New York hotels are the best, really. At Urban List, we think that there’s no where else in the world you’ll find a smattering of lodgings hidden inside big, industrial and iconic landmarks with grand staircases, vintage furnishings and a view to boot of the city skyline.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to revel on the rooftop of a restored bank at sunset with a fresh twist on the classic martini in hand and the luxury of being able to retire for the night in a compact room boasting all the modern conveniences and charm, New York also has your back.
Read on for the best hotels in New York City in 2026 and beyond.
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The Best Boutique Hotels In NYC
Upper East Side
The Mark
Home to the largest penthouse suite in North America, The Mark Hotel is the pinnacle of luxury emcompassing the five star service you’d expect of the Upper East Side. Described as New York City’s most “boldly lavish hotel” and boasting what Forbes calls “the starriest hotel lobby in the world”, this is definitely a splurge that’s worth it if you’re wanting to live that Gossip Girl life throughout your Manhattan stay.
You’re also smack bang right in the heart of an endless slew of museums, galleries, boutiques and chic restaurants for making the most of experience.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 25 East 77th Street
- Phone: (212) 7444300
- Price: $$$$
Chelsea
Hotel Chelsea
Few hotels in New York City sport themselves a reputation quite like Hotel Chelsea. Featuring a red-brick Queen Anne-style facade with ornate ironwork and a grand staircase, the walls here could spill the tea on notable residents of its past like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Madonna and Andy Warhol (who crafted his famous Chelsea Girls film at the hotel).
Patti Smith once described the the hotel as “like a dollhouse in the Twilight Zone,
with a hundred rooms, each a small universe” and once you step inside you’ll see why. There’s a range of accommodation options, each uniquely styled with olde world elegance. And it’s not just the bedrooms that are something spesh. Head over to Cafe Chelsea for French fare served up in a moody interior, or slip into one of the maroon booths at El Quijote and feast on Spanish tapas.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 222 West 23rd Street
- Phone: (212) 4831010
- Price: $$
SoHo
The Manner
Prefer to do away with airs and graces and spend your time in a SoHo hotel that feels like the home of a good mate? That’s the energy the peeps at The Manner are going for: it’s tucked away on a tree-lined street and offers 97 rooms which are pretty tempting.
The little things here make a difference. The staff will use your first name (unless you prefer otherwise) and actively encourage you to use theirs too. They ask you to limit the use of cameras and social media in public spaces, and allow you to invite guests (two) to a couple of the onsite eateries if you wish. Another bonus? There’s no need to actually check out here. The staff simply send your bill and look forward to your next stay. Bliss!
Know what this means? You can grab your bestie, head to the Rooftop (if the season allows) and savour that city view with a glass of something lovely while you plan all the fun stuff you’re about to do.
NEED TO KNOW
Address: 58 Thompson St
Phone: 192-952-63330
Price: $$$$
Hell’s Kitchen
Romer Hell’s Kitchen
Ignore the neighborhood name (a mere remnant from the district’s gritty history in the late 19th and 20th Century)—today, Hell’s Kitchen is a hub for the arts. Wedged between Broadway and the Theatre District, this Romer hotel lies within dear proximity to Midtown Manhattan, a sprawling metropolis of site-seeing gold including the Empire State Building, Central Park South, Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller Centre and Times Square.
Rooms are light and bright, offering charming retro touches and all the usual mod-cons. Once you’ve unpacked that suitcase you can take advantage of the on-site fitness cecntre (or just head to the hotel’s eatery, Coffee Bar, and dig in to some American cuisine—no judgement here).
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 851 8th Avenue
- Phone: (212). 5814100
- Price: $$
The Best Budget Hotels In NYC
Manhattan
Freehand New York
Scouting for a wallet-friendly New York City stay? Look no further than Freehand New York. This hotel, located in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, offers rooms that can fit three or four peeps with a combo of regular and bunk beds, making it an ideal option for group travel that’s perfectly located without blowing out the budget.
We love the art-adorned bright walls (the pictures are painted by Bard College students and alumni), and the fact that this place is so close to public transport. When you’re not out and about doing your thing, we expect to find you at Bar Calico, a friendly space inspired by the American Southwest and Georgia. Grab a custom Chihuahuan Martini (Esquire voted it one of America’s best martinis in 2024 saying it refreshes “like rain in the desert”) and start planning the rest of your stay.
NEED TO KNOW
Address: 23 Lexington Avenue
Phone: (212) 475-1920
Price: $$
Boerum Hill
Ace Hotel Brooklyn
If you know anything about the Ace Hotel chain you’ll know that the crew behind it have been slinging affordable luxury since the late 1990s (thank you to hotelier Alex Calderwood). Ace also launched its first foray into the Southern Hemisphere at the start of 2022, making the Tyne Building on Wentworth Avenue in Surry Hills of Sydney, its very own.
When it comes to saving on your accommodation so you can spend big on the other great novelties New York has to offer (like everything bagels stuffed with cream cheese and pizza by the slice), Ace offers a myriad of rooms fit for every want and need. Filled with vintage furniture, shower rails and clocking in as ADA accessible, the Accessible Small rooms are a no-brainer. If you’ve got a travel buddy, you can also book the classic bunk room, stocked with twin-size bunk beds and a private bathroom.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 252 Schermerhorn Street
- Phone: (718) 3133636
- Price: $$
SoHo
Arlo Hotel SoHo
Also top of our list when it comes to finding big bang for your buck and the best cheap hotels in New York City, is Arlo Hotel SoHo. Deliciously affordable, Arlo is known for its modern and compact rooms, all of which come with energy efficient lighting, waste reduction and recycling practices.
If you’re the kind of traveller who just wants a place to lay their head at night but can’t bear the hostel life, the bunk rooms (which are also ADA accessible) come with all the nuts and bolts you need including a clothing steamer, fresh linen and of course, a mini-bar.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 231 Hudson Street
- Phone: (212) 3427000
- Price: $$
The Best Luxury Hotels In NYC
Lower Manhattan
Casa Cipriani
Think absolute luxury to the max, but in an effortless chic Italian-inspired sort of way. With decadent details at every corner, plus sweeping river and city views, Casa Cipriani is worth splashing the cash on where you’re guaranteed to feel like royalty.
From their cashmere-covered walls to choice of opulent Italian linens and cottons adorning your bed, check in for a little piece of la dolce vita.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 10 South Street
- Phone: (212) 5845801
- Price: $$$$
Flatiron District
The New York Edition
If you have a penchant for minimalist design with a dash of cosmopolitan vibe, you’ll love the fresh update on this Madison Avenue landmark’s humble beginnings. The New York Edition was originally built in 1909 as Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s headquarters—now it offers more than 270 rooms and suites bearing expansive windows overlooking the stunning New York City skyline.
Settle into your spacious room and take in the neutral tones and wooden floors before hopping over to the The Bar at The Clocktower and taking at seat at the 24k gold leaf bar, grabbing a cocktail and planning the rest of your stay.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 5 Madison Avenue
- Phone: (212) 4134200
- Price: $$$
Chinatown
Nine Orchard
Nothing says luxury hotel stay quite like a restored century-old Jarmulowsky Bank. Nine Orchard is an uber elegant urban inn, if you will, kicking it on the Lower East Side with Neo-Renaissance detailing and 113 guest rooms filled with all the natural light and original moldings too.
Sneak a spritz at Corner Bar and knock back oysters in the dining room. If all else fails, dress to the nines and hit the hotel’s Swan Room, a luxurious, old-world setting found inside the former bank teller room with vaulted ceilings and the perfect backdrop for a real New York City martini.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 9 Orchard Street
- Phone: (212) 8049900
- Price: $$$
Midtown
Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park
If the thought of a souped-up Central Park picnic floats your boat, then a stay at the Ritz-Carlton should be on the cards. Located just steps from the grassy New York icon, the hotel gives you concierge-crafted maps you can use to navigate your way around.
Pack the picnic rug and grab a cheese platter, or take advantage of an actual Picnic in the Park experience featuring gourmet eats by the hotel’s Executive Chef. (The second option seems a little more tempting if we’re being totally honest).
The Ritz has everything you’d expect from a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond Hotel: an all-day gastro lounge, the first stateside La Prairie Spa and innovative Movement Studio, and yet it caters for little ones too. Kids get a dedicated check-in area, welcome toy, special dining options and candies and games in the Club Lounge.
NEED TO KNOW
Address: 50 Central Park S
Phone: 121-230-89100
Price: $$$$
The Best Family-Friendly Hotels In NYC
Midtown
The Plaza
We mean, there really is no better place to bring the little ones than to the homeground of Kay Thompson’s famed children’s books from the 1950s (we’re talking about Eloise At The Plaza). The character of Eloise herself is a six-year-old girl who ‘lives’ at the Plaza Hotel and she’s known for her mischievous and adventurous spirit, often finding herself in humorous escapades around the hotel.
While that may all seem like useless intel (think again), The Plaza has actually gone and recreated its very own ‘Eloise Suite’—a pink and white room equipped with her favourite books, toys and dolls on the shelves. If this doesn’t sound like your shtick, fear not, the hotel offers a range of family-friendly services. It’s also pet-friendly.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 768 5th Avenue
- Phone: 212-759-3000
- Price: $$$$
Midtown
The Peninsula
Equal parts grandiose and convenient, The Peninsula is a bonafide ‘go-er’ for many reasons. From its glorious location (walking distance to Fifth Avenue shopping) to its award-winning spa treatments with the likes of three-hour body exfoliation sessions and holistic facials, while kid-friendly, this one is truly heavenly. If the kiddies are coming along to your Big Apple trip, you’ll want to book Camp Peninsula, which can be added to any room reservation.
Your booking will see your room loaded up with s’mores, a tent pitched right inside the suite, a scavenger hunt, an ‘adventure’ around the hotel and even kid-sized robes and slippers.
NEED TO KNOW
- Address: 700 5th Avenue
- Phone: (212) 9562888
- Price: $$$$
Manhattan
Loews Regency New York Hotel
“Loews loves families” this New York hotel proudly declares. And when you book a stay you can expect some seriously family-friendly inclusions. Need a crib or a baby bath kit? Already sorted. Forgot something at home? Don’t sweat—because this place has a stash of essentials on call so you can travel light but still feel totally at home. An added bonus? Kids under 18 stay free. Yippee!
Beyond all the welcoming family energy (did we mention they offer babysitting?) Loews gives you neutrally colored guest rooms just two blocks from Central Park and a 17-minute walk from Rockefeller Center which is pretty handy. Join the movers and shakers with a “Power Breakfast” at the Regency Bar & Grill (it’s a morning ritual that’s been happening for close to 40 years) before heading out for a stroll down Fifth.
NEED TO KNOW
Address: 540 Park Ave
Phone: 121-275-94100
Price: $$$$
Image credit: Hotel Chelsea | Website
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