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Deciding where to stay in New York City can be challenging. Let’s take a look at the best hotels to stay at in New York City before exploring some of the best neighborhoods and places to stay in New York City!

1. The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City
A top-to-bottom refit of the Lambs Club, the historic thespian hangout in the heart of Midtown’s Theater District, by designer Thierry Despont has turned this actors’ den into a sleek 76-room hotel with Art Deco lines and ocean liner–inspired fittings that hark back to a bygone era of travel. (The wonderfully accommodating service throughout—is there anything the house butler can’t do?—is another throwback we love.) A small but richly furnished lobby gives way to the Lambs Club restaurant, an 80-seater from chef Michael White where the focal point would be the original stone fireplace if it weren’t for the storylines unfolding at the other tables. Rooms are fitted with gorgeous steamer trunk–like wardrobes and desk-vanity combos in chocolate leather, while bathrooms come with wall-to-wall mirrors and rain showers stocked with custom Asprey amenities. Guests can find a break at the cozy Lambs Club Bar, hidden away above the lobby, and at the underground spa, with a clever “endless” lap pool and small gym—probably the only place on the property where you can let them see you sweat.

2. The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel
When a hotel opens in New York, it’s not uncommon for locals to barely bat an eye. This is, after all, a city crawling with them—big, small, modern, classic. It takes an exceptional property to capture the collective consciousness, which is exactly what happened in 2016, when The Beekman opened. The landmark was built in the 1880s with a nine-story, glass-ceiling atrium, but throughout the past century, the atrium had been covered up as the building functioned as just another office. Now the glass skylight soars once again above the lobby’s Art Deco bar where New Yorkers flock to—come 6 p.m. it’s nearly impossible to find a free bar stool. The rooms all have vintage furnishings, with dark wood floors and distressed leather headboards: comfortable but not so much so that you don’t want to leave and miss out on everything happening around you. So many hotels like to say they’ve made the neighborhood, but in the case of the Beekman it’s actually true.

3. Ink 48 Hotel
Located in Hell's Kitchen, this 222-room hotel sits pretty, in a repurposed printing house from the 1930s—and it makes sure to pay homage to its literary past. There's the hotel name itself, of course, but also a 16th-floor rooftop bar called the Press Lounge and an in-house restaurant called Print. If you can pry yourself away from the cocktails and food long enough to spend some quality time in your room, you'll be treated to bright decor, extremely comfortable beds, and flat-screen TVs—although the view of Manhattan's skyline from your window is really the only show you'll need at night.

4. Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Set in Lower Manhattan, down the block from the landmark Woolworth Building, this 82-story tower features interiors by noted design firm Yabu Pushelberg, which has infused it with a comfortable, contemporary feel. The building also houses 157 private apartments, and that hushed residential atmosphere can be felt across the hotel's 24 floors. Just off the lobby, CUT by Wolfgang Puck is the first Manhattan restaurant by the renowned California-based chef and restaurateur, and the spa is one of the best in the city, scoring points for its lovely facilities and the breadth of its offerings. The main wellness floor houses a 75-foot heated lap pool, a well-stocked fitness center with Peloton bikes, a steam room and infrared sauna, and a sundeck.

5. Mandarin Oriental, New York
A cornerstone of the city’s five-star hotel scene, Mandarin Oriental’s New York City outpost is known for elite service, a fantastic spa, and impressive vistas—the 75-foot lap pool overlooks the Hudson, the high-end MO Lounge boasts the Manhattan skyline as its backdrop, and the best rooms have bird’s eye views of Central Park. The rooms feel equal parts timeless in their definition of luxury—think heaping, decadent curtains for privacy, heavy black stained wooden desks, rich hues—and contemporary, with modern artworks hung on the walls, shimmering structural light fixtures, and reflective metal details accenting every room. And the Mandarin Oriental’s spa is a destination in its own right, with luxe treatments like detox wraps, aroma stone massages, and hydrating facials.