The Best Hotels in Manhattan

The Office of the New York State Comptroller estimates that the island of Manhattan is home to no fewer than a whopping 500 hotels. More than any other city on the planet, the Big Apple is big on choice when it comes to places to catch your kip during your stay. What this means for the would-be visitor to Manhattan can be interpreted one of two ways: as a wonderful wealth of worthy options or a confusingly complex array that amounts to way too much choice to be conducive to making a quick and easy decision. Here at Travel Enthusiast, however, we’re cup-half-full kinda people and, knowing the struggles that can ensue when choosing a hotel, we took on the task of narrowing down the shortlist to find our readers the best hotels out there with pleasure. We scoured the hotel market with a fine-toothed comb to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff and below introduce you to our findings with our selection of the 25 top hotels in Manhattan for visitors with varying needs, tastes, and budgets.

We reviewed dozens of Manhattan hotels to identify the very best of the best. We based our assessment on a range of factors, including cost, location, convenience, style, amenities, and average customer reviews.

Top Pick
The Iroquois

A classy, historic hotel in midtown Manhattan with easy access to galleries, museums, and other attractions. This hotel also boasts palatial rooms and a super chic French eatery.

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Having considered a large number of hotels, we chose The Iroquois as our top pick. This conveniently located hotel offers everything you need to make your stay in Manhattan truly magical, including an old-school, classy feel, an outstanding French eatery, luxurious and spacious rooms, and easy access to the city’s main attractions.

The 5 Top-Rated Hotels in Manhattan

Editor's PicksBrandRating
Best OverallThe Iroquois New York 4.6
Runner UpThe Assemblage John Street
4.6
Best Budget HotelThe Lex Hotel NYC4.5
Best Luxury HotelThe New York EDITION4.6
Best Boutique HotelThe Redbury New York 4.1

*Ratings are from Google Reviews at the time of publication and can change

Our Top Pick: The Iroquois

After careful consideration, our top pick of Manhattan hotels is The Iroquois. This stylish, classy, centrally located hotel is situated on 44th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue in the bustling heart of midtown Manhattan and offers everything you need to make your stay in ‘the city that never sleeps’ a truly memorable one.

What we love most about the Iroquois is that it combines the class and style of a historic hotel with all the modern amenities required to make your stay as comfortable, cozy, and  practical as possible.

Situated just two blocks from Times Square, Bryant Park and Grand Central, and five blocks from the Rockefeller Center, the Iroquois’ location will appeal greatly to those who want to get to see the city on foot or not keen on taking too many subway rides in order to visit the city’s most notable sights. (Despite its central location, however, you don’t need to worry about any of the midtown noise disturbing your sleep, as all of the rooms feature soundproof windows.) Other nice touches that make this hotel an attractive option are marble baths, high-end linens, free Wi-Fi, minibars, flat-screen TVs, and optional whirlpool baths, additional TVs and living rooms. The hotel is also home to a upscale French eatery in The Lantern, a classy cocktail salon, and a 24-hour fitness center, sauna, and business center.

The Iroquois Key Features:

  • In-room massages and yoga available
  • Convenient Midtown location
  • 24-hour gym and sauna
  • Upscale French Eatery

Our Runner Up Pick: The Assemblage John Street

Runner Up Pick
The Assemblage John Street

A sumptuously chic, elegant residence in Manhattan’s Financial District within easy walking distance of the Brooklyn Bridge and Battery Park.

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In terms of value for money, they don’t come much better than The Assemblage John Street in Manhattan’s Financial District. This chic, elegant residence doesn’t quite fall into the ‘budget’ category of hotels, but offers such classy, spacious rooms and overall livability and convenience that it’s a great choice for all visitors looking for an upscale feel without paying over the odds.

The Assemblage is located in Manhattan’s busy Financial District but once through the entrance doors provides an oasis of calm and comfort, with amenities like a chic bar, yoga studio, relaxation area, movie room, and library all contributing to a just-like-home feel and atmosphere. The rooms are stylishly decorated, quiet, and visitors can opt for upgrades that include a terrace, balcony, kitchen island, and/or spacious living rooms.

The Assemblage isn’t located quite as centrally as other hotels on our list but is just 5 minutes’ walk from Brooklyn Bridge and a few short steps from the John Street subway stop, making it the ideal choice for those happy to sacrifice a little in the way of buzz and bustle in favor of a more relaxing experience.

The Assemblage John Street Key Features:

  • Located in the Financial District
  • 5 mins’ walk from Brooklyn Bridge
  • Bar, yoga studio, movie room, relaxation area
  • Spacious rooms with optional balcony and/or living room

Best Budget Pick: Lex Hotel NYC

Best Budget Hotel
The Lex Hotel NYC

A wonderfully convenient, centrally located hotel offering affordable, comfortable rooms just minutes from Madison Square Park.

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Visitors looking for a centrally located hotel that offers comfortable, stylish rooms at just about the most affordable prices Manhattan has to offer will be hard pressed to find a more attractive option than The Lex Hotel NYC in the NoMad neighborhood.

The Lex is situated relatively close to some of the city’s biggest highlights but far enough away that it retains a more laid-back feel that’s less likely to overwhelm visitors of a more timid, retiring disposition. Madison Square Park is just a five-minute walk away and from the 28th Street subways station (3/4 minutes on foot) you can reach all of the city’s major attractions within 20/25 minutes.

The hotel itself has a very hip feel, with urban-chic rooms, a typically younger crowd, and suites with balconies and/or additional sitting areas. The Lex might not boast some of the top-end amenities found in the other hotels on our list such as a spa, gym, and/or pool, but is pet friendly, super stylish, and about as conveniently located as they come in the sub-$150-per-night price range.

Lex Hotel NYC Key Features:

  • Centrally located
  • Pet friendly
  • Hip, urban-chic rooms

Best Luxury Hotel in Manhattan: The New York Edition

Best Luxury Hotel
The New York Edition

A super-chic and elegant hotel on Madison Square Park that offers every amenity you could possibly wish for and a far more sophisticated vibe than many of its similarly priced competitors.

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For visitors willing to part with an extra few $ to treat themselves to an experience fit for a king/queen, Madison Avenue’s The New York Edition merits its place somewhere very near the top of your shortlist.

This incredibly elegant, sophisticated, five-star hotel is located in an iconic, century-old skyscraper building on Madison Square Park and offers views, from most rooms, over the park itself to the Empire State Building and many other towering luminaries of the Manhattan skyline. In terms of location, they don’t come much better, with Madison Square Park literally on your doorstep and access to all other main attractions no more than 20-25 minutes away from the 23rd Street subway station, which can be reached in little over a minute from the hotel entrance.

The hotel itself is luxury defined, boasting huge, flat-screen TVs, minibars and rainfall showers in every room, suites with entrance foyers, vaulted ceilings and spacious living areas, 24/7 room service, butler service on request, 2 upscale bars, a 24-hour gym, a deluxe spa and event space. Penthouse suites are also available and include kitchens, separate living and dining areas, and, of course, the most breathtaking views of the city.

The New York EDITION Key Features:

  • Luxurious and sophisticated vibe
  • Excellent location
  • Pet friendly
  • 24-hour gym and spa
  • Event space
  • Outstanding views

Best Boutique Hotel in Manhattan: The Redbury New York

Best Boutique Hotel
The Redbury NYC

A one-of-a-kind midtown hotel with a very bohemian vibe, artsy decor, and more in the way of amenities than most other boutique hotels in its price range.

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If quirky, cute, and a central location all feature high on your list of priorities, then upper-midtown’s The Redbury New York is well worth some serious consideration as a prospective Big Apple bolthole.

This boutique hotel takes cool and casual-chic to a whole new level, with bohemian-style decor, uniquely furnished rooms, a hip atmosphere in its Italian restaurant and cocktail lounge, a gramophone in every room (!), and the kind of lively vibe that makes chain hotels feel like libraries by comparison.

The Redbury also scores highly in terms of amenities, offering a parking area, an exercise room, a business center, an on-site bar, airport shuttle service, and child day care. It’s located just north-east of Madison Square Park and is a 5-minute walk from the Empire State Building, 15 minutes from Bryant Park, and 2 minutes from the 28th Street subway station.

The rooms in the Redbury might be a fraction smaller than those in some of the other hotels featured on our list, but what it lacks in roominess it makes up for in atmosphere and style.

The Redbury New York Key Features:

  • Bohemian-style decor
  • Centrally located
  • Fitness room
  • Parking and child care available
  • Pet friendly

Who Should Visit Manhattan

Manhattan is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide and receives in the region of 60 million visitors each year. The reasons for its popularity are numerous, with the most important being more tangible assets in the form of its architecture, almost countless restaurants, art galleries, bars, cafes, and other world-famous landmarks such as the iconic Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Empire State Building, and Brooklyn Bridge. However, the feature that tends to make the greatest impression upon most visitors to Manhattan is its unique atmosphere and vibe.

For the most part, Manhattan is also very accessible, easy to get around, and offers something for visitors of all ages and interests.

If you find yourself traveling across the states, take a look at Modern Mansions: Must-See Homes On Your Next American Travel Excursion for some more location options.

Important Factors to Consider

A few important factors need to be taken into consideration when choosing a hotel. Here are the most important factors related to your stay in Manhattan:

  • Budget. Manhattan isn’t cheap. Far from it. While ‘budget’ hotels, cafes, and restaurants can be found with a little bit of digging, for the most part these will cost significantly more than equivalents elsewhere in the country. When planning your trip, be sure to factor in the added expense of subway rides, taxis, entrance fees to shows, museums, and galleries, and the cost of eating out or simple coffee breaks, all of which can add up in a hurry. With regard to your accommodation, value for money isn’t always as easily come by as elsewhere, with a $150-a-night hotel in Manhattan in most cases offering a great deal less in the way of space, comfort, luxury, and amenities than you might expect to find almost anywhere else in the US. To avoid disappointment, we’d highly recommend a little expectation management and thorough research of what your hotel has to offer prior to booking.
  • Location. As the realtors so often remind us, location is everything, and the same holds true when choosing your hotel in the Big Apple. Thankfully, Manhattan is a relatively small island served by a very efficient subway service that means getting around is far simpler than in many other cities, but for those keen on having the best views or who just want to stroll out of their hotel into the heart of the action, then it’s worth spending a little time getting to know the city’s various neighborhoods before booking. While most of Manhattan is lively around the clock, certain areas—the Upper East and West Side, Greenwich Village, and the Flatiron District, for example—have a more laid-back, residential vibe than areas around Times Square, the Financial District, or on and around the major thoroughfares of 5th, 6th, 7th Avenues, and Broadway. For that more laid-back feel, however, there’s often a price to pay in terms of the views on offer and easy accessibility to the main attractions.
  • Hotel type. Budget, boutique, family, or luxury? Which type of hotel will be best for your needs will most probably come down to the size of your group, your reasons for visiting (business or pleasure) and a few personal preferences as regards value for money, location, and amenities. For solo travelers or couples visiting the city for fun, however, the options are numerous and should you decide you’d like to spoil yourself with something a little bit quirky, unique, and/or downright luxurious, then you will have numerous options at your disposal, from one-of-a-kind boutique-style and fit-for-a-king affairs to pet-friendly historic hotels like The Marlton or family-oriented chain hotels like the Holiday Inn.
  • Amenities. The amenities offered by any hotel can be a deal-maker or deal-breaker for most prospective visitors. In most cases, more expensive hotels offer more in the way of amenities, but even pricey Manhattan hotels, largely owing to spatial restrictions, often lack some of the amenities (such as a swimming pool) that you might expect to find in high-end residences elsewhere. When booking your hotel, it’s a good idea to list a few amenities that are non-negotiable (pet friendly, spa, and/or gym, for example) and work through the options using a process of elimination until you have created a shortlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hotels do celebrities stay at in NYC?

As you might imagine, the Big Apple draws its fair share of illustrious visitors, from foreign heads of state and political bigwigs to the biggest players in the music and film industries and sports stars. While all of these luminaries in their respective fields don’t tend to congregate in only one location, some of the hotels where the chances of a celebrity sighting are higher than elsewhere include (with notable past residents) Gramercy Park Hotel (Humphrey Bogart, Babe Ruth, Janet Jackson), Soho Grand Hotel (Kirsten Dunst, George Clooney), The Bowery Hotel (Keifer Sutherland, Blake Lively), The Mercer Hotel (Leonardo DiCaprio, Russel Crowe) Smyth Hotel (Jessica Alsa, Reese Witherspoon), and the Hotel on Rivington (Jay-Z, Demi Moore, Edward Norton).

How many hotels are in Manhattan?

While the figure changes on a nearly monthly basis, at the time of writing there are in the region of 500 hotels in Manhattan alone.

Where should I stay when visiting NYC?

This depends on a number of factors, most notably your budget, desired accessibility to landmarks, and the kind of vibe you’re looking for. For a more glitzy stopover in the Big Apple, a number of high-end hotels in the Financial District and around the Central Park and 5th Avenue area provide a very central location and almost regal ambience that might be a little too ‘stiff’ (not to mention pricey) for many visitors. For something a little more laid-back and affordable, a number of appealing options are available throughout the city, though these often lack the amenities, luxury, and glamour of more upscale residences. Those looking for a more boutique and quirky kinda setting can take their pick from dozens of very cool, trendy, and unique hotels such as The Walker Hotel or Nomad  Hotel and be sure to enjoy a one-of-a-kind, more personalized experience during their stay.

Although relatively small in geographical terms, different neighborhoods in Manhattan offer very different vibes, with the midtown area near Times Square and between 5th and 7th Avenue boasting a lively and bustling atmosphere, Greenwich Village and SoHo a more chilled, hip vibe; 5th Avenue glamour galore, the Financial District more refined elegance, and the area around Central Park a busy environment with more regal, historic residences.

What is the oldest hotel in New York City?

The oldest hotel in the Five Burroughs is the Cosmopolitan Hotel, which was built in 1845 and is situated on the corner of Chambers and West Broadway in Tribeca. This hotel lacks the glitzy razzle-dazzle and charm of many other historical hotels in NYC but offers an affordable, clean, and conveniently located stopover for visitors who want a taste of authentic NYC history without breaking the bank.

Other Hotels in Manhattan We Reviewed

Top Pick
The Iroquois

A classy, historic hotel in midtown Manhattan with easy access to galleries, museums, and other attractions. This hotel also boasts palatial rooms and a super chic French eatery.

Check Price

We looked at 20 other hotels in Manhattan. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best hotels in Manhattan list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your trip. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.

Budget Hotels in Manhattan

Freehand Hotel

Freehand Hotel NYC

This very stylish, hip hotel on Lexington Avenue offers clean, cozy, spacious rooms and a lively vibe, all within a stone’s throw of Madison Square Park.

Key Features:

  • Located in the Flatiron District
  • Arty vibe
  • Amenities include an on-site restaurant, a trendy North African eatery, a vintage-chic cocktail bar, 24-hour gym, games room, and resident artist program

Cost: $139

Frederick Hotel NYC

Frederick Hotel NYC

Built in 1838, The Frederick is one of Manhattan’s longest-running hotels and offers a wealth of modern amenities in combination with old-school aesthetics and panache.

Key Features:

  • Located in Tribeca, bordering SoHo and FiDi in Lower Manhattan
  • Free walking tours
  • Italian eatery
  • 24-hour fitness room

Cost: $107

Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Avenue

Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Avenue

Offering simple, frill-free but comfortable rooms, this hotel is a great choice for families, solo travelers, and couples looking for a centrally located bolthole without paying through the nose.

Key Features:

  • Located in the Chelsea District within short walking distance of Grand Central Station and the Empire State Building
  • 24-hour gym
  • On-site Italian restaurant (kids 12 and under eat free)

Cost: $111

Park Central Hotel NYC

Park Central Hotel NYC

Central by name and central by nature, this sleek, trendy hotel offers spacious rooms and a raft of amenities all within easy walking distance of Central Park.

Key Features:

  • 3 mins’ walk from Central Park
  • City views on upper floors
  • Hip lounge with mixology classes and regular live music
  • 24-hour gym

Cost: $114

The Manhattan at Times Square

The Manhattan at Times Square

In terms of location, they don’t get much better than this for visitors keen to be at the center of New York City’s bustling, vibrant atmosphere.

Key Features:

  • Located just 1 minute on foot from Radio City Music Hall, 3 minutes from Times Square and 5 minutes from Central Park
  • Amenities include a business center and a 24-hour gym
  • Cozy and functional rooms

Cost: $122

YOTEL New York

YOTEL New York

This trendy capsule hotel within easy walking distance of the Port Authority and Times Square offers minimalist, sleek rooms at budget-friendly prices and is hard to beat for those seeking simple, fuss-free accommodation low on frills but high on convenience and practicality.

Features:

  • Located just 3 blocks from Times Square
  • Amenities include automated luggage storage, a gym, a lounge with private cabins, and a rooftop terrace that functions as a restaurant and nightclub
  • Family rooms available

Cost: $122

Row NYC

Row NYC

Situated just a 4-minute walk from Times Square and 12 minutes from the Rockefeller Center, this casual-chic, amenity-rich little hotel places you at the center of the action and is a great choice for families and solo travelers alike.

Key Features:

  • Located on 8th Avenue within easy walking distance of Broadway and Times Square
  • Child care available
  • On-site food court, cafe, gym, fitness studio, ice cream shop, salon, and convenience store

Cost: $125

Luxury Hotels in Manhattan

1 Hotel Central Park

1 Hotel Central Park

This centrally located hotel offers oodles of luxury, a classy vibe, a full complement of upscale amenities, and rustic-chic rooms within a 2-minute walk of Central Park.

Key Features:

  • Located just 2 minutes on foot from Central Park and 6 minutes from MOMA
  • Rustic-chic rooms and suites
  • Amenities include in-room spa treatment, farm-to-table restaurant, a bar, and a fitness room

Cost: $309

JW Marriott Essex House New York

JW Marriott Essex House New York

This iconic, art deco hotel on Central Park South offers elegant, luxurious rooms, casual dining, a bar, spa, and outstanding views over Central Park.

Key Features:

  • Art deco building
  • Located on the southern periphery of Central Park
  • Upgraded suites come with fireplaces and/or balconies
  • On-site restaurant, spa, and gym
  • Pet friendly

Cost: $365

Loews Regency New York

Loews Regency New York

If super swanky and sumptuous sophistication are your thing, this uber-chic, classy, 5-star hotel on Park Avenue is sure not to disappoint.

Key Features:

  • Located a 5-minute walk from Central Park
  • Chic, classically furnished rooms
  • Amenities include a contemporary restaurant, a plush, swanky bar and a lounge, salon, spa, fitness center and business center
  • Pet friendly

Cost: $346

The Peninsula New York

The Peninsula New York

One of the most glamorous hotels in all of the US, if not the world, the Peninsula offers nigh-on peerless luxury for those who can stomach price.

Key Features:

  • Located in the heart of 5th Avenue
  • Landmark hotel built in 1906
  • Elegant rooms with marble bathrooms
  • Amenities include a polished fine-dining restaurant, chic rooftop bar with a terrace and city views, a fitness center, and spa with an indoor swimming pool

Cost: $651

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York

Set on the edge of Central Park, this exquisitely decorated, opulent landmark hotel offers a regal feel, consummate luxury, and easy access to the city’s main attractions.

Key Features:

  • Situated directly across the street from Central Park
  • Amenities include a fine-dining American restaurant with contemporary artwork, two lounges, live jazz, a business center and a fitness center
  • Pet friendly

Cost: $346

The Langham, New York

The Langham, New York

Set in the heart of the busy, upmarket shopper’s paradise that is 5th avenue, the Langham offers an oasis of sophisticated calm and contemporary elegance along with outstanding amenities.

Key Features:

  • Located on 5th Avenue, 5 minutes on foot from Bryant Park and the Empire State Building
  • French-Italian fine-dining eatery
  • Pet friendly
  • Amenities include a contemporary bar serving casual food and drink, a chic Mediterranean restaurant, luxury spa, a 24-hour fitness center, hair salon, and 7,500 square feet of event space

Cost: $380

The Dominick

The Dominick

This posh, high-rise hotel in Manhattan’s SoHo District offers outstanding views of the city and/or Hudson River and the perfect blend of upscale refinement and homely comfort and convenience.

Key Features:

  • Located in SoHo, 12 minutes on foot from Washington Square Park
  • Rooms with city and Hudson River views through floor-to-ceiling windows
  • Amenities include a chic, contemporary American restaurant, and a hip lounge/bar with a mid-century theme, a fitness center, spa with a hammam, a seasonal outdoor pool with a bar, a ballroom, meeting space and valet parking

Cost: $335

Boutique Hotels in Manhattan

The NoMad Hotel

The NoMad Hotel

A Parisian-inspired, incredibly chic boutique hotel in a beaux arts building with every amenity you could ask for. Located within easy walking distance of Manhattan’s main tourist attractions.

Key Features:

  • Located on Broadway in the NoMad District, a 2-minute walk from Madison Square Park
  • Parisian-inspired decor
  • Amenities include a nightly turn down service, a 24-hour gym, a library, rooftop event space, lounge and bar, and a restaurant
  • Pet friendly

Cost: $293

Walker Hotel, Greenwich Village

Walker Hotel, Greenwich Village

This superbly elegant, chic boutique hotel offers cute and cozy art-deco rooms and fine dining in one of New York City’s trendiest neighborhoods.

Key Features:

  • Located in trendy Greenwich Village, a 10-minute walk from Washington Square Park
  • Art deco-style rooms with vintage furnishings
  • Amenities include a retro-chic bar, a restaurant with plush booths, a guest lounge, and a 24-hour fitness center

Cost: $205

The Greenwich Hotel

The Greenwich Hotel

Tribeca’s Greenwich Hotel may be pricey, but this Robert De Niro-owned boutique residence offers a truly opulent experience with a hip, eclectic vibe.

Key Features:

  • Located in Tribeca, close to De Niro’s popular Tribeca Grill Restaurant
  • Heated pool
  • Italian restaurant, spa, and gym

Cost: $650

The Marlton Hotel

The Marlton Hotel

This superbly cozy, rustic-chic hotel nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village welcomes you with a roaring fireplace, small but perfectly formed rooms, and a laid-back but vibrant atmosphere.

Key Features:

  • Located in Greenwich Village, a 5-minute walk from Washington Square Park
  • Pet friendly
  • 1900 building
  • Amenities include a lounge, Mediterranean restaurant, cocktail bar, and a cafe

Cost: $195

citizenM New York Times Square Hotel

citizenM New York Times Square Hotel

This boutique hotel in the theater district of midtown Manhattan offers affordable, comfortable, and wonderfully stylish accommodation with a touch of glitz and is within easy walking distance of Times Square, MOMA, and Central Park.

Key Features:

  • Located on the corner of Broadway and 50th Street
  • Amenities include a trendy lobby, a library, a 24-hour coffee shop, a rooftop bar, and a 20th-floor gym with city views
  • Small but cozy rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows

Cost: $174

The Whitby Hotel

The Whitby Hotel

Located in upper midtown Manhattan and just 5 minutes on foot from Central Park, this incredibly quaint hotel offers easy access to all the main sights and rooms individually designed by Kit Kemp with outstanding views of the Manhattan skyline.

Key Features:

  • Within 5 minutes’ walking distance of MOMA and Central Park
  • Interiors individually designed by Kit Kemp
  • City views
  • Amenities include a bar and restaurant, a book-lined drawing room, fully equipped gym, a terrace, and movie theater

Cost: $595