Where to Stay in New York City: Top Areas and Hotels
Choosing where to stay in New York isn’t easy. With so much choice of cool and central neighbourhoods and some of the world’s most iconic hotels, keep reading to find out the best place to stay in New York City.
Deciding where to stay in New York can be overwhelming. Let’s be honest, in one of the largest and most iconic cities in the world there is no shortage of choice of buzzing neighbourhoods or swoon-worthy hotels to kick back in.
From luxury resort properties to neighbourhood boutique stays, we’re here to help you navigate the city and decide on where to stay in New York. We all know that where you choose to stay can make or break a trip and we’re here to make sure you have the perfect stay in New York City.
For the slow and wellness focused traveller, New York can also be a difficult city to navigate. It’s fast-paced, always changing and always on the go but when digging a little deeper, you’ll find a fantastic range of proprieties to suit your needs. From urban spas to sleep quality orientated hotels, we’re here to help you find that perfect stay in New York City.
Keep reading to find out the best areas to stay in New York City, for both first-timers and seasoned New York visitors as well as the best hotels to choose from for all budgets.
*This ‘where to stay in New York’ post contains affiliate links meaning I might make a small profit if you choose to book at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with top-quality content for free.
Read more: The Best Wellness Retreats in New York
Top Tips for Choosing Where to Stay in New York City
Before we dive into the best areas and hotels in New York City, here are some of our top tips and the best things to know before booking accommodation in New York.
Taxes and Resort Fees – If it’s your first time in the US then you need to know that all prices you see advertised, whether online or in store are BEFORE tax. Hotels included. When budgeting your stay for New York you’ll need to take into consideration the added city tax.
In addition to this, most New York City hotels, especially those on the more luxury side also add a resort fee to each night of your stay. All these extra charges mean that accommodation in New York City is some of the most expensive in the world.
Book Accommodation Early – Especially if you’re visiting during some of the busiest times of year e.g. Christmas it really helps to book early, also to be able to get better rates.
Identify where you want to be – You probably already have an idea of how big New York is. It can take quite a long time getting from one neighbourhood to another, especially from parts of Manhattan to Brooklyn or Williamsburg so it’s a good idea to stay walking distance to the things you want to see.
Before deciding on an area to stay or booking in hotel, I’d encourage you to use Google Maps and pin all the places you plan to visit and then choose a hotel in that area, close to it or with good transportation links to it.
If you’re on a serious budget time your visit for the low season. New York city is expensive and accommodation is too. If you want to experience good hotels even on a budget, the best time to visit is during the low season. November or February are great low season months to visit. Visiting during the low season will mean you’ll get much more for your money.
Where to Stay in New York City: The Best Areas and Top Hotels in Each
Want my quick answers for the best places to stay in New York? Here are my favourite areas and hotels for each and where I would personally stay going back to the city.
The Best Hotel Overall – Ace Hotel – Can’t go wrong with this design-forward yet functional chain.
Best Budget Hotel– Pod 51– One of the cheapest hotels I’ve managed to find yet still a modern, good choice.
Top Luxury Hotel – The Beekman – Unique design, history and all the luxury rolled into one.
Best Wellness-Focused Hotel– Aman New York – It’s doesn’t get better than this.
Best Urban Spa Hotel– Bamford Wellness Spa at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge – Pamper yourself in style and comfort. The ultimate wellness escape in Brooklyn.
Best Hotel for Families– Freehand New York – A stunning new hotel/hostel hybrid that’s very family-friendly.
Top Boutique Hotel– Hotel Hugo – great design and amazing rooftop bars.
Best Apartment Rental– City Moves Apartment– Beautiful design-focused apartment in Greenwich Village for two.
While this post mainly focuses on hotels, do you prefer to rent an apartment in NYC? If so make sure to check out the exclusive list of listings on The Plum Guide. They only work with the best apartment rentals in New York so your stay is nothing short of perfect. Click here for more.
Let’s now focus on each area and neighborhood in New York that would make a perfect base for exploring the city. Any of the following areas and hotels would make a great place to stay in New York depending on your interests and itinerary.
The five main boroughs of New York City are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island. Most visitors stay in Manhattan simply due to the easy access and good transport links on the island to all the major New York City attractions. Having said that Brooklyn is also a strong contender for a great stay.
I’d personally choose to stay in Manhattan, especially if you’re visiting NYC for the first time. It just means less time trying to work out subway lines and how to get around.
Each neighborhood and district in New York has its own unique style, vibe, and personality that range from business to trendy and hipster. Depending on your own travel style and your interests you’ll be able to choose the best one to suit your needs.
Want to book a hotel or rental quickly? Check out all the options below:
Here are the top areas in Manhattan and Brooklyn to help you decide where to stay in New York.
Upper East Side
The place where upscale New Yorkers reside and go to meet, dine and shop, the Upper East Side spans from 59th Street to 96th Street and is sandwiched between the East River and central Park.
The area is known for its fine dining restaurants, beautiful residences and trendy boutiques which can be found up and down the neighbourhood. This area has also been made famous by a few different movies and series, Gossip Girl and Sex and the City are just a couple of them.
The Upper East Side doesn’t have too many mayor attractions but it is where you’ll find Museum Mile which runs by Central Park. Here you’ll find some of New York’s most important museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Midtown, where most of New York’s attraction are based, is just a short subway ride away.
This makes the Upper East Side a convenient, safe and comfortable area to stay when in New York City. These are some of our favourite hotels you’ll find there.
The Best Hotels on the Upper East Side:
The Carlyle – A Rosewood Hotel Upper East Side institution, The Carlyle is the property that comes to mind when thinking about where to stay in New York in the Upper East Side. This grand building, spread across 35 floors (don’t worry it has elevators and they are stunning) has everything you need and more from a luxury hotel. Rooms vary quite a bit, some are very 1920s, others very floral and others more modernistic so choose the one that best suits your taste. Book your stay here.
Lowell Hotel– For New York grandeur as it should be don’t miss the magnificent Lowell Hotel. Renovated and reopened in 2017, the hotel now boasts a stunning neoclassical foyer, and elegant suites with hardwood floors and Persian rugs. It’s one of the most luxurious and historical properties on the Upper East Side- definitely a stay you’ll remember for years to come. Check availability and book here.
Courtyard Upper East Side– No thrills yet still comfortable Marriott option for those with a lower budget wanting to stay on the Upper East Side. Check rates and book here.
Upper West Side
For those wanting to be close to Central Park and Midtown, staying on the Upper West Side is another great option in New York City. The Upper West Side is one of Manhattan’s most culturally rich areas and it’s full of beautiful homes than line Central Park, diverse businesses and many great cosmopolitan restaurants.
Staying on the lower end of the Upper West Side will also mean that you’re close to Midtown and most of Manhattan’s main sights yet you’ve still got access to New York’s green lung- Central Park.
Some of the best hotel options on the Upper West Side are:
Mandarin Oriental – First class views, facilities and service, the Mandarin Oriental provides the ultimate luxurious stay on the Upper West Side. Located in Columbus Circle, this luxury hotel has one of the best hotel spas in Manhattan, large, comfortable suites and the views are just breathtaking. Check availability and book here.
Hotel Beacon– One of the best mid-range hotels in the area, hotel Beacon provides a really great base in Manhattan. Rooms and suites here are spacious and comfortable and most rooms come with a kitchenette- perfect for making light meals or coffee after a long day of exploring. There’s also a fitness center and onsite bar. Central Park is just a few blocks away. Check availability and book here.
Read more: Our Epic New York Itinerary for 4 Days in the Big Apple
Midtown
When most think of New York and the flashing neon lights, the energy, the billboards and skyward buildings its Midtown that comes to mind. Midtown is the most central place to stay in New York City with so many attractions on your doorstep like Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Empire State Building, Times Square and more. For first timers and those heading to New York for a short time staying in Midtown is beyond tempting.
While the energy and transportation links in Midtown are unrivalled, this is also one of the most touristy, commercialised, and loud places in New York. This isn’t the place to stay for experiencing the local’s NYC, great dining or even a bit of peace.
If it’s your first time in New York City, midtown might just be the best option. If you’ve already seen the main attractions I highly recommend staying elsewhere to get to know the real NYC a little better- the one outside the tourist bubble.
The Best Hotels in Midtown:
Aman New York – One of the newest wellness-focused hotels in New York City and Aman’s first urban location. Located in busy and bustling midtown, Aman is all but that on the inside. Inside you’ll find a truly luxurious and ample space that gives you the opportunity to really retreat, even in the center of Manhattan.
There’s a lot to talk about but the highlight here are Aman’s two spa houses- one modelled on a European banya and the other the Moroccan hammam where you can spend your evenings indulging in the best treatments in the city. Don’t forget to also dine at Arva- Aman’s signature Italian restaurant. At over $3,000 per night, this is also New York’s most expensive hotel option, but it might just be worth it! Check rates and availability here.
Conrad New York Midtown – If you’re not up for forking out that much on the Aman, the Conrad is another great Midtown alternative. Here you are just blocks away from the best NYC sights and attractions. Contemporary design, bright and airy rooms and a real homely feel make this new addition to Midtown a great place to stay. Check it out here.
The Jewel Hotel– For those putting comfort and price first on their trip to New York, do not overlook The Jewel. This full functional hotel offers large (for NYC) rooms with desks and everything you might need from a stay in NYC. They also have room service and a fitness center, all for really good rates especially in the low seasons. Book your stay here.
Pod 51 – The perfect midtown option for budget travellers, Pod 51 is one of the best non-hostel options for those on a budget. Rooms here are small but clean and comfortable and the location makes a brilliant base for exploring all the best of New York City’s attractions. They also have an outdoor terrace with stunning views of the concrete jungle. Check availability and book here.
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Flatiron & NoMad
The Flatiron and NoMad neighbourhoods are probably the best places to stay in New York City. It’s here you’ll get the best of everything NYC has to offer. NoMad and Flatiron essentially sit just below Midtown yet they don’t have the same commerical/touristy air to them. You still are, however very close to the best attractions of Midtown.
When it comes to dining this area is also worth looking into. The area has some great bars and restaurants to choose from but you’re also really close to Greenwich Village and Chelsea which have some of the best dining options in Manhattan.
The area also has plenty of great shopping, green spaces and access to spas/gyms/wellness facilities. From Flatiron and NoMad you can also get uptown or downtown in a flash but it is a little far to Brooklyn.
The Best Hotels in Flatiron and NoMad:
The Ace Hotel – The Ace Hotel is one of the best hotels you can book, not only in NoMad but in the whole of New York City. Not only is it decor and comfort focused, it’s also one of the most budget ‘nice’ hotels in the city. Given that it’s also located in NoMad, the best area to stay in the city, the Ace Hotel is a no-brainer.
The hotel and its rooms have a lovely vintage feel and the lobby is the place to grab a coffee or work. Check rates and availability here.
The MADE Hotel – One of the best boutique hotels in Manhattan if not New York, the MADE beautifully combines Japanese design concepts with jungle vibes. Located in trendy NoMad not far from the lower parts of midtown, the hotel features two bars, the rooftop one has views of the Empire State Building.
Rooms see lots of elements of minimal Japanese design with lots of repurposed wood and earthy tones. Make sure to grab a coffee from their lobby coffee shop too before leaving to explore each morning. Book your stay here