Why this guide: about 9,900 people a month search Google for “best hotels in new york” (US, DataForSEO Labs, September 2026). This is the answer we would give a client, written to be booked from.
The short answer
- IconsAman New York, the Carlyle, the Plaza, the St. Regis, the Mark, the Peninsula, the Lowell, the Ritz-Carlton NoMad, Four Seasons Downtown
- BoutiquesThe Bowery Hotel, the Greenwich Hotel, Crosby Street Hotel, the Ludlow, the Whitby, the Beekman, the Hoxton Williamsburg, Wythe Hotel
- ValuecitizenM (Bowery, Times Square), Pod 51 and Pod Brooklyn, Moxy Chelsea and Lower East Side, Arlo, the Jane, Freehand
The icons
Aman New York in the Crown Building on Fifth Avenue is the city's most expensive room (from $3,000) and its quietest; the Carlyle on the Upper East Side for Bemelmans Bar and the residential feel; the Plaza on Central Park South for the name; the St. Regis on 55th for the King Cole Bar and the butlers; the Mark on 77th for the Jean-Georges and the fashion crowd; the Peninsula on Fifth; the Lowell on 63rd for the smallest of the grand; the Ritz-Carlton NoMad for the new Midtown-South tower and the Nubeluz bar; Four Seasons Downtown in Tribeca; the Baccarat opposite MoMA for the crystal.
The boutiques
The Bowery Hotel for the Downtown scene and the lobby; the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca (De Niro's, the Shibui spa) for privacy; Crosby Street and the Whitby (Firmdale) for Kit Kemp's colour in SoHo and Midtown; the Ludlow on the Lower East Side for the view and Dirty French; the Beekman in the Financial District for the atrium; the Hoxton Williamsburg and the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn for the skyline across the river at two-thirds the Manhattan price; the William Vale for the pool; Ace Hotel Brooklyn; Nine Orchard in Dinosaur-era Chinatown bank building.
Value and where to stay
citizenM Bowery and Times Square, Pod 51/39/Brooklyn/Times Square, Moxy Chelsea and Lower East Side, Arlo SoHo and NoMad, the Jane's cabin rooms in the West Village, Freehand on Lexington, and the Marriott/Hilton/Hyatt Midtown inventory on points. Midtown for first-timers and Broadway; Downtown (SoHo, Tribeca, the Village, LES) for the New York most people came for; the Upper East Side for museums and Central Park; Brooklyn (Williamsburg, DUMBO) for the view of Manhattan and the price. Avoid the Times Square blocks unless the theatre is the whole trip.
What to know
New York rooms are small — 20–25 m² standard, less at the value brands — and a 'destination fee' of $25–$45 a night appears at most large hotels (see our resort fee guide). Rates peak in September–October, December and the Marathon and Fashion Week weekends; January–February is a third cheaper; August is a bargain in Midtown. Hotel occupancy tax adds 14.75% plus $3.50 a night. See our best time to visit New York guide.
Booking it
JFK is 45–90 minutes from Manhattan, Newark 30–60, LaGuardia 30–45; the engine's New York page carries the hotels above and pairs them with JFK; a pre-booked chauffeur at the JFK arrivals hall is the only way to make the Van Wyck tolerable. See our things to do in New York, Statue of Liberty and Times Square guides.
Three things to get right
- Downtown for the New York you imagined; Midtown for Broadway; Brooklyn for the view and the price.
- January–February and August are the value months.
- Check for the destination fee — most big hotels add $25–$45.
Book it
Featured destination: New York — hotels, airport and activities on one engine page.
