Whether you are one of the 10 million+ visitors who come to NYC annually, or Mom and Dad are in town, at some point you’ll book a hotel in NYC. It’s no secret that of our thousands of hotels in the city, only few pass muster on a real premium experience. Mostly it’s expensive hotels for rooms that are not that great. However, as the greatest city in the world, there are a few places to stay that stand out. These are the top luxury hotels in NYC to put on the list.
The Hotel: Aman New York
The Neighborhood: Midtown
There were luxury hotels in NYC, then came Aman, which is in a class of its own. Set within the historic and marquee Crown Building, it’s hard not to be one of a kind in a billion dollar development. Of the luxury hotels in NYC, it’s also the most exclusive. Aman New York is private unless you belong to the Aman Club or you are a hotel guest. The terrace is sublime for drinks and the spa and pool deserve an entire day when you visit NYC. Rooms have fireplaces and the surreally serene Aman vibe throughout.
The Hotel: The Whitby
The Neighborhood: Midtown
We’re going to go into the sister hotels of The Whitby further on our list, but The Whitby deserves its own write up. This is one of the top luxury hotels in NYC’s Midtown that continues to draw the crowd. The restaurant is a gathering spot for work coffees and afternoon drinks. The Whitby has one of the largest penthouses as well in NYC, which is like a dream apartment. When there are film premiers in town, the top celebrities are almost always staying at The Whitby.
The Hotel: Fifth Avenue Hotel
The Neighborhood: Grammercy/Flatiron
The Fifth Avenue Hotel is one of the newest of the top luxury hotels in NYC to enter the list. What is unique about Fifth Avenue is they’re not playing it safe. There’s no monochromatic theme anywhere to be seen in the hotel. Instead the went all in on eclectic design with patterns and colors like New York has never seen before. Also they have two of the top venues right now. In residence isCafe Carmellini for Michelin-level food and Portrait Bar, one of the best spots for drinks in NYC.
The Hotel: The Mark
The Neighborhood: Upper East Side
If it’s good enough for Victoria Beckham, that says it all. This is one of the top luxury hotels in NYC. The Mark is a classic Upper East Side hotel with a touch of contemporary. It speaks volumes that this is where the top A-list celebrities stay and get ready for the Met Gala every May. The food venues are tops with Jean-Georges and Caviar Kaspia, and you’ll see as many local New Yorkers as visitors at the hotel.
The Hotel: The Greenwich Hotel
The Neighborhood: Tribeca
The Greenwich Hotel is the perennially cool places to stay in New York City. It’s a hotel that your super successful bachelor friend or hotelier would stay in New York City. The lobby bar is for hotel guests only, and they serve up Locanda Verde, another big selling point, in the garden or bar for guests. And yes, that is Bono in the corner catching up with Christy Turlington. Like we said, it’s effortlessly cool.
The Hotel: Crosby Street + Firmdale Hotels
The Neighborhood: Soho + Tribeca
The Crosby Street Hotel is the OG of top luxury hotels in NYC. For a long time there, they were really the only go-to for people with discerning taste. Nowadays there’s plenty of competition but the Crosby Street is better than ever. It’s now joined by a new sister hotel too, the Warren Street Hotel. The delicious Kit Kemp design throughout set a trend when the hotels came on the scene. No one has quite been able to replicate it. That, plus the ability to create consistent gathering places in their restaurants and bars. The Crosby Street is always a good idea.
