11 Best Hotels Near Central Park

There are few things more iconic in New York City than Central Park. It’s one of the world’s most famous green spaces in an urban setting and has a reservoir, a lake, manicured European-style gardens, tree-lined walkways, and undulating meadows. So, the hotels near Central Park are equally special, given that they sit in some of the most coveted addresses in one of the world’s most famous and visited cities. Not only do they cover a wide range of budgets, but they also cater to all sorts of travelers. So, there are numerous hotel options for everyone, whether you’re in NYC for business, for sightseeing, like us, with your family, or on a romantic sojourn.

However, the one thing that all hotels have in common is location, location, and the killer views of the green expanse. Plus, these hotels deliver on all fronts, each with its own selling points, amenities, and vibe. From spa getaways and iconic century-old stays to hostels, there’s something for everyone surrounding Central Park, one of the top tourist attractions in the USA.

HI New York City Hostel

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Whoever said that staying around Central Park had to be expensive? We begin with one of this list’s cheapest but most amazing stays, the HI New York City Hostel. This Upper West Side hostel is a 10-minute walk to 2 of the Park’s walking entrances on West 103 and 106 Streets. The closest driving entrance is just 3 minutes away on West 100 Street. So, staying near the Park didn’t get any closer or value-for-money than this, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring Central Park when we stayed here.

That said, the hostel is located in a historic, Victorian-style structure and offers a bustling and vibrant atmosphere. The number of amenities here was endless — a huge kitchen to cook meals and save on outside food, an endless roster of activities and events, and even free Wi-Fi. Our favorite was the outdoor patio, where we mingled with our fun fellow hostelites and had a great time every day. What’s more, the hostel even hosts several shows in the theater room, including improv, comedy, and more. The best bit? They even offered express check-in. No wonder it’s one of the best hostels in New York.

We had a huge number of choices of accommodations, including private rooms and dormitories. Room choices included 4/6-bed Premium rooms with private bathrooms, 8-bed Standard dorms, and 10/12-bed Economy rooms. Moreover, they provided towels across all accommodations, lockers, personal lights, and comfy mattresses and linens for every bed. There’s only one rule that everyone needs to strictly follow: people aged 16 years and under cannot book beds in shared dormitories. So, larger groups traveling together might find the mixed dormitory rooms better.

The Mark Hotel

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We now come to The Mark Hotel on Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side. This magical Upper East Side gem is a mere minute’s drive to 2 driving entrances on East 72 and 79 Streets and a 3-minute walk to the pedestrian entrance on West 76 Street. So, we thought, why not stay in style while being a stone’s throw from Central Park? After all, the Mark is one of Manhattan’s most expensive hotels, promising frills galore.

Old-world glamor greeted us in the lobby of this hotel, which boasted excellent hospitality and service levels and two celebrity-chef-helmed restaurants and bars. The slew of services and extras stand out here, like a manicure with Frédéric Fekkai or working out with fitness guru Dan Flores. When we wanted to indulge in a quick neighborhood jaunt, we’d hop into one of the pedicabs kept around for the same reason. For those who want to head out themselves, there are also the hotel’s custom-made e-bikes. Heck, they could even arrange for private shopping sessions at Bergdorf Goodman!

We had the choice of 141 rooms and suites, all of which were serene, spacious, and perfectly understated for a laidback, luxurious vacation. What’s more, they all have Italian linens, marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, well-stocked minibars, and lovely views. Interestingly, the hotel is home to the Mark Penthouse, one of the world’s most expensive hotel rooms.

Loews Regency New York Hotel

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The Loews Regency New York Hotel has one of the most killer locations on this list. It’s a five-minute walk to the Grand Army Plaza at the park’s southeast corner and one of its most versatile entrances. Not only is it a driving entrance, but it’s also a pedestrian and biking entrance. Plus, there’s another walking entrance right next to it, too. Plus, major subway lines, NYC’s top restaurants, and designer shops are a stone’s throw away. What could be better?

This 1963-opened hotel is the flagship property of the Loews Hotel chain and the first hotel in the collection. It boasted high-tech amenities such as TVs and bathroom telephones back then, and we were delighted to see that even 60 years later, it had the best in-room amenities around. The rooms defied every NYC noise and space story and were a tranquil luxury to boot. Besides a plush bed, our room even had gourmet minibars, slippers, bathrobes, and huge closets. For those looking for a bit more space, it’s well-known that the suites are some of the best in the town.

Many staffers here have been longtime Loews loyalists and know regular and returning guests and their preferences like the back of their hands. The onsite restaurant, Regency Bar and Grill, offers decadent American cuisine for all meals. In fact, it’s long been a spot for power breakfasts in the city. The complimentary Four Five Coffee in the lobby was a savior, while the Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar had a larger selection of coffees. Besides the fitness center, the Julien Farel Restore Spa and Salon was the highlight of our stay, and we enjoyed an indulgent body treatment and fabulous 61st Street views.

Hotel Beacon

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Best value for money. Hotel Beacon combines a fantastic location with some amazing value-for-money amenities, and we couldn’t believe our luck when we chanced upon it. It’s all about location, location, and location at this Upper West Side hotel. That’s because it was a 10-minute walk from both the massive and main West 77 Street and the West 72 Street driving entrances. So, when we took our car, it was just a three-minute drive, so we certainly couldn’t get any closer. At the same time, we were right next to the Beacon Theater and within a stone’s throw of the American Museum of Natural History.

“We never thought we’d find such an amazing place to stay without breaking the bank near Central Park!”

WOW Travel

Despite being an affordable hotel, the Beacon has a long history and excellent amenities. The 24-story hotel opened back in 1928, towering over all the other structures around at that time. In fact, its name comes from the airway beacon on its roof, which was the world’s largest at the time. When it comes to the amenities, it has a small but well-equipped fitness center and the dimly lit Beacon Bar, where we’d enjoy classic cocktails and small plates.

We also appreciated the generously sized rooms and suites here, all of which come with marble bathrooms and full kitchenettes. Aside from huge closets, the higher floors have spectacular views of the Midtown skyline, the Hudson River, and Central Park.

Arthouse Hotel New York City

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The Arthouse Hotel New York City couldn’t have a better location; it sits right down the street from the Park’s amazing West 77 Street entrance. So, some of the park’s most iconic attractions, like the West 77th Street Stone Arch, Alexander von Humboldt Monument, Ladies Pavilion, and even the Shakespeare Garden, were a mere 10-minute walk or a 2-minute drive away.

SRO accommodations, apartments, and the hip NYLO hotel; this nearly century-old structure has housed them all. The remnants of its past are sprinkled across this attitude-free boutique property, like the 1920s-era elevator, custom contemporary artwork, and an original fireplace. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the USD 39/night urban fee includes Wi-Fi, access to the 24-hour business center and gym, daily bottled water, and unlimited domestic calls. We didn’t have to leave the hotel to enjoy drinks and food either. Our favorite was the lobby Arthouse Bar, which is a coffee spot during the day and a speakeasy-inspired lounge in the evening. We’d even enjoy drinks and live piano music in the cozy library or around the fireplace at night. Finally, the Italian restaurant Serafina served all the meals, as did the RedFarm, which had all our Chinese favorites. The best bit? We could order room service from Serafina.

While the rooms and suites are on the smaller side, given the historic nature of the building, many of them have furnished terraces or Juliet balconies, all with views of the Hudson or Central Park. Nevertheless, they all have tall windows, pale wood, Keurig coffeemakers, HDTVs, and Pure bath products. 

Mandarin Oriental, New York

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Best Central Park views. The Mandarin Oriental, New York, sits on Columbus Circle at Central Park’s southwestern corner, one of its main entrances. In fact, there are not one or two but four trails leading into the park from this corner! This entrance has a year-round information kiosk, bathrooms, and bike rentals. If that wasn’t enough, some top Park attractions like the Maine Monument, Greystone and Pinebank Arches, and the Heckscher Playground were all right there. So we couldn’t have asked for a better spot to stay to explore the Park or an indulgent one, given that the Mandarin Oriental is one of Manhattan’s best hotels.

The 35th-floor Sky Lobby, with exotic fresh flowers everywhere, impressed us right off the bat. We didn’t want for much when we stayed here and instead worked out with a view at one of the city’s highest fitness centers. Later, we sipped on inventive cocktails, dug into delicious food at the onsite Asian restaurant, and even had a spot of Afternoon Tea. It was followed by a round of pampering at the Asian-themed five-star spa, and we rounded things off with an indulgent dip in the indoor lap pool afterward, with spectacularly sweeping city views. Did we mention the private entrance access to the shops at Columbus Circle? Yep.

This Mandarin Oriental outpost is all about the views since the rooms are perched high above Manhattan between the 35th and 54th floors. While some offered views of Central Park and the surrounding cityscape, others provided sweeping vistas of the Hudson River and the skyline. Nevertheless, they all had plush bathrobes, floor-to-ceiling windows, Asian-inspired décor, and sumptuous bathroom amenities.

The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, New York

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Best location. Sitting right across 5th Avenue from the lush verdure of the Park in the Upper East Side is the Pierre, a Taj Hotel. The Grand Army Plaza entrance at the park’s southeast corner sits diagonally across from the hotel. Moreover, this versatile entrance has it all: a biking, pedestrian, and driving entrance. Plus, diagonally across from the hotel, on the other side, is yet another walking entrance. So, all we had to do was hop across the road, and voila, we were right in Central Park! The best bit? The Grand Army Plaza entrance also has bike rentals and is a subway stop as well. Oh, and those iconic Central Park horse carriage rides? They sit right outside the Grand Army Plaza. That is why it’s one of the best hotels in NYC near Central Park.

Hospitality is front and center here, aside from the old-school vibe and the long list of amenities. In fact, Pierre is one of the few remaining New York hotels that even have lift attendants! We thoroughly enjoyed drinking and singing at the onsite restaurant, which served all meals and even tea service, cocktails, and late-night music. The sidewalk café was perfect for sitting and people-watching when the weather was nice. Moreover, amenities included an on-call doctor/nurse, laundry and room service, and a 24-hour fitness center. A house car even transported us to the Museum Mile and other nearby locations when we wanted to head out.

With more than 700 rooms, it might be the largest hotel on this list. While entry-level rooms are spacious, the suites are lavish. All have pillow menus, slippers and robes, and Etro bath amenities.

The Whitby Hotel

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A four-minute drive and a six-minute walk from the Grand Army Plaza entrance of the Park brought us to the Whitby Hotel. It sits in the heart of Central Park South, so everything from Carnegie Hall and the Rockefeller Center to Fifth Avenue, MoMA, and Central Park was a short walk away.

This hotel is truly a design escape, with museum-quality sculpture and art and elaborate wallpapers peppered throughout the hotel. We loved the lively Whitby Bar & Restaurant, which served all meals and even weekend brunches and was the place to see and be seen on fine NYC evenings. We’d be back for the cocktail hour at the expansive pewter bar and the restaurant’s jazz performances on weekend nights. Besides a 130-seat screening room, the hotel also has a 24/7 gym, a guests-only drawing room, and excellent hospitality and service. Are you here in spring? Don’t miss the spring afternoon tea; it was the highlight of our stay here.

With just 87 rooms and suites, staying here felt exclusive, and it was. All rooms had floor-to-ceiling windows and swanky mod-cons, while the suites, including ours, had tons of space, soaking tubs, and even furnished balconies! 

The Plaza

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Most luxurious. Another 5th Avenue gem is the iconic Plaza Hotel, which sits right across from the Grand Army Plaza entrance of the park. It was and still is the city’s most iconic stay when it opened, with the added advantage of Central Park being right across from it. It was and still is one of the best NY hotels near Central Park.

We were enveloped by the hotel’s timeless elegance, history, and confidence and impressed by the historic Beaux-Arts exterior. Staying at the Plaza was like staying at an all-inclusive resort in the heart of the Big Apple. We had everything we possibly needed on the property and didn’t have to leave if we wanted to. On the lower level sat a sprawling food hall, apart from the excellent restaurant and bar. We loved unwinding at the Guerlain Spa, which makes the Plaza one of the best spa hotels in New York City. The Warren Tricomi Salon and a state-of-the-art fitness center wrap up the offerings here.

Despite there being nearly 300 rooms, we loved the personalized service and attention to detail here. Moreover, all rooms and suites boasted luxurious beds, spa-like bathrooms with 24-carat gold-plated fixtures, huge windows and tall ceilings, and iPads to control lighting, temperature, etc. In fact, the suites even get white glove service and curated art.

1 Hotel Central Park

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Sitting right down the street from Central Park’s 6th Avenue driving and pedestrian entrance is the fabulous 1 Hotel Central Park. Besides the quick access to the Park, we also loved the fact that this hotel was eco-conscious, so we had to stay there. For instance, the rooms had hemp Keetsa mattresses with organic cotton sheets, recycled cardboard closet hangers, stylish reclaimed wood furniture, and Google Nexus tablets tracking our carbon footprint! At the same time, it also had luxurious touches like marble baths, warm socks, cotton robes, Bluetooth speakers, and Nespresso machines. Our favorite was the rooms that had cozy and cushioned window seats with magnificent views of Central Park.

The clever details didn’t end there, either. For instance, the 24-hour fitness center’s floor is actually the former basketball court of the old University of Wisconsin! Even the spectacular three-story living-wall exterior was made from recycled materials, helping conserve water. What’s more, the perks here included a Tesla EV for quick jaunts around town and round-the-clock room service from the onsite restaurant, Jams. However, we’d usually head down to dig into the restaurant’s delicious American cuisine and cocktails.

Ritz Carlton Central Park

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The Ritz-Carlton Central Park is undoubtedly the best place to stay near Central Park. It sits right across from the Park’s 6th Avenue driving and pedestrian entrance and thus boasts some of the best views of the verdant expanse from its digs.

So, it wasn’t surprising that our higher-floor suite with expansive Park views had a telescope through which we could take the minute details of the landscape. We thoroughly loved staying here, as our room was in creme, beige, and chocolate brown, making for a very soothing space. Besides dramatic prints of Audrey Hepburn (a favorite), there were also marble baths with Asprey bath amenities and NYC-inspired minibars. The best bit? Even if your rooms face 6th Avenue and the Park, like ours, they were pin-drop quiet. Sigh.

The service levels here were impeccable, indeed making us feel like we had a “home on the park.” Meanwhile, the Les Clefs d’Or Concierge was always ready to help us with reservations and local recommendations and would keep the Mercedes house car ready whenever we requested and were available. One of the highlights here was the newly renovated La Prairie Spa, which is the brand’s first American outpost. On-demand classes, a spanking-new fitness center, and the Contour Gastro Lounge And Bar wrap up the amenities here. Did we mention the picnic to-go lunches available for whenever one wanted to picnic in the park? Yep.

Our Verdict!

While we loved all the stays near Central Park due to their proximity, here is a specialized list that will help you choose where to stay.

• Best value for money: Hotel Beacon
• Best location: The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, New York
• Most luxurious: The Plaza
• Best Central Park views: Mandarin Oriental, New York

Where to Stay Near Central Park, NYC?

Central Park is so huge that nine neighborhoods border it directly. They are, clockwise from the park’s northern edge, Central and East Harlem, the Upper East Side, Central Park South, Lincoln Square, the Upper West Side, and the Manhattan Valley.

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We begin with the northernmost neighborhood, Harlem, which has been the epicenter of American Black culture since the early 1900s. Culture vultures will love delving into the neighborhood’s history at the National Jazz Museum and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. It’s not home to a lot of hotels, but it’s perfect for exploration. Next are the Upper East and West Sides, which sit on opposite sides of the park and are family-friendly and museums central. In fact, the Upper East Side is home to Museum Mile and home to MoMA, Frick, and the Guggenheim. The Upper West Side, on the other hand, is one of the city’s quieter parts and has a good bunch of bars and restaurants and the American Museum of Natural History. In fact, it’s one of NYC’s biggest family areas.

Measuring just three blocks long, Central Park South is one of the most prominent neighborhoods near Central Park. While one side is lined with the lush trees of the Park, the other has glamorous and pricey apartments and condos, as well as some of the most expensive hotels in New York City. Lincoln Square on the southwestern edge is a visual representation of the melting pot of NYC, with upscale restaurants, quaint bakeries, small shops, the Lincoln Center, and offices. Finally, the vibrant and diverse Manhattan Valley has many amazing hostels, pre-war architecture, and tree-lined streets.

What is the most famous Central Park Hotel?

The Plaza at Central Park’s southeastern corner is one of the city’s most legendary buildings, and it has been since it opened in 1907.

Which hotel has the best view of the Park?

That would be the Mandarin Oriental, New York, with its floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unparalleled and unobstructed views of Central Park.

Which part of Central Park is best?

The southern part of Central Park has some of the most popular areas, like Bethesda Terrace, Literary Walk, and the Mall.