The best luxury hotels in New York to book right now

John Jacob Astor IV strived to create the ‘finest hotel in the world’ when he opened this place more than a century ago and his plan worked, as it’s still going strong as one of the best luxury hotels in New York. Once the tallest structure in NYC, the building – along with its elegant canopied, scarlet-carpeted entrance – is still a standout in this pocket of Midtown Manhattan. As for the interior, scores of marble, elaborate metalwork, crystal chandeliers, gilded mouldings and trompe-l’oeil ceilings set this masterpiece apart from most other city hotels, as well as the service. Unlike other properties, around-the-clock butler attendance is included here regardless of whichever room category you have – white-gloved butlers fetch drinks or snacks, assist with packing and unpacking, press garments, shine shoes and more.

From the marble-floored foyer, with its smart, navy-clad staff to the lounge-style Club Room, filled with art, sculptures and books, there’s a restrained, old-world glamour to The Lowell, perhaps more reminiscent of Paris than New York, its blush-pink entrance even has a certain French flair. Personal and thoughtful service is of the greatest importance here, where, on average, 75 per cent of guests are returning visitors (and a few very wealthy people even take up residency for months in the larger suites). Slowly but surely it is refreshing and remodelling lots of its spaces, jhuzzing up as opposed to ‘changing’, after all there’s a reason people keep coming back, so why mess with such a perfect model?

As is so often the case with a Firmdale property, the Crosby Street Hotel has a wonderful knack of making your experience feel incredibly special, yet managing to be simultaneously relaxed and approachable. There’s nothing stiff and formal about this place and the crowd reflects it, with an easy mix of young, cool locals and dressed-down travellers. The same goes for the design, Kit Kemp always hitting just the right balance between interesting and modern, but elegant enough to remain luxurious. Expect soaring ceilings, grey, wide-plank oak floors, upholstered walls, and warehouse-style windows framed with designer draperies but with bold and bright colours, ranging from fuchsia to pumpkin and royal blue to lime green.

This 41-storey Taj hotel has a superb location in Lenox Hill, grand apartment-like rooms and suites with sweeping views of Central Park. There’s something delightfully old-school luxe about it; enter reception and there’s a waft of fresh seasonal flowers (classics such as statuesque orchids and blooming amaryllis) and before you know it you’re escorted to the elevator which still has dapper lift attendants at your service 24/7 (a rarity nowadays). The on-site restaurant, Perrine, with its recognisable gold doors is helmed by Chef Ashfer Biju and is undeniably one of the best you’ll find in the neighbourhood. Favourites include the roasted beet and kale salad, black sea bass and bright tuna tartare dressed in cucumber and basil – a nod to a Niçoise salad. The glazed carrots, though simple, are also divine.

If you’ve ever entered somewhere and wished you could call the place home, be prepared to feel that here. Despite having ‘grand’ in its name, this hotel was actually one of the first boutique properties in the city and so although it is certainly luxurious, it isn’t grand in a palatial manner, it’s much more trendsetting and offbeat than that, and its interiors encourage you to lounge as if it’s indeed your own (the main salon is like a lofty living room). However, there is plenty of space – the hotel has two restaurants (the Soho Diner is so much fun and so retro with its formica tables and juke box) and a bar as well as a late-night club that plays live music and never fails to bring the party.

Located in the 41-storey clocktower – once the world’s tallest building – The New York Edition strikes a chord upon entering. A vestibule with large panes of glass and a stainless-steel marquee studded with tiny LED lights, impresses. Concrete stairs lead to the bustling reception area on one side of the lobby and the chi chi bar-slash-sitting area on the other. Re-imagined by Ian Schrager, the Marriott-owned property features elegant interiors, a favourable Midtown address alongside Madison Square Park, and a phenomenal restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton where British food is celebrated and elevated (the Clocktower Scotch Egg with walnut ketchup is a great example).

Slotted into floors 3-30 of One57 (one of the city’s most luxurious all-glass condos), the space here is pretty incredible, with all public areas enjoying sky-high ceilings and rooms (all 210 of them) being some of the largest in the city. Anticipate minimalist but inviting design (which only accentuates the feeling of space) with lots of natural stone and Avant-Garde floral patterns breaking up the minimalism. The energy of Manhattan is palpable through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the city lights that lie beyond. While the area surrounding Park Hyatt is far from quiet, inside, you’ll slip into calmness and discover more than 350 pieces of museum-quality art.

You won’t want for much of anything in this hotel; in fact, if it weren’t in New York City, you might forgo venturing outside entirely. Instead, stay tucked high in the sky while tasting inventive cocktails and grazing on visually stunning (and delicious) food, working out with a view, booking treatments at the Asian-themed five-star spa and tea lounge and rounding things off with a dip in the indoor lap pool. When you do venture outside, you can experience the Theatre District in 10 minutes or less and walk to the Museum of Arts and Design and Lincoln Center in five minutes. It’s also close to some of New York’s priciest and most talked-about restaurants – Jean-Georges, Per Se and Masa being some of the best.

Anybody who knows the Peninsula brand knows it is not a stranger to luxury, but perhaps what is most attractive about this outpost, is that it isn’t a new shiny kid on the block, it’s a true landmark in Midtown Manhattan (opening in 1988) and therefore everything about it is reliable and steady. The service is five-star; nothing is too much trouble and the politeness of the staff is genuine (something that can be hgard to find in the city). The food and drink really do shine here too; you’ll have two restaurants and lounge areas to choose from, as well as a chic rooftop bar that provides magnificent skyline views. A house BMW and driver are available for jaunts around town, or, guests can also book a private chauffer or Mini Cooper S Clubman for up to three hours per day.

Interior designer Kit Kemp and her husband Tim, founders of the Firmdale Hotel group (which also includes the Crosby Street Hotel, above) believe hotels should be “a celebration of art and design”. Here they’ve taken the Crosby Street and improved upon it: The Whitby is such a riot of rich, tactile fabrics, elaborately-printed wallpapers, crockery hung like portraits, giant murals and sculptures as to be deemed a gallery in its own right. It offers a truly sensorial stay, with all of the trimmings thrown in too: for example, all bathrooms feature two large square post-war-style sinks and RikRak products, and every room from Junior Suites upwards has a stand-alone silver tub, as well as a walk-in marble shower. Several suites on higher floors feature extensive private terraces, as well as living rooms with sofas and fireplaces.

Sophistication and glam are the essence of this boutique hotel, a 1905 Stanford White-designed building, once the home of the iconic Lambs Club, the first Thespian club in the United States. Expect stunning Art Deco interiors reminiscent of the Prohibition Era with bold design details including warm wood veneers, shiny metal accents and bright red pops of colour. Suede walls, shagreen enveloped furnishings, and expensive bedding lend richness and elegance to the 76 guest rooms, 30 of which are suites. Glittery granite tiles, a Toto loo, in-room yoga and delightful Asprey bath products contribute to an indulgent stay. Some quarters even have private landscaped terraces, very hard to come across in Midtown.

Across the street from the southern entrance of Central Park, located at the gateway to the Upper East Side, this hotel sits at one of Manhattan’s most vibrant intersections. The entrance itself sets the tone for the entire property, as well as its palatial marble lobby with grand arches, there’s also a 1920s frescoed ceiling that was brought back to life when it was restored in 2013 (pictured) after hiding behind plaster for 40 years. And when it comes to the rooms, they are just as impressive; expect tall ceilings, decorative mouldings and fireplaces, wainscoting, and period hardware and fixtures. Even studios are generous by New York standards. Room 2101, for example, is a three-room suite and includes a kitchenette with all you’d need for a weekend in the city.