We Low-Key Want to Live in These Stunning NYC Hotels
With cozy beds for rotting and rooftop bars for partying.
New York City attracts more than 60 million visitors each year—and it’s no surprise why. With world-renowned theater, iconic annual events, and more than enough great restaurants and bars, there’s no shortage of things to do in NYC. With that star status comes a set of fantastic hotels, ranging from over-the-top properties for a luxurious weekend to artsy budget stays that are sure to inspire. There’s something for everyone so whether you’re a tourist headed to the Big Apple or a local looking for a staycation from your tiny apartment, these are the best hotels in NYC to check into right now.
Midtown
Those seeking iconic city views will be hard-pressed to find a hotel that fits the bill better than the Park Lane New York. The property is located on Billionaire’s Row just south of Central Park and towers 47 stories high, meaning you can get postcard-worthy shots of the park from many of the romantic, dusty rose-hued rooms. Even without a park-view room or suite, the hotel’s elegant rooftop bar, Darling, is the only rooftop bar on Central Park South. It’s only open to hotel guests during the day, so it’s a privileged spot to take in the scene.
Chelsea
Chances are you already know the lore that surrounds this historic hotel. Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and more wandered the halls. Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey in his room. Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix drank sangria there before driving to Woodstock. It all went down at Hotel Chelsea. Now after a 12-year closure, the hotel recently got a full revamp while keeping pieces like a hand-carved fireplace from 1884 and wrought iron balconies on the exterior intact. The on-site dining options have garnered their fair share of attention, so don’t miss ice-cold martinis at the Lobby Bar, pintxos at El Quijote, or the much-Instagrammed ravioles du dauphiné at Cafe Chelsea.
Williamsburg
If you want to feel like a local on your trip to NYC, look to this buzzy hotel in the heart of Williamsburg. The entire hotel is outfitted in local art, with no piece repeated across the property, and each of the 117 includes a kitchenette for assembling meals or chilling some pre-party wine. elNico, the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant with sweeping views of the city, is a dreamy spot to sip agave cocktails and dig into Mexican food that’s become a destination for locals as well.
Financial District
Housed in an 1880s landmark building, The Beekman hotel has converted old New York character into a destination-worthy hotel. Rooms are a mix of standard options, suites, and a luxe penthouse, all outfitted with vintage furniture. But it's most famous for the nine-story glass, Victorian atrium that runs through the center of the hotel. It’s a worthy photo moment while you’re sipping cocktails at the lobby’s Bar Room. Other on-site dining options include Temple Court, a fine dining restaurant backed by Top Chef judge Tom Cocclico, and chef Daniel Boulud’s cozy ode to his hometown of Lyon, France, Le Gratin.
Lower East Side
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, The Ludlow is every bit as hip and gritty as its surrounding neighborhood. The 175-room hotel is outfitted with exposed brick, sexy leather furniture, and room sizes that range from a snug studio that gets the job done to a lofty penthouse with a private terrace that perches you among downtown skyscrapers. On property, the hotel is home to Major Food Group’s Dirty French, a bistro sister concept to Carbone, and you’re in the epicenter of Manhattan so the best of NYC’s food scene is at your fingertips.
Boerum Hill
This stylish hospitality brand sparked a NYC hotel renaissance more than a decade ago, and you can expect the same groundbreaking cool vibe at the newer Ace Hotel Brooklyn, which is centrally located in Boerum Hill and within walking distance to popular neighborhoods like Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, and Park Slope. Featuring a modern industrial aesthetic with high concrete ceilings, the 287 guest rooms range from smaller rooms to full on suites. Head to the ground-floor restaurant, As You Are, for New American cuisine along with breakfast service and baked goods in the mornings, and there’s also a Black Seed Bagels on property.
Roosevelt Island
On a sliver of land nestled between Queens and Manhattan, the 18-story Graduate Roosevelt Island is especially great for enjoying the Big Apple with a bit of breathing room. Easily accessible by subway, car, ferry, or the iconic Roosevelt Island Tramway, from the moment you step in the lobby, the 224-room property features quirky and thoughtful interior design details like eye-catching wallpaper and in-room tchotchkes like rotary phones. On-site eateries include the rooftop bar, Panorama Room, and ground-floor New American eatery, Anything At All, both showing off stunning views impossible to find elsewhere in the city.
Washington Heights
One of the few boutique hotel options in the neighborhood, Radio Hotel offers cool lodgings while celebrating the thriving Dominican community of its Washington Heights home. Radio Hotel offers 221 rooms—each boasting either city skyline or George Washington Bridge views—across 11 floors within the vibrant property. After checking out the many nearby Dominican-owned small businesses and local eateries, be sure to dine at the ground floor restaurant, Jalao NYC, which is the first stateside branch of the popular Santo Domingo spot.