The search for the best hotels in New York City isn’t exactly the easiest endeavour. Why? Because there are so many options – 705 to be exact. Even the best attempts at narrowing it down leave choices upon choices. So, we here at Vogue decided to make a shortlist of where to stay in the Big Apple. Some are recent openings, others haute haunts steeped in history. Some are in trendy non-touristy locales, some sit in the heart of it all. Some you stay at for the scene, others are ideal for not being seen at all. But the common denominator among them? They’re all, well, cool.
What part of New York is best to stay?
The best part of New York to stay in depends on what you want from your visit. With 144 hotels in midtown alone, it’s best to ask yourself a few questions in order to condense the lengthy list. Do you want a five-star hotel with a pool? Great, we’ve found the four most luxurious options in the city. Boutique more your style? Wonderful – although Manhattan has 76 independently operated properties with under 200 rooms, we’ve narrowed down the list to just a few of the very best. And if you’re all about culture, then we’ve reviewed a handful of gems in midtown, only a stones throw from the likes of MoMA, Broadway theatres, and Rockefeller Centre. The good news is that New York is a pedestrian-friendly city so wherever you end up staying, you’ll easily find yourself ambling between neighbourhoods.
What is the best amount of time to stay in NYC?
We’ve done the maths on this, and have come to the conclusion that the limit does not exist. With so many sights, museums, neighbourhoods, restaurants, bars, theatres, shops, (you get the point) it’s difficult to get bored. The only risk is that the city-that-never-sleeps might eventually tire you out and legs may become weary – but that’s nothing our edit of comfortable, cosy hotels can’t aid. So with this in mind, make sure to reserve time for charging batteries, but we promise you won’t regret adding an extra night or two at the end of your trip.
Vogue’s pick of the best New York hotels at a glance:
- Best all-rounder: The Ned, NoMad
- Best for long stays: Ace Hotel, Boerum Hill
- Best for weekend breaks: Nine Orchard, Lower East Side
- Best boutique stay: Aman New York, Midtown
- Best luxury stay: Ritz-Carlton, NoMad
- Best for central location: The Baccarat, Midtown
- Best home away from home: The Twenty Two, Union Square
- Best showstopper: Casa Cipriani, Lower Manhattan
Without further ado, the best hotels in New York City.
The Ned, NoMad
Private members’ club The Ned, which opened to much fanfare this spring, includes a well-appointed hotel where no application is required. The guest rooms follow a rich jewel-tone aesthetic, inspired by the Beaux-Arts architecture of the building and the 1920s style of its sister property in London. “I wanted to make it glamorous – to have loads of atmosphere,” CEO and founder of Soho House Nick Jones previously told Vogue. — Elise Taylor
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, terrace, fitness centre, complimentary Wi-Fi
Address: 1170 Broadway , NoMad, New York, NY 10001
Nine Orchard, Lower East Side
After an extensive restoration, Nine Orchard opened in the former Jarmulowsky bank at the corner of Canal and Orchard Streets. Guests check in where bank tellers once cashed their checks, while vaulted ceilings soar above and rooms are filled with honest wood furniture and crisp linens.
Grab a drink at the grand Swan Room, which sits under an intricate Beaux-Arts ceiling, or a smoked-onion remoulade burger at the airy Corner Bar. — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, terrace, complimentary Wi-Fi
Address: 9 Orchard Street, Chinatown, New York, NY 10002
Ritz-Carlton, NoMad
The Ritz Carlton’s newest outpost on 28th Street and Broadway boasts some of the best views from any hotel in the city: to the north, you can gaze closely upon the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, whereas to the south, the Freedom Tower is visible at the tip of Manhattan. (Smartly, guest rooms start on the 14th floor, meaning guests can soak in the splendour from their beds – or, quite literally, from their bathtubs.)
On the ground floor is Zaytinya, a restaurant by celebrity activist chef José Andrés that serves up innovative Mediterranean cuisine. — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, spa, fitness centre, sauna, steam rooms, meeting space
Address: 25 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001
The Twenty Two, Union Square
Much like its London outpost, The Twenty Two is a home away from home – albeit a luxurious one. Mere minutes from the busyness of Union Square, the hotel boasts 78 keys with 19 suites, including an impressive rooftop penthouse, realised by co-founders of the original London property, Navid Mirtorabi and Jamie Reuben (Reuben Brothers) and developer, Michael Chetrit. In-keeping with the mood of its Mayfair sister site across the pond, the interiors – overseen by Child Studio – are subtle and elegant. Natural tones are interspersed with dark accents and furnishings, while still retaining the city’s light spirit and the architectural heritage of the building, which was formerly the landmarked Margaret Louisa Home. On the ground floor, the public is welcomed into an all-day dining area and bar, Cafe Zaffri (referred to as Zaf’s by regulars) which truly comes alive at night. And on the second, The Twenty Two welcomes its community to the private member’s club which – like in London – hosts a plethora of events. – AC
Amenities: Restaurant, bar, fitness centre, private member’s club
Address: 16 E 16th St, New York, NY, 10003
Ace Hotel, Boerum Hill
The Roman and Williams-designed Ace Hotel in downtown Brooklyn has attracted the attention of aesthetes everywhere thanks to its facade by modernist artist Stan Bitters, a sculptural light installation that acts as an homage to Tokyo’s now-demolished Hotel Okura, and a bar by Verdan Jakšić. Locals and visitors-alike will find much to appreciate about the ground floor restaurant, As You Are, which serves up delectable pancakes for breakfast and seafood worth savouring at dinner. — ET
Amenities: Restaurant, bar, fitness centre, meeting rooms
Address: 252 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY, 11217
The Baccarat, Midtown
It perhaps goes without saying that a hotel created by the world-famous crystal company is going to be extravagant. Over 15,000 Baccarat pieces, from chandeliers to glassware, grace its reflective halls, and its Gilles & Boissier-designed Grand Salon looks like it could be a room in a grand European palace. The location, which is close to MoMA, Broadway theatres, and Rockefeller Centre, is perfect for visitors wanting to hit New York’s main attractions. — ET
Amenities: Indoor swimming pool, restaurant, bar, spa, fitness centre, library, sauna, steam room, terrace, business services
Address: 28 West 53rd Street, New York, NY, 10019
Casa Cipriani, Lower Manhattan
The approach to Casa Ciprani is nothing short of breathtaking. Housed in the Battery Maritime building – a ferry terminal originally designed in 1906 in the Beaux-Arts style – its sheer scale is the first thing that hits you upon arrival, second only to the fact it is (naturally) perched on the water, at the southern tip of Manhattan. The unassuming reception, nestled in the underbelly, is the first impression guests receive of its decadent, art deco interiors designed by Thierry Despont; seen throughout the 47 rooms and suites, with private balconies overlooking the skyline and landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. As a private member’s club, those staying in rooms and suites also enjoy member privileges throughout their stay, including the club’s bar, lively jazz café, living room, terraces, spa and wellness centre, 24-hour concierge service and the famed Cipriani restaurant. – AC
Amenities: Multiple dining areas, bar, spa and wellness centre, ballroom, 24-hour concierge service, private member’s club
Address: 10 South St, New York, NY, 10004
The Greenwich Hotel, Tribeca
The Robert De Niro-owned Greenwich Hotel is swanky yet secretive: there’s a no photos rule and many common spaces are for guests only. Unsurprisingly, it regularly attracts an A-list celebrity clientele, who get to enjoy amenities like its Japanese-style spa and open-air courtyard. Its excellent Italian restaurant, Locanda Verde, is beloved by visitors and New York locals alike. — ET
Amenities: Restaurant, spa, indoor swimming pool, drawing room, courtyard, fitness centre
Address: 377 Greenwich Street, Tribeca, New York, NY 10013
Fouquet’s, Tribeca
A sister property to the famed five-star hotel on Paris’s Champs-Élysées, Fouquet’s Tribeca location harmoniously combines downtown industrial design and Parisian flair thanks to inspired interiors by Martin Brudnizki. (An example? Some guest rooms are adorned in custom Tribeca toile de jouy by Schumacher, a playful interpretation of the classic French wallpaper print.) — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bar, indoor swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam room, fitness centre, lounge
Address: 456 Greenwich Street, Tribeca, New York, NY 10013
Aman New York, Midtown
The clientele of the Aman is so dedicated that they’ve given themselves a nickname – Aman Junkies. (According to a 2016 Town & Country story, repeat guests constitute 50 per cent of Aman’s business.) Now, they’ve got a new outpost to visit: Aman New York, the hospitality brand’s first property in New York City and first urban property in North America.
Housed in the historic Crown building on 57th Street, designed by the same architects as Grand Central Terminal, Aman’s signature Japanese-meets-Scandinavian minimalism is present in full force: neutrals, woods, and shades of black adorn the spacious 83 guest rooms, the vast spa, and the rooftop terrace. Modern art is scattered throughout: each suite, for example, has a mural by contemporary Japanese artist Ryoko Adachi. Yet despite all the worldly influences, the property also has a local touch: a jazz club, open to the public, offering nightly performances. — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bar, jazz club, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, sauna, steam room, complimentary house cars
Address: 730 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
The Carlyle, Upper East Side
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If the Carlyle ever closed, an iconic bit of the city would be lost along with it – that’s how synonymous this storied hotel is with the soul of New York. It’s where Princess Diana stayed during her royal visit in the 1980s, and where her son Prince William returned with his new bride Kate Middleton two decades later. John F. Kennedy stayed there so much that it was dubbed the “New York White House.” After he was assassinated, Jackie lived there for three months. Bemelmans – named after Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans, who painted murals on its walls – remains the most famous bar in the city. There’s a documentary about it, books about it, and even a clothing line about it.
That doesn’t mean it’s outdated or stuffy: with interiors by Thierry Despont and Tony Chi, the Carlyle encompasses both old-world charm and the modern day. And since it’s within walking distance of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, The Frick, and Central Park, you’re at most minutes away from the city’s best cultural and leisure offerings. – ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, lounge, spa, fitness centre, pet friendly, business services
Address: 35 E 76th St, New York, NY, 10021
The Mark, Upper East Side
You probably recognise the exterior of The Mark. Why? Because every Monday in May, it’s in the background of a million paparazzi photos as celebrities from Lady Gaga to Kendall Jenner depart from its lobby to the Met Gala.
Its inside is of equal grandeur: designed by Jacques Grange, who also did interiors for Yves Saint Laurent and the Princess of Monaco, the lobby is adorned in bold black and white stripes. (That colour combo serves as The Mark’s chic calling card, plastered over everything from its pedicab, to its hotdog cart, to its custom swimsuit.) Added bonus: its restaurant, The Mark by Jean-Georges, is divine. Order the cheeseburger with black truffle dressing.
Like The Carlyle, it’s located in close proximity to many major museums and is half a block from Central Park – of which some suites even have an expansive view. (Remember the Duchess of Sussex’s baby shower? That was hosted in the penthouse.) — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, snack bar/deli, fitness centre, complimentary bicycle rentals, pet friendly, business services
Address: 25 E 77th St, New York, NY 10075
Fasano Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side
The Thierry Despont-designed hotel rooms at the Fasano Fifth Avenue supply an air of subtle luxury with its warm beiges, crisp whites, and views of greenery-filled Central Park. Since the property only offers suites and duplexes, many guests at the Fasano stay there for weeks, using it as a posh pied-a-terre of sorts. It’s not so interested in delivering an in-your-face style statement. Instead, it wants you to feel right at home.
It’s the perfect place to post up if you’re looking for a more discreet, peaceful hospitality experience. The Fasano, which doubles as a private members’ club, doesn’t have any social spaces open to the public, and, with just a handful of rooms, interaction with other guests is minimal. The service is impeccable, the food elevated without being stuffy, and the front desk will know you by name. Plus, with the Upper East Side’s main attractions close by and Central Park across the street, you’ll still feel in the middle of it all. — ET
Amenities: Restaurant, café, packaging and delivery services, private shopping appointments, fitness centre, sauna
Address: 815 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065
The Lowell, Upper East Side
There’s an intimacy to The Lowell from the moment you walk in the door: the reception desk feels like it’s in the foyer of a private home, and beyond, a sunken living room with a roaring fire serves as the social heart of the hotel. (Speaking of fireplaces: a select number of guest rooms have wood burning ones – a true rarity in New York.)
All 74 rooms, the majority of which are suites, are designed by Michael D. Smith. Smith, best known for his work with the Obama White House, embraced a residential aesthetic that’s both neoclassical and contemporary: bedrooms have floral Iksel wallpapers while sitting rooms are in warm muted colours with detailed carvings. It’s a place set up to feel like you can stay awhile – and many do. Like the Fasano, many of its lodging offerings have an apartment-like layout complete with kitchens, meaning guests can book for months or more. — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, fitness centre, pet friendly, library, business centre, terrace, in-room massages
Address: 28 East 63rd Street, New York, NY, 10065
Soho House, Meatpacking District
It may be a cliché, but staying at a Soho House always feels like a home away from home. (Clue’s in the name, you might say.) And where better to experience the hospitality behemoth’s legendary service than at its first-ever club outside the UK? Launched in the heart of New York’s Meatpacking District in 2003 – and famously nodded to as the most exclusive spot in town in a Sex and the City episode a few years later – the original New York outpost has lost none of its charms over the years since.
The unfussy approach begins with the room selection (pick between cozy, medium, and big) and extends to the charming, homely decor, from velvety sofas to weathered leather ottomans to roll-top copper bathtubs to match the brass light fittings and doorknobs. The perfectly-judged menu also has something to satisfy every craving, whether that’s a hearty bowl of cacio e pepe after a red-eye, or a lighter chopped salad or poké bowl for a room service night in. Two decades since it first opened, there’s still nowhere that makes you feel like you’re staying the night at a friend’s (in the best way possible) quite like Soho House. — Liam Hess
Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, bar, spa, complimentary Wi-Fi
Address: 29-35 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10014
The Mercer, SoHo
Housed in a Romanesque Revival Building on (you guessed it) Mercer St., The Mercer is in, and perhaps is, the heart of SoHo: when it opened in 1997, the hotel instantly became a fashionable hangout for the then up-and-coming neighbourhood’s It-crowd. In fact, so stylish are the hotel’s minimalistic Christian Liaigre interiors that Calvin Klein and Rupert Murdoch would go on to hire the designer for their own personal projects.
Nearly 25 years later, The Mercer still hasn’t lost its cool, regularly welcoming a slew of celebrities from Kylie Jenner to Kaia Gerber (that’ll happen when your sister hotel is the Chateau Marmont). Oh, and did we mention that Jay Z and Kanye West recorded “Watch the Throne” in suite 208? — ET
Amenities: Restaurants, bars, complimentary continental breakfast, fitness centre, personal trainers
Address: 147 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012
Hotel Chelsea, Chelsea
Plenty of hotels are willing to refer to themselves as iconic, but few have earned the moniker quite like the Hotel Chelsea. Behind its red brick, iron-balconied facade – and its immediately recognisable neon signage – Madonna shot her most provocative photographs, Lou Reed strummed his guitar, Andy Warhol rolled his camera, and Dylan Thomas took his final breath. Following a period where its status as a residence looked in serious danger, and then a lengthy refurbishment by the team behind The Bowery and The Jane, the Hotel Chelsea finally reopened its doors this spring with a glamorous new makeover – albeit one that has been carefully considered to ensure it retains plenty of its original charms.
The rooms feature all the mod-cons you’d expect from a high-end hotel in 2025 – plush furnishings, monogrammed sheets, and Marshall speakers as a nod to its illustrious musical history – while retaining plenty of the original’s most iconic features, including fireplaces and stained-glass windows. (Meanwhile, an eclectic array of artworks made my former tenants of the hotel line the walls.) Most delightful of all, perhaps, are the new array of options to drink and eat: stand-outs include the laid-back opulence of the low-lit Lobby Bar, with its vintage chandeliers and restored wood-panelled walls, and the revival of El Quixote, the Spanish restaurant that has been running in the building since 1930. If these walls could talk, they’d have plenty of stories to tell – and with this thoughtful reimagining of a true New York institution, another chapter in those stories begins. – LH
Amenities: Restaurant, bar, fitness centre, complimentary Wi-Fi
Address: 222 West 23rd Street, Chelsea, New York, NY 10011
The Wythe, Williamsburg
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Reflective of its Brooklyn neighbourhood’s industrial roots, The Wythe is housed in an old barrel and rope factory. Yet it doesn’t feel concrete or cold – the rooms are adorned in bespoke toile wallpaper by Dan Funderburg and contemporary, colourful art hangs in many of the common spaces. You’ll want to order room service: its restaurant, Le Crocodile, received a three-star review from The New York Times. — ET
Amenities: Restaurant, bar, private dining room, complimentary Wi-Fi
Address: 80 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249
The Edition, New York
When my partner and I stepped through the doors of The Edition New York at 11pm on a Wednesday evening, the softly lit Lobby Bar was abuzz with date-nighters and besuited New Yorkers enjoying an after-dinner tipple. Only a marathon (which I was set to complete a few days later) stopped me from sitting down with a cocktail and soaking up the atmosphere.
Located in the historic Clocktower building in the Flatiron district overlooking Madison Square Park, The Edition New York opened its doors in 2015, the first New York outpost for the brand. With 271 rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant (the Clocktower’s cosy wood-panelled charm feels distinctly New York), two bars, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and two treatment rooms, this inner-city hotel fits enough across its 41 floors to keep you entertained for days, even without a packed tourist itinerary.
We stayed in the Loft Suite on the 25th floor – a clean-lined, capacious room featuring an extra-large double bed, small seating area, a desk (idea for remote working) and stunning views over the park and across the city’s towering skyscrapers. Le Labo toiletries in the bathroom, meanwhile, were the perfect finishing touch. — Joy Montgomery
Amenities: Two restaurants, bar, fitness centre, complimentary Wi-Fi
Address: 5 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States