Best Hotels in New York City: Where to Stay

Choosing where to stay in New York City comes down to three variables: budget, borough preference, and proximity to the attractions you care about most. Manhattan dominates the hotel market but offers far more neighbourhood variety than most visitors realise — staying in the West Village feels entirely different from Midtown, even though they are 30 minutes apart on foot. Brooklyn has expanded its hotel options significantly over the past decade and consistently undercuts Manhattan on price for comparable quality. This guide covers the full spectrum, with prices as of 2026.

Luxury Hotels (from approximately $450/night)

The Peninsula New York 700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, Midtown From approximately $795/night as of 2026. One of the city’s most acclaimed properties, occupying a 1905 Beaux-Arts building on Fifth Avenue. The 239 rooms are among the largest in New York for the category. The rooftop terrace bar (Salon de Ning) has views of Midtown and is open to non-guests. The spa occupies two floors. Location puts you equidistant from Central Park and Rockefeller Center.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel 35 East 76th Street, Upper East Side From approximately $595/night as of 2026. A fixture of Upper East Side life since 1930. The hotel’s Bemelmans Bar (home to original Ludwig Bemelmans murals) is a New York institution; live piano most evenings. The location near the Met and the Frick is ideal for museum-focused visitors. The café hosts Woody Allen’s jazz band on Monday nights. 190 rooms and suites; butler service available.

The Langham, New York 400 Fifth Avenue, Midtown From approximately $500/night as of 2026. One of the quieter luxury properties in Midtown despite the central Fifth Avenue address. Rooms are larger than the city average; the Ai Fiori restaurant on the ground floor is one of the better hotel restaurants in Manhattan. Walking distance to the Empire State Building and Bryant Park.

1 Hotels Brooklyn Bridge 60 Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights From approximately $450/night as of 2026. The Brooklyn outpost of the sustainability-focused 1 Hotels group. Rooms face either the Manhattan skyline or the East River; the rooftop bar view is among the best in the city. The lobby design uses reclaimed materials throughout. Connected to Brooklyn Bridge Park; the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path starts a five-minute walk away. Reach Manhattan via the A/C trains at High Street or the free East River Ferry.

The Mark 25 East 77th Street, Upper East Side From approximately $700/night as of 2026. The Mark’s suites include some of the largest guest-room floor plans in New York. The restaurant (The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges) serves breakfast through dinner; the bar attracts a neighbourhood rather than tourist crowd. Location is directly across from the Met’s Fifth Avenue entrance.

Mid-Range Hotels (approximately $200–$380/night)

The Arlo NoMad 11 East 31st Street, NoMad/Midtown South From approximately $220/night as of 2026. Well-located for the Empire State Building (five-minute walk), Penn Station (ten-minute walk), and the restaurants of the NoMad neighbourhood. Rooms are compact but efficiently designed with good storage. The rooftop bar is open to guests and the public. Check-in is app-based.

The Standard High Line 848 Washington Street, Meatpacking District From approximately $310/night as of 2026. Straddles the High Line on its steel stilts above Washington Street. Floor-to-ceiling windows in every room with views either over the Hudson River or into the city. The Standard Grill on the ground floor serves from 7am to midnight. The biergarten is a warm-weather institution for the neighbourhood. Direct access to the High Line’s southern entry point.

citizenM New York Bowery 189 Bowery, Lower East Side From approximately $210/night as of 2026. citizenM’s format — small, efficiently designed rooms with large beds and blackout curtains — works well in New York where rooms are expensive per square foot regardless. The Bowery location is good for SoHo, the East Village, Chinatown, and Brooklyn bridge access. The 24-hour social area handles early arrivals and late checkouts without fuss.

The Williamsburg Hotel 96 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn From approximately $260/night as of 2026. A ten-storey building in the heart of Williamsburg’s main restaurant corridor. The rooftop pool is open in summer; the bar draws a mix of guests and locals. Ten minutes to Midtown by L train to 14th Street. Excellent for Brooklyn dining (Lilia, Peter Luger, and Fulgurances are all within 15 minutes on foot).

Hotel 50 Bowery 50 Bowery, Chinatown/Lower Manhattan From approximately $230/night as of 2026. One of the better-designed newer properties in Lower Manhattan. The rooftop restaurant and bar face the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn skyline. Walking distance to the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, and the High Line (via subway). The Chinatown location is genuinely useful for food and produces some of the most interesting street-level scenes in the city.

Row NYC 700 Eighth Avenue, Times Square From approximately $195/night as of 2026. One of the more reliable value propositions in Midtown. The 1,331-room hotel is large but runs smoothly. Location is directly in Times Square, which means noise (request a high floor away from the street) but also maximum access to the Theater District, Port Authority Bus Terminal, and 42nd Street transit hub.

Budget Hotels and Hostels (approximately $50–$175/night)

The Jane Hotel 113 Jane Street, West Village From approximately $110/night for cabin rooms, approximately $200/night for standard rooms as of 2026. The 1908 building originally housed sailors returning from transatlantic voyages. The cabin rooms are genuinely small — approximately 50 square feet — but the shared bathrooms are clean and the location in the West Village is excellent. The Jane Ballroom hosts regular events. Advance booking essential; this is one of the more popular budget options in Manhattan.

HI NYC Hostel 891 Amsterdam Avenue, Upper West Side Dorm beds from approximately $50/night; private rooms from approximately $130/night as of 2026. The American Youth Hostel occupies an 1883 landmark building on the Upper West Side. Common areas include a kitchen, lounge, and garden patio. Free walking tours and regular social events. A short walk from Central Park’s 86th Street entrance and the Museum of Natural History.

Sonder — Various Manhattan Locations From approximately $120/night as of 2026. Sonder operates apartment-style properties across multiple Manhattan neighbourhoods. Rooms include kitchen facilities, which significantly reduces meal costs for longer stays. Quality and locations vary; filter by neighbourhood and read recent reviews.

Which Neighbourhood to Choose

Priority	Best Base
Museums + Central Park	Upper East/West Side
Nightlife + dining	West Village, East Village, Lower East Side
Theater District + Midtown access	Midtown West (39th–57th Streets)
Brooklyn vibe + lower prices	Williamsburg, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights
Financial District + bridges	Lower Manhattan, Tribeca
High Line + galleries	Chelsea, Meatpacking District

Booking Tips

• Book direct or via the hotel’s website for the best rates on luxury properties; third-party sites sometimes match but rarely beat the hotel’s own flexible rate.
• Midweek rates (Monday–Thursday) are consistently 15–25% lower than weekend rates at most Manhattan hotels.
• Avoid booking non-refundable rates in New York City — plans change, and the refundable rate is rarely more than 10–15% higher.
• NYC Hotel Room Occupancy Tax adds approximately 14.75% plus $3.50/night to all hotel bills. Factor this into your budget calculations.