Lotte New York Palace

Modernity literally meets tradition here: A sleek 55-story tower cantilevers over the landmark 19th-century Villard Houses. The connected mansions, which were built as a residence for railroad magnate Henry ­Villard, exude Gilded Age splendor, from the sweeping grand staircase to the marble-bedecked lobby. Most of the accommodations, however, convey more contemporary restraint, with unremarkable, if comfortable, neutral decor. Westward-facing rooms overlook Rockefeller Center, with a bird’s-eye view of St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Tower Suites, which occupy the hotel’s top 14 floors, have a separate check-in, dedicated concierge and are undergoing a redesign in spring 2013 that will introduce luxurious details like rain shower heads and custom-made rosewood headboards. In the summer, James Beard Award-winning chef Michel Richard will debut his first NYC restaurant in the hotel. In warmer weather, you can sip cocktails in the charming courtyard bar, the Palace Gate