Entering Tribeca’s Warren Street Hotel is like stepping into an English garden. That’s the glorious vision of Kit Kemp, the hotel’s British founder and designer, who brings the 69-room former fabrics warehouse to life with vivid patterned textiles and ever-present vases of fresh flowers. The on-site eatery, which opens out onto an internal courtyard, continues the maximalist vision, with vibrantly coloured banquette seats set under walls crowded with artworks. Nothing about this stay is stuffy, best exemplified in the restaurant’s menu of comfort foods such as cacio e pepe with two cheeses or Banoffee pudding with banana gelato.

Stacked Tetris-style, Radio Hotel’s colour-blocked buildings in Washington Heights next to Highbridge Park are hard to miss (they can even be seen from LaGuardia Airport). Inside, the 221-room boutique hotel celebrates its locale – the area is often referred to as Little Dominican Republic – at every corner, from the daily complimentary Caribbean cocktails to the Santo Domingo-inspired plates on offer at onsite restaurant JALAO NYC. After savouring pork ribs glazed in a passionfruit barbecue sauce and red wine-stewed oxtail, leave some space for the namesake Jalao dessert – honey and coconut balls served warm with a scoop of Dominican rum ice cream.

With its 295 Mid-century Modern-style rooms in mint-green, oatmeal and mustard-yellow, as well as a lobby café where the pastries and coffee are locally sourced, Romer Hell’s Kitchen signals you’re definitely not in Times Square anymore. Although this charming property is within strolling distance of the city’s biggest box-tickers (the aforementioned square is just a five-minute walk away), there’s a friendly feel to this Manhattan hotspot, too. Take a wander and you’ll find all manner of wine bars, comedy clubs and personality-packed eateries within footsteps of your door.

Invite the city in at ModernHaus Soho, where every one of the 114 rooms has incredible views of the surrounding skyline — with some glimpses stretching all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge. There’s plenty to do outside of your room, too: at sundown, head up to the rooftop, where you’ll find a trio of buzzy bars that boast a conversation pit and lap pool.

Lovingly restored and richly furnished, the lavish interiors of the Lower East Side’s Nine Orchard are made to be swooned over. Originally built more than a century ago, this Neo-Renaissance former bank is now a boutique beauty with 113 rooms – some of which have views of the Chrysler and Empire State buildings – as well as a lobby bar and bistro. Although handcrafted furniture, high ceilings and custom-made speakers tuned to Big Apple-inspired radio stations adorn the comfy rooms and suites, the location on the corner of Orchard and Canal is the hotel’s biggest drawcard: the Tenement Museum, Chinatown and the neighbourhood’s many bars and restaurants are nearby.

Yes, there is a sustainable hotel in the centre of bustling New York. It’s 1 Hotel Central Park, a soothing stay at the edge of Manhattan’s famous park, sheathed in atmospheric ivy. The property employs reclaimed materials throughout, dresses beds in sustainably-sourced linens and is LEED Certified. (It’s also incredibly chic).

New York has an abundance of rooftop bars but the one that crowns Moxy NYC Times Square is different. The aptly-named Magic Hour shimmers from dawn until dusk, with buzzy brunches when the sun’s up to saucy sliders after sunset. The “urban amusement park” is the city’s largest, with (seemingly) everything from a mini-golf course and even a carousel.

Langham properties are famed for their seamless integration of wellness in the stay experience. The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue is no exception, with a dedication to ensuring guests get some seriously good shut-eye. An extended evening wind-down could begin with a soak in the wonderfully deep tubs, followed by soothing herbal tea sipped from your Swedish Duxiana mattress.

If you’ve ever wanted to live the NYC loft life, Midtown’s Refinery Hotel is a fabulous substitute. With gloriously high ceilings, rich oak flooring and industrial chic furniture, the spacious rooms have a wonderful warehouse feel — a nod to the origins of the 113-year-old building, which once housed a hub of milliners.

SoHo Grand Hotel set the standard for boutique properties in New York, bringing a refined, contemporary vision of the Gilded Age to the gritty streets of SoHo. Since its opening, it’s remained one of the city’s finest, with a sprinkle of handsome on-site eateries and refined rooms of little luxuries (luxe linens, bathrobes and rainwater showers).

Although the rooms of East Village’s The Bowery Hotel are welcoming and comfy, it’s the property’s public spaces that you’ll want to linger in. A highlight is Gemma, the on-site Italian that even locals love, a homey trattoria with a woodfired oven, open kitchen and hearty classic dishes. You’ve never felt more at home. 

New York’s High Line walking trail is one of the city’s most popular attractions. At The Standard, High Line, the path runs right past your front door. It’ll be a challenge to tear yourself away from this hub of activity, though — there’s a rooftop nightclub, beer garden and lovely little steakhouse behind a temptingly red, street-level door.

It’s hard to fault The Knickerbocker, with its rooftop bar, restaurant led by a chef with Michelin cred and central location practically hanging over Times Square. Even the rooms, which are generously-sized rooms and offer skyline views, are a little taste of luxury, right in the middle of Manhattan.

Ace Hotel New York has its very own brand of cool — and you'll find it throughout the property. It’s not unusual to see the lobby stacked with people (they may be guests or locals, it could be either), checking in, dancing to a DJ or playing mahjong. The rooms are just as happening, with hardwood floors, Smeg fridges and fun touches such as turntables or guitars.

This iconic stay needs no introduction. References to the grand hotel on the edge of Manhattan’s Central Park stretch from F. Scott Fitzgerald to blockbuster films. The reality is it’s just as elegant as it appears in pop culture, with 24-carat gold-plated faucets, crystal chandeliers and the on-site Guerlain Spa. You’ve never known decadence like this.

If your sightseeing hit list is ambitiously long, consider a stay at Hilton New York Midtown Manhattan. MOMA, Times Square, Central Park, Rockefeller Centre and Saks Fifth Avenue are all within 10 minutes walking distance from your front door. (And don't forget to pack sturdy shoes). 

A no-fuss stay in a chic part of town, Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel places you within walking distance of Little Italy, Soho and of course, all the trendy boutiques and restaurants of the reformed industrial neighbourhood of Tribeca. Desperate to see Times Square or Rockefeller Center? You’ll be there in 15 minutes, thanks to a direct subway route.

You won’t need to scale the skyline to get a good glimpse of it at Courtyard New York Midtown West, near Hudson Yards. Some rooms at this outpost of self-dubbed “affordable luxury” look onto the Empire State Building and some over Broadway. At blockout-curtains hour, turn your attention inwards to your room, where you’ll find slippers, a bathrobe and, in most rooms, a generous soaking tub.

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