New York hotels: Expensive hotels

Sometimes when you’re planning a trip to NYC, you just want a classic New York experience. You want a hotel that you step into and think to yourself: “Yes—I am at a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan that feels like a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan.” The Peninsula New York is that hotel. That’s due, in large part, to a winning combination of its landmarked 1905 Beaux Arts building and a new state-of-the-art renovation. On a recent stay at the property, I had a lovely experience that felt both worlds away from the hectic streets outside and also physically (and spiritually) never far from Fifth Avenue. Why stay at The Peninsula New York? The Peninsula Hotels is an international chain of luxury hotels operated by Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels. Founded in 1928 by the Kadoorie family, the hotel group now has operations around the world—including properties in NYC, Los Angeles and Chicago. The Peninsula New York is the U.S. flagship property of the group. The historic building that it occupies originally opened as the Gotham Hotel in 1905 with a striking limestone and granite facade meant to complement the nearby University Club. After going through a few different incarnations, it opened as The Peninsula New York in 1988. You can sense those layers of history as you move through the hotel—especially when you first walk in and encounter the grand, marble double-staircase that brings you to check-in and the hotel’s restaurants and bars. In addition to the elevated surroundings,...

This internationally acclaimed business traveler's paradise has five stars for a reason: The scene, the service and the spa make up the trifecta that sets the 244-room Mandarin Oriental a cut above the rest. The height of luxury, this chic five-star hotel boasts stunning views, including many rooms with views of Central Park. The elevated experience starts from its 35th-floor lobby decorated with Dale Chihuly glass art. The upscale vibe continues in all the guest rooms, from standard king rooms to its suites.  The Hudson River Suite, for example, measures in at 800 square feet, including a spacious living room, a dining/working area, a bedroom, a full bathroom and a powder room. Prices per-night for this suite range from $2,100 to $4,595. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer unparalled views of the skyline and the Hudson River below.  Inside the 14,500 square-foot Mandarin Oriental Spa, treatments include massages, facials, Thai foot therapy and special treatments. A 75-foot indoor lap pool is on-site for hotel guests who want to get some exercise or for families with kids who want to splash around. No matter how packed your schedule may be, you’ll definitely want to make time for lunch at MO Lounge, where you’ll revel in panoramic daylight views of the park below. Also at the lounge, you can book afternoon tea service featuring savory sandwiches, scones and a collection of sweets. The little details here and the attention to the guest experience set this hotel apart from the...

Wall Street doesn’t usually conjure up images of comfort. If anything, the mere phrase makes us think of ringing bells, bond indexes and Leonardo DiCaprio on quaaludes, none of which feel especially relaxing. But the Wall Street Hotel does a tremendous job of tweaking what you may think about the buttoned-up Financial District, allowing yourself to loosen your collar and—gasp!—turn off from work for a bit. Not that the boutique hotel has fully turned its back on the neighborhood’s banking bonafides: the 180-room accommodations stand on the site of the original Tontine Coffee House, the beaux-arts building that housed the O.G. New York Stock Exchange in the late 18th-century. (Hence the name of the hotel’s scenic rooftop, Bar Tontine.) Where stockbrokers once met to talk trade and transactions 200 years ago, now stylish travelers gather in the double-height, lobby-level Lounge on Pearl to gab over equally well-dressed oysters and brine-splashed martinis.  Speaking of bivalves, the historic space was transformed and opened as a hotel in 2022 by the Paspaleys, the family behind Australia’s oldest pearling company. Nods to that nacre past beautifully abound throughout the warmly luxurious property, from the rare pearl jewelry showcased in the lobby to the scallop-edged barstools in the lounge to the oyster-inspired watercolors that hang above the Frette-sheeted beds in each guest room.  Soothing soft blues and seafoam greens wash over the spacious staterooms—ranging in size...

The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, is everything you want in a classic New York City stay, from sweeping views of Central Park to top-notch service that makes you feel special. This classic, five-star hotel sits right on the southeastern edge of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street and is by far the best hotel stay I’ve had in the city. Its understated elegance is felt as soon as you walk into the lobby, which plays host to myriad lavish events throughout the year. Opened in 1930, the 41-story hotel with 189 small dog-friendly rooms and 76 apartments was modeled after Versailles by famed architects Schultze and Weaver (who also designed the Waldorf-Astoria) and boasts neo-Georgian accents, checkered marble floors, incredible ballroom spaces with grand staircases and a rotunda with murals hand-painted by American artist Edward Melcarth in 1976—one of the most romantic rooms I’ve seen in NYC. After my stay here, I can see why it’s been featured in films like First Wives Club, Meet Joe Black and Oceans 8. It’s also hosted luminaries like Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, Hubert de Givenchy, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Yves Saint Laurent, Barbra Streisand, Joan Collins (and many UN delegations) over the many decades and you can see them represented in the hotel’s incredible candid photos by Ron Galella that line its main hallway. But where The Pierre really shines is in the details, which make it feel like home. Check-in was a breeze with staff who welcomed me...

At the Plaza Hotel, all that glitters is gold. Literally. From chair legs and mirror frames to the bathrooms of each guest room and suite, the details are gilded with 24-carat gold plating. It’s classy and opulent and reminiscent of another time—but then again, it’s the Plaza. The midtown hotel has been a New York icon, offering first-rate lodging since 1907. Throughout the years and after many renovations, the National Historic Landmark’s guest list has been a who’s who of celebs, from the Beatles to Christian Dior, and the backdrop for many cultural works like The Great Gatsby and Eloise at the Plaza. As soon as you enter the main doors, the fresh scent of gardenias takes you far away from the all-too-close scent of Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages. A friendly staff is waiting to greet you in the main lobby under a magnificent crystal chandelier. Head toward check-in and pass the stairs that ascend to the moody Rose Club lounge, where you can enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail, like the King Basil ($24)—which combines the herb with cucumber, gin, lillet and orange bitters—on a burgundy tufted-velvet couch. Stay on the ground floor for the lobby-adjacent Champagne Bar, where you can sip elegant bubbles and delight in caviar while taking in the regal atmosphere. The Palm Court, also on the main floor, is well known for its high-tea service, but the restaurant cheekily undersells its evening-fare menu by placing the petite three pages of food behind an extensive drinks...

Some hotels are defined by their architecture, others by the type of scene they attract. Sofitel New York is a vision in limestone and glass, and has a lovely on-site restaurant, Gaby Brasserie Française. But the main thing that defines a stay here, and will probably convince you to return for a second or third time, is the excellent service. The experience manages to achieve a sense of luxury without a hint of snobbishness or pretension.  A sense of ease comes naturally here, and that’s helped along by the tasteful décor. The bold colors and polished marble in the Neo Art Deco lobby are eye-catching without being too loud or aggressive. The warm and inviting rooms are full of muted browns and tasteful grays, striking the perfect balance between comfort and sleek design. Many of the rooms offer stunning views of the city, and some include terraces. If you can swing it, it’s worth splurging on the suite themed for the Tony Awards. As the official hotel of the iconic theatrical awards show, the property has created a one-of-a-kind suite with multiple rooms, two bathrooms and the largest private hotel room terrace we’ve ever seen in midtown. There are also rooms themed for specific Broadway shows that are available to book, perfect for any theater lover coming to visit the nearby Great White Way. Room service is offered, but a night spent at Gaby Brasserie Française on the first floor makes for a lovely evening. After indulging in the decadent French cuisine—the Onion Soup...

Just opened in 2015, the Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York emits a vibe that’s at once modern and vintage. Its crisp, clean lines and dark-leaning aesthetic (of course with ample pops of the brand’s signature red) serve to highlight the facility’s eponymous crystal collection—including 15,000 pieces of stemware and 17 chandeliers. The hotel is the legacy brand’s first, and it doubles as a museum of sorts to the company, which King Louis XV of France founded in 1764. In short, if Marie Antoinette were a millennial, she’d stay at the Baccarat, where opulence reigns supreme. The 114 guest rooms (which range from 400 to 1,780 square feet) include sprawling windows, a luxe four-poster bed, a glass-walled shower and an extravagant take on the hotel minibar, which isn’t so “mini” here: The in-room red-enamel bar includes full-size bottles of many premium spirits and, unsurprisingly, Baccarat crystal glassware out of which guests can drink. And forget standard minibar snacks like peanuts and potato chips—this rendition is stocked with goodies from French bakery Laudurée. Hankering for some bubbles rather than what the contents of the minibar offer? Grab the bedside smart tablet and press the “champagne” button, which instructs you to pick a bottle from the hotel’s menu; after you do that, a chilled bottle is delivered to your room, alongside two crystal flutes, with expedience. The smart tablet also controls the room’s temperature, lighting, drapes, and it serves as the...

There are certain hotels in New York that make you feel like you’ve somehow ended up in the middle of a storybook, and the Ritz-Carlton Central Park is one of them. This isn’t a hotel that you want to walk through quickly just to get to your room. It’s one that you want to savor and experience, from the moment two men in top hats open the door and guide you to the lobby. Immediately, you’re surrounded by warm wood and cool marble, an enveloping experience that feels worlds away from the drab concrete sidewalk that you just left behind. The service is friendly and courteous, but there is an air of formality to the common areas. The main congregating area is the Star Lounge which is on the first floor just off from the lobby. Elegantly-dressed guests and locals mingle on the luxurious green and beige furniture, sipping cocktails from legendary bartender Norman Bukofzer. Those who feel inclined to visit the bar, located just around the corner from the lounge, would be well-served ordering The Central Park Cocktail. The hotel’s signature drink was inspired by the nearby park, and is as light and refreshing as a stroll through The Ramble. The room décor, which is much lighter than the downstairs lounge, is understated and comfortable. Turn-down service is offered nightly, and a full in-room dining menu is available 24-hours a day (The club sandwich on toasted sourdough is a must-try). But let’s be honest, the most-impressive feature of these rooms are the outstanding views of...

Undeniably lavish, minus the pomp, The Mark does everything right (and makes it seem easy, too) Known for its impressive celebrity clientele, The Mark beckons the fashion-conscious with near-tangible magnetism. Why? Because ostentatious aspects of design are married with more contemporary and zealous aesthetic choices. Yes, there’s black-and-white decor and yes there are marble features, but it’s all punctured by distinctive orange hues in the form of flora, wallpapers and soft furnishings. In short, it looks really, really nice.  And the whole operation is slick and polished, from succinct check-in to simple check out. As for the suites, the bath is luxuriously deep and the wifi is speedy. Plus, it’s culinary wonderboy Jean-Georges Vongerichten who heads up the fine dining restaurant and bar offerings, so you can expect an eclectic menu with the likes of hamachi sashimi, Scottish salmon and parmesan-crusted chicken with artichokes and lemon-basil butter. Delicious. Neighborhood: A five-minute wander from Central Park and pretty close to the Guggenheim, The Met and the rest of Museum Mile, you’re perfectly located for a few days of culture. But while it may be the glistening streets of the Upper East Side that draws tourists and inner-state travellers to the hotel, it’s The Mark’s flamboyance that keeps them there.  Nearby: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: for creative inspiration Papaya King: to get your fill of hot dogs and syrupy papaya juice Bemelmen’s Bar: for a luxe...

The location alone is worth the visit: Set on Lexington Avenue and 21st Street, overlooking the private, gated, “I’ve always wanted to go in there but it’s always so damn locked,” Gramercy Park. Built in 1925, the bohemian-style Gramercy Park Hotel was taken over by famed real estate tycoon and art collector Aby Rosen in 2004, who closed it for two years to renovate with celebrated artist Julian Schnabel heading the design efforts. The result? A visually stunning beaut that drips with style, exuberance, and one of the chillest vibes you’ll get from any hotel in the city. The concrete exterior welcomes you through custom bronze arched doors with clear beveled glass and cast bronze handles—just in case you miss the huge bronze revolving door. The lobby’s second floor was taken out to accommodate the 20-foot ceilings fitted with wood columns, while smack dab in the center sits a massive hand-blown glass chandelier. The space is adorned with a wood-burning, nine-foot high fireplace; black and white tiled floor; brown leather chairs and red velvet sofas; maroon curtains, and artwork from the likes of Schnabel, Damien Hirst and Botero (from Rosen’s personal collection). Across from the two lobby bars is the hotel restaurant, Maialino, the beloved Danny Meyers’ critically-acclaimed Italian trattoria that can be seen aglow outside from the street-level. The hotspot is always bustling with patrons dining on things like braised suckling pig, salt-baked sea bass, or squid ink pasta...