11 Best Luxury Hotels in New York City

No place in the entire world does luxury quite like New York ‘The Big Apple’ City. sumptuous five-star restaurants from the world’s best chefs and deluxe spas to spectacularly sweeping views of the city from swanky rooftop lounges, the world-class R&R in “The City of Dreams” left us swooning. They were suitably indulgent, debauched, and decadent in all the best ways possible. What’s even better is that the choices for the best luxury hotel in New York City did indeed overwhelm us! That’s a good problem to have, isn’t it? What’s more, these luxurious hotels are spread across the boroughs and cater to all kinds of tastes: classic and antique Victorian to contemporary and sleek ones. Since NYC was awash in choice, we truly had a memorable luxurious staying experience in the city.

Also, who says that the city’s most luxurious digs are only for travelers? Even local New Yorkers craving for that indulgent staycation can take advantage of escapes, can’t they? Here’s a lowdown to the best, most luxurious, and well-earned retreats in the “City That Never Sleeps.”

Trump International Hotel & Tower New York

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We begin with the Big Apple’s treasure with a view, the gleaming, 52-storyed Trump International Hotel & Tower New York. Tucked at the corner of Central Park and Columbus Circle, right in the heart of Manhattan, this hotel is the epitome of luxury in what is one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in the city.

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Not surprisingly, this hotel is rife with amenities of the decadent kind, and we reveled in it. Since we’d come to NYC to sightsee and relax in equal measure, the Trump Spa, with its heated saltwater pool, relaxation lounge, sauna, and treatment rooms, was perfect. Three five-star restaurants and bars, including a legendary chef Jean Georges, Nougatine, and Vongerichten, had us not wanting to leave the hotel. When we did have to leave it, we had the house car at our disposal. Did you know that even your kids and four-legged friends get five-star treatment here? While kids get personal tents in their rooms, doggies get pampered with everything from biscuits to bones.

Since most rooms at the hotel were suites, we snagged a posh room even though we chose one of the lower-category ones. Even then, they were one of the largest ones in the city, leaving us with enough space to unwind. Nevertheless, they all boasted Serta beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and luxurious bathrooms. Did you know that every suite had a kitchen? That’s why it’s also famously one of the best hotels with kitchens in New York City.

The St. Regis New York

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The St. Regis New York, a designated NYC landmark, is also one of its most iconic hotels. Socialite John Jacob Aster IV, its original owner, envisioned it as a sumptuous retreat with residential flair, and the St. Regis sure lives up to it. Luxury began right off the bat with personalized service, as every room was assigned a St. Regis butler who helped us with everything, no matter how small the errand.

Since it was the St. Regis, we waited with bated breath and great expectations for our rooms, and we were more than impressed. Most boast soft white, bold blue, and gray color schemes and were decorated with silky, brocade fabrics, rich textures, and an exceptionally luxurious feel. Besides the oversized, pillow-top, Egyptian-cotton-sheets bed, our room also melded antique touches like chandeliers and slick mod-cons with inevitable ease. It’s made us feel like modern royalty when we stayed here.

“Staying at the St. Regis allowed us to experience what we call “quiet luxury.” It was one of the most memorable experiences of our life.”

WOW Travel

Our mornings began with sumptuous breakfasts in the elegant, open-space Astor Court, where we also enjoyed afternoon tea and Sunday brunch as we stayed the weekend. However, it’s the bar that’s more famous — the King Cole Bar whose bartender, Fernand Petiot, is said to have been the creator of the Bloody Mary! nevertheless, we loved sipping cocktails in this clubby cocktail den before setting out to explore the Big Apple’s nightlife.

Mandarin Oriental

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The Asia-inspired New York oasis that is the Mandarin Oriental sits right in the thick of all the action, right on Columbus Circle. Every element here, from the Chinese gold throw pillows and framed hallway kimonos to the ginkgo metal finishes on the elevators and revolving doors, reflected a chic Asian style. We loved that the hotel not only recognized the brand’s Far Eastern heritage but also captured the individuality of the melting pot that is the Big Apple.

What struck us about every space here was that it invited us to linger, whether it was our room or the sexy low-lit lobby, thanks to the sleek, attractive Asian-influenced interior design. It was the little details that left us most impressed, especially the welcome amenities in the form of beautifully displayed fruit to the custom-scented aromatherapy oils left during turndown right by our bed. The cheerful orange/red pillows added a pop to the neutral hues, as did the Chinese artwork and modern photography. Moreover, our bathroom was the epitome of indulgence with Diptyque products, Red Flower bath salts, flatscreen TVs, marble floors, and huge vanities. Ah, luxury.

The amenities at the hotel were no less jaw-dropping, to say the least. While the onsite restaurant, the Mo Lounge, serves delicious fare and even does in-room dining, we had many more choices with the many celeb chef restaurants at the Deutsche Bank Center. Furthermore, the concierges at the hotel could get us a reservation anywhere we wanted, if we’d told them where we wanted to head beforehand. Finally, the hotel is home to a five-star spa with a wide menu and phenomenal views. That’s why this is one of the best spa hotels in New York City.

The William Vale

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Best non-Manhattan luxury. One of NYC’s best hotels with a view is also one of its most luxurious, the William Vale in Brooklyn. The selling point of this hotel is the views — every room (all with city-view balconies, by the way) and the rooftop boast sweeping views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. Luxury in NYC doesn’t get any better than this.

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However, we were partly correct, of course. The amenities at William Vale blew our minds, especially the 60-ft-long outdoor pool, which was and still is the longest of its kind in Brooklyn. After a day of exploring the city’s sights, we’d return here by evening, unwinding with a cocktail on the cabana or lounge chair. The standout, though, is the 15,000-sq-ft-huge green space on the rooftop, Vale Park. Can you imagine enjoying a picnic at the alfresco tables or one of the blankets spread out here, complete with views? It was a luxury we’d never imagined in NYC. Besides the posh rooftop bar, there was also Leuca, the signature restaurant serving everything from casual to fine dining fare.

If you were impressed by the amenities, wait till you see the digs here. While all of them have floor-to-ceiling windows and wraparound balconies with stunning views, we splurged on the Vale Garden Residence, a two-bedroom duplex loft with an outdoor Jacuzzi and a private patio! Did we mention the Lavazza coffee machines and fully-stocked minibars in all rooms? Yep.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

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Sitting at the site of the iconic St. Moritz Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, was a classic Midtown luxury pick for us. That’s because we were mere minutes from Broadway’s theaters, a host of five-star, Michelin-starred restaurants, and premier shopping on Fifth Avenue.

Service has always been impeccable here, whether the concierge who got us impossible restaurant reservations or the bar attendant who knew what our favorite cocktail was. Since this hotel is as classic as it gets, even the food and drink offerings are such, and we loved the restaurant and bar for it. So, if you’re looking for a great version of the classic martini, this is the place to enjoy it. Even the second-floor La Prairie Spa is classic and signature luxury facials and massages. Despite not having a swimming pool, the hotel’s fitness center is top-notch. They even introduced a new movement studio, with a FitnessOnDemand platform, making it a haven for fitness freaks. If all that wasn’t enough, the complimentary house car, a Mercedes Maybach if you were very lucky, will get you anywhere, anytime.

Since it’s the Ritz, you can expect the rooms to be suitably luxurious. Think plush king beds, minibars and glassware, flatscreen TVs, custom artwork and decor, spacious bathrooms with deep soaking tubs, and Asprey’s Purple Water bath products. If you want to indulge, book one of the sweets, including the five specialty suites, either 5th Avenue or Central Park. No wonder it’s the best Ritz Carlton hotel in New York City.

The Plaza Hotel

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Best old-world luxury. The Midtown Beaux Arts gem that is The Plaza Hotel boasts a standard for luxury dating back more than 100 years. So, it’s no surprise that pomp and pageantry rule the roost at this four-star hotel, which sits right in front of Central Park, complete with horse-drawn carriages et al. If historical stays interest you, then you should stay at this NYC hotel, which has a notable part in important historical moments. For instance, it’s been the debut venue of jazz artists like Billie Holiday and Miles Davis. It was also the home of Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball as well as The Beatles’ first trip to the country!

We loved the floral displays everywhere —  orchids, hydrangeas, red and purple roses — which provided the perfect pop of hues against the property’s beige undertones. Our luxurious holiday kicked off with facial massages and body treatments at the Guerlain Spa. The highlight, however, was afternoon tea at the Palm Court, as we made our way through macarons, caviar accents, teas, desserts, sandwiches, and whatnot. It’s also where we had decadent breakfasts in the mornings. In the evenings, we enjoyed excellent cocktails and drinks to live music at the Champagne Bar.

It wasn’t surprising that the rooms and suites here were modern and elegant at the same time. Our Deluxe Courtyard Room even had a private terrace, from where we could enjoy the property’s lushly quiet surroundings. Our favorite part had to be the bathroom, with mosaic tiles mimicking Central Park. No wonder it’s one of the NYC’s most expensive hotels.

The Mark Hotel

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It’s something else that one of the world’s most expensive hotels lies in New York City. It’s also something else that it’s home to one of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world too! We’re talking about The Mark Hotel, which is home to the Mark Penthouse Suite, among other things, which has a current price tag of USD 75,000/night. Oof! However, there’s more to this bold Manhattan beauty; staying here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, indeed.

We begin with the unique and one-of-a-kind restaurants here, starting with chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s The Mark Restaurant. However, it was the other one, the first New York outpost of Paris’ famed Caviar Kaspia, that caught our attention. It celebrates the “art of caviar.” Could it get any more luxurious than this? It can, apparently, since we enjoyed a hairstyling session at Frédéric Fekkai’s salon right at the hotel and enjoyed chauffeured rides around the neighborhood in the in-house McLaren. Despite there being no pool or sauna, the concierge was more than happy to set up appointments anywhere and anytime we wanted. Are you traveling here with your pet pooch? Rest assured that they’ll also enjoy luxurious treatment in the form of treats, water and food bowls, and plush beds.

The penthouse suite isn’t the only impressive room; all rooms and suites blend Art Deco and classic design and feature exquisite decor, sleek mod-cons, and chic bathrooms with in-mirror TV consoles, towel warmers, and bathtubs.

Park Hyatt New York

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Oversized custom-made bronze double doors welcomed us within the quietly sophisticated world of Park Hyatt New York. Sitting on the first 25 floors of the 90-storeyed One57 skyscraper, the hotel’s Yabu Pushelberg interiors mesmerized us; think hand-woven custom carpets and architectural screens. The idea was to make us feel as if we were in our own homes. So, the common areas are aptly called The Living Room, where we enjoyed beed sliders with glasses of bubbly, and The Study, where we read up and people-watched. Sigh. Another notable observation was the 350-odd pieces of artwork commissioned from MoMA lining the hotel’s walls.

While all rooms and suites boast floor-to-ceiling windows with excellent views, the best was from the 25th floor, which was home to a 65-ft-long indoor swimming pool. When we were taking laps and relaxing on chaise lounges, the views of the city were spectacular. On the same floor was Spa Nalai, whose restorative treatments took us to new heights of relaxation. The Living Room is also where we’d enjoy all our tasty meals on comfy couches, accompanied by champagne, craft cocktails, and whatnot. Did we mention the Technogym-powered fitness center for fitness freaks? Yep.

All rooms and suites are exquisite, with specially curated artwork, flatscreen TVs, Italian Frette linens, Le Labo bath products, and deep soaking tubs in the bathrooms. For the ultimate NYC experience, book one of the suites, which not only have a lot more space but even private outdoor terraces.

Baccarat Hotel New York

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Most unique luxury. How would you like to stay in a hotel with endless Baccarat crystal? We had the opportunity of unbridled luxury in Midtown Manhattan in the form of the Baccarat Hotel New York. The hotel from the famed crystal company will dazzle even the most jaded of travelers, and we were mesmerized by the glamorous and luxurious public spaces glittering with prismatic Baccarat crystals in every form imaginable. Think chandeliers, accent showpieces, and even a Baccarat boutique from where you could pick these pieces up for your home.

It’s not far off to assume that our stay at this outrageous decadent hotel would have been equally decadent. You won’t find regular amenities like a pool here, but this hotel is much more than that. For instance, the Grand Salon and The Bar, the onsite restaurants, are show-stopping, to say the least. Think Baccarat chandeliers, velvet banquets, parquet floors, and Jouffre silk-covered walls. Enjoying food and drinks, even if it was afternoon tea, was a jaw-dropping affair. Besides working out in the state-of-the-art fitness center, we also cruise the streets of Manhattan in style in the in-house luxury car.

The OTT visual eye candy stops at the public spaces; in the light-filled rooms and suites, softer luxury. That doesn’t mean the signature baccarat is missing, for every room is stocked with the signature crystal accents. What’s more, luxurious extras abound, with flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and plush robes, Italian Frette bed linens, and even champagne call buttons. No wonder it’s one of Manhattan’s most luxurious hotels and one of the 5-star luxury hotels in NYC.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

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The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, one of the best Uptown NYC hotels, is extremely popular with celebrities, and it’s not difficult to see why. This Upper East Side gem retains the glory of its historic past, sitting just one block from Central Park. What makes this hotel also historically important is that every U.S. president since Truman has called it their unofficial NYC home. Did you know that it was also a favorite with many heads of state and royals, including the late Diana, Princess of Wales? Yes.

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We were taken in by the tastefully decorated interiors, but what impressed us was the bespoke amenities and the excellent service. Its hidden gem is the Bemelmans Bar, which featured works by the illustrator/author of the Madeline books, with whimsical, large-scale murals of the four seasons of Central Park as the backdrop. However, we rather loved the 1955-opened intimate supper club Café Carlyle, a cabaret destination, and a very popular one at that.

All rooms and suites are different at the Carlyle, but they all have plush mod-cons, luxurious bathrooms, and stunning artwork. Moreover, more than 20 of the suites even have Baldwin/Steinway baby grand pianos! For a special stay, choose the Central Park View Suite, which has unobstructed views of Manhattan’s skyline and what is unarguably the most famous park in America.

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

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Best contemporary luxury. The Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is undoubtedly the most luxurious hotel in the Big Apple. Designed by famed designer Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel is all about striking visuals; think eye-catching suspended staircase, gilded books in the lobby, tidal wave marble walls, and more.

This Four Seasons outpost shines in several places, like the spa, which not only has exquisite treatments but also sees Swiss skincare brand, Dr. Burgener, make its American debut. It’s not easy to make an indoor pool in Manhattan feel like you’re outdoors, but the pool space here does just that. With two-storeyed windows with superb views and a 75-ft-long heated pool, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the best NYC hotels with indoor pools. The standouts, though, are the eating spaces, helmed by Wolfgang Puck’s classic Cut. Did you know that it’s the first Wolfgang Puck restaurant in the city? Yep.

The rooms and suites here are the epitomai of luxurious comfort, with fantastic Four Seasons Beds, iPad-controlled services, Nespresso machines, stocked minibars, and spa-inspired marble-swathed bathrooms with deep-soaking bathtubs and in-mirror TVs.

Our Verdict!

While the list of luxurious NYC hotels is longer, even choosing from this list can be challenging. So, we’ve whittled it down for you even further.

• Best contemporary luxury: Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
• Best old-world luxury: The Plaza Hotel
• Most unique luxury: Baccarat Hotel New York
• Best non-Manhattan luxury: The William Vale

Where to Stay in New York City?

As Truman Capote aptly said in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “NYC is not a city, it’s a world.” Moreover, every neighborhood has a different and distinct vibe. When looking for 5-star luxury hotels in New York City, we looked in very specific neighborhoods. One of its most luxurious ones is Central Park South in Midtown Manhattan, the bustling heart of the city. Not only is it home to some of the best hotels here but also quietly luxurious residences and some of the best attractions in the city. Secondly, there’s the Upper East Side, which has been one of the city’s most upscale neighborhoods since the turn of the 20th century. Even today, it’s a world of old-money crowds, multi-million-dollar brownstones, designer boutiques, Michelin-star restaurants, museums, leafy, wide avenues — and luxury hotels.

Thirdly, there’s the triangle below Canal Street, otherwise known as Tribeca, a stylish neighborhood right next to the Hudson River. The lovely neighborhood, which has many expats and young families, has luxury hotels and apartments, art galleries, high-end restaurants, and a huge wellness scene. Finally, once an artists’ haven, SoHo (“South of Houston”) is its world of cool cafes and designer boutiques. Its cobblestoned streets are home to many luxury boutique hotels, some of the city’s most famous shopping areas, and immersive and eclectic museums.

Where do celebrities and film stars stay in NYC?

Most celebs and movie stars prefer a select few hotels, including the Mark, the Carlyle, and the Four Seasons NYC Downtown.

Which is the most luxurious neighborhood in NYC?

That would be Central Park South, even though it’s mostly residential and is home to a select few upscale, five-star hotels. When it comes to non-residential, that title would probably go to Tribeca.

Where do celebrities stay in Brooklyn?

They usually stay in a select few hotels, including the Williamsburg Hotel, the William Vale, as mentioned above, and the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.