Central Park, Times Square, and Midtown. All of the apartments have full kitchens and that can be a big money saver as breakfast in Manhattan is expensive.

  3. Hotel with Kitchen near Times Square

    My wife and I will be in New York for a week and would like a 1-bedroom (or something with separate sleeping area so I can work while she sleeps) and a kitchen (mainly for breakfast). Budget: upper mid-range. Thanks, Gary.

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      The AKA Times Square is a good 4 star apartment-hotel. The 1-bedroom suites are large with full kitchen. Steps from Times Square and a short walk to several subway lines. (Just stayed there last week and it’s a good value hotel for the location and what you get.)

  4. Good Restaurants in Midtown Manhattan for Family

    We’re staying at Hyatt Herald Square Midtown with our children (age 10 and 14) and looking for fun/good/non-touristy places to eat. Great food with drinks – restaurants that feel a bit like a bar but still family friendly. Any recommendations. Don’t mind a short walk so doesn’t have to be right on our block or anything.

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Lower Midtown is loaded with great restaurants. A few of my favorites that have great food and a fun vibe:
      Boqueria Flatiron – Amazing tapas, great atmosphere.
      BXL Zoute – Delicious Belgium food and beers. Most dishes come with huge bowls of fries and mayo (which kids love).
      Turntable Chicken – Ultra hip with delicious Korean fusion (kids love the chicken wings). This place is totally hidden from street view and it looks like you’re entering an office building so only people who know about it end up here (and no tourists).

  5. Best Way To Mid-Town NYC from Newark Airport for Family of 4

    We’ll be arriving at Newark in late afternoon. What’s the easiest way to get to our hotel a few blocks south of Times Square? It’s my wife, 2 kids (ages 5 and 8), and myself.
    Thanks,
    Jeff

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Taxi or Uber are definitely the easiest ways into the city from Newark Airport. Both are easy to get just outside arrivals. There is also a train into the city which is great for singles or couples but once you’re up to 3 or 4, then taxi or Uber are not too much more expensive and much easier (granted, kids do get a discount on their train fare). If you took the train there’s first an Airtran rail link (free) to get you from the Newark terminals to the Amtrak Station, then a train to Penn Station, then taxi, subway, or walk to your hotel. You can buy the train tickets in the terminal or at the train station, so if there’s a lineup at the terminal machine then keep going and buy them at the station. Trains into the city can often be packed and standing room only especially in the morning and afternoon/early-evening.

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