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Best New York hotels that you need to visit right now

Whether you’re going on a short trip or staying the duration, these are the New York hotels you need to get acquainted with

Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s

If you're after a hotel that has more than just good views and a New York City lifestyle, then head to Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s in Tribeca. Part of the Groupe Barrière, it is the firm's début property in the United States. The fourth-generation, family-run group was founded in 1912 and operates various luxury properties worldwide, including Le Carl Gustaf in St. Barth's, Le Majestic in Cannes, Fouquet's Paris on the Champs-Elysées, and the Palace Les Neiges in Courchevel. Fouquet's New York features 97 residential-style rooms and suites designed by world-renowned Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, and each one is like a little slice of Paris in the heart of the Big Apple.

What's more, Hotel Barrière houses the historic French brasserie Fouquet’s (here you'll find lobster fricassée and the famous Fouquet's Cheeseburger crafted under the guidance of Michelin-starred Chef Pierre Gagnaire) and amenities ranging from a Spa Diane Barrière with a pool and a fitness centre by luxury training gym Dogpound. Up top there's a sprawling open-air rooftop, inspired by the French gardens of Vaux-Le-Vicomte and Versailles, which lends views across the Hudson, towards the World Trade Centre and as far-reaching as Midtown.

Rooms from £900. hotelsbarriere.com

The Mark Hotel

The upper echelon of New York City hotels, The Mark sits on the upper West Side, a stone's throw away from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (and Vera Wang, The Row etc). Originally constructed in 1927 in the Renaissance Revival style, it is a momentous building with oodles of Old World The rooms are spacious, whether you're in a suite or regular room (although there's nothing regular about them!), the service is excellent and there's a reason why the rich and famous stay there. No, seriously – The Mark is the unofficial official outpost of every major celebrity ahead of the Met Gala, New York City's biggest night out.

Food-wise there's The Mark Restaurant, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, which brings the best of both American and French cuisine. While around the corner, and affiliated with the hotel, is Caviar Kaspia, where you'll find the finest seafood in, well, the whole of America. No lie!

What's more, there's a swanky Frédéric Fekkai Salon, where you can get anything you may desire from haircuts to pedicures.

themarkhotel.com

Moxy Lower East Side

If you are after a stay in New York that is both fun and unique then look no further that the MOXY LES . From the moment you step into the hotel, quirky artwork can be seen in every direction. Chandeliers with burlesque figurines hang from the ceiling while bespoke wallpaper caresses the walls and off beat artwork fills the foyer with a kooky-ness that can't be ignored.

All 303 Bedrooms are expertly designed so the New York city skylines fill the rooms and walk-in showers come as standard (of course). The queen size bed is finished with statement headboards that make it perfect for relaxing after a busy day exploring and we can’t not mention the porcelain sink that adds a timeless charm to complete the room with style.

What makes The MOXY LES stand out is what it has on offer for its guests, all under one roof. Hungry? Head down to Sake No Hana for expertly made, modern Japanese food. Fancy a cheeky drink? The Highlight room on the 16th floor boasts some of the best views of New York, complete with indoor and outdoor seating. Want to unwind? Silver Lining is the dream like piano room complete with velvet chairs and dim lighting. Or have a work meeting? The foyer has working sections with foldable walls and curtains making them multi functional and modular. Whatever you want the MOXY LES has you covered.

Rooms from £300. moxy-hotels.marriott.com

Nine Orchard

Its not often you come across hotels like Nine Orchard . Built in the shell of the iconic Jarmulowsky bank, this century old building has been redesigned all whilst keeping its original charm intact. Working from blueprint drawings dating back to 1912 the lobby features a grand arched window, an ornamental ceiling and Tennessee marble floors; even the clocks have been replicated to pay homage to the original designs.

The hotel itself is 12 floors of pure luxury. Textured fabrics, soft furnishings and vintage inspired interiors fill the rooms with charm, completed with locally commissioned art on display. Large windows flood the rooms with light and display breathtaking views across the New York city skyline, complimented by custom made Ojas speakers and amplifiers programmed with four New York-inspired stations (curated by Devon Turnbull and DJ Stretch Armstrong).

It's rare a hotel can perfectly balance a timeless aesthetic with a modern vibe and it be executed so well, Nine Orchard are one of the fair few.

Rooms from £450. nineorchard.com

MOXY Williamsburg

The 11 storey, 216 room MOXY Williamsburg has been designed to feel and look like part of the neighbourhood. The building is clean, with an industrial-inspired vibe that harks back to the neighbourhood’s warehouse lofts; this aesthetic continues when walking into the lobby with the 20-foot exposed ceilings and plants that greet you.

If you continue to explore the lobby you will uncover an impressive bar and three meeting studios and breakaway spaces designed to be used for private events and co-working. The modular sofas and foldable tables mean it can be designed to fit all sorts of meets and cater to everyone's needs.

The bedrooms are where the hotel really sings, rooms range from 165–210 square feet and include Kings, Executive Kings, Double Queens, and Quad Bunks. The rooms are understated and functional, all completed with a large walk in shower. Organic materials add texture while large windows allow the room to flood with light and views across Manhattan. Wall-mounted pegs, foldable desks and underbed storage mean every corner is made to be functional and maximise the space in the room.

We can't finish this review without discussing the hotel entrance artwork. An entire floor to ceiling new york city skyline entirely made of multicoloured crayons by Rare Culture is behind the steel reception desks making check-in (and even check-out) a pure delight.

Ace Brooklyn

In any definitive history of the hipster , Brooklyn surely looms large. And in the hipster’s little black book of travel tips, the Ace Hotel group is not just first alphabetically. Therefore one might have expected New York City’s “Borough of Churches” to have made the brand’s property list much earlier than July 2021. In fact, and to further illustrate our point, it had previously posted up in the now sadly shuttered Ace Shoreditch . Nevertheless, the wait was worth it and the newest Ace, in downtown Brooklyn, maturely strides the line between achingly hip and just plain cool.

The nods to locality begin before you even enter, with “The Stoop”, a streetside gathering spot that sets the tone with a Stan Bitters mural and the hotel’s first key calling card, a sculptural dodecahedral light installation that leads you in as you emerge from the nearby subway station.

Past the entrance into the lobby, a very clever trick has been played with the concrete and plywood interior decor. Far from cold and hard, this is a warm, inviting den that opens up in several directions once you’ve checked in. To the right, you’ll find the lobby bar in a state of perma-buzz, whether getting in at midnight after taking the borough’s taproom tour or rousing with the brunch crowd for broken brown rice porridge, griddled banana bread foster or the excellent pastries from chef Danny Alvarez at onsite bakery/restaurant/bar As You Are. Left of the front desk is a reading-room co-working space and attractive courtyard garden.

As on the ground floor, so up above, in the 287 rooms that occupy the 13-storey raw-concrete construction, which Ace stalwart designers Roman and Williams have dressed with custom fittings and furniture, featuring more patinated concrete and exposed woodgrain. Curated art is also a common feature, as are views through the floor-to-ceiling windows, in rooms with the right aspect, across to Manhattan, Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Final note: that record player in the photo? There’s one in most rooms. Like we said, hip. Aaron Callow

Rooms from £225 per night. acehotel.com/brooklyn

Equinox Hotels Hudson Yards

When it comes to brand commitment, Equinox’s hotel debut couldn’t be more on the money. The high-profile, high-octane gym group’s first foray away from pure workout territory has, as yet, done nothing but cement its reputation. Since opening at the Hudson Yards development in New York last summer, the property is doing a stellar job or luring gym members and well-heeled hotel guests alike to the far west of Manhattan, an area not traditionally known for luxury.

Apart from the sleek, simple design, the sweet potato breakfast bowls and access to the property’s exceptional 60,000 square foot gym, there is another benefit to booking a room on the perimeter edge of a city as bustling and built up as New York – the views. With vistas out over the Hudson River over to New Jersey, not being surrounded entirely by skyscrapers gives Equinox more than its fair share of New York’s natural light and a real sense of space – apt for a hotel so focused on wellness and recovery.

All that light is optional, though, as each of the 212 rooms is billed as a "dark, quiet, cool" space – fully soundproofed and fitted with blackout blinds to promote optimal sleep. The wellness theme continues throughout the property into the recovery spa and on-site SoulCycle studio. Then there is the Electric Lemon restaurant – a true gem. The food here tastes so good it is mercifully easy to forget that most of the dishes have been carefully balanced to ensure guests are eating well without having the "plant-forward" concept shoved down their metaphorical throats. And while the in-room vitamin drips might not be for everyone, Equinox offers plenty of other pedestrian-yet-impressive homages to feel good. From the yoga studio to the rooftop pool where guests can swim alongside the copper-hued lattice of Thomas Heatherwick’s Vessel installation, there is much to be applauded.

The gym itself is excellent and the facilities second to none but hotel guests would do well to be aware that there is an occasional brusqueness to the service in this part of the property given it is not for hotel use only and is first and foremost a member-filled gym. But for those looking for a corner of calm in New York where they can check-out feeling better, fitter and more rested than when they checked in, you could do a lot worse than Equinox. Emily Wright

Rooms from £538. equinox-hotels.com

By The Editors of GQ

By Ali Howard

By Siobhan Grogan

Moxy East Village

Moxy East Village is the place to stay in New York if you are looking for a hotel that really embraces the local community. It's situated in the heart of the East Village, which is renowned for society-shifting movements and where the local area is bustling with character and history. Moxy East Village has been designed to be more than just a hotel, but also a place where guests and local residents can go to work, rest and play.

The design of the hotel means it effortlessly blends in with the surrounding neighbourhood. The flat front of the building and dark brickwork perfectly complements the famous Webster Hall located opposite and all the neighbouring boutiques, restaurants and shops.

Walking through the revolving doors and being met by a bespoke chandelier, it’s clear to see that much thought has gone into every detail of the hotel. In the lobby, books have been curated by one of the city’s quintessential stores, The Strand. The artwork has been commissioned by local artists and the lounge has been designed to replicate an original 1980s living room, complete with a TV and Robocop on VHS. The mood is eclectic and fun and each area has subtle nods to every generation.

The hotel itself has a total of 286 rooms, each individually designed to maximise space while maintaining that all-important luxury New York loft feeling. The main focal point in each room are the oversized, industrial windows that overlook the neighbourhood. The bathroom features a spectacular walk-in rain shower that will not disappoint.

Like many American hotels, Moxy East Village has a choice of places to eat, drink and unwind. Little Sister is the main attraction, the French- and Mediterranean-themed restaurant situated in the basement of the hotel, run by world-famous chef Jason Hall. The Alphabet bar and café offer everything from coffee to go, bespoke cocktails and delicious snacks. The rooftop is set to open in the spring and boasts some of the best views in New York.

Moxy East Village has been designed to be a home away from home; it’s both affordable, stylish and comfortable. And did we forget to mention that it’s also dog friendly?

Rooms from £140 a night. moxyeastvillage.com

The William Vale

For the real cool kids, Brooklyn is the place to spend all your time in New York, with panoramic views of Manhattan proving to be far more popular than staying on the island itself. One hotel in particular is at the apex of Brooklyn cool right now: the ultra-modern William Vale, situated on the periphery of ultra-trendy neighbourhood Williamsburg. The surrounding area is a veritable hipster heaven: nearby Wythe Avenue is one of the buzziest, graffiti-splashed streets in the borough, lined with stylish boutiques and chic cafés. Both the popular venue Brooklyn Bowl and the Brooklyn Brewery are only a stone’s throw away, as is the Williamsburg Music Hall. Designed by New York architects Albo Liberis, the luxe, 23-floor property is by far the most spectacular building in the area, towering above the rest of the relatively low-slung neighbourhood. The interiors are super slick, with an impressive attention to detail, from the custom metalwork in the guest rooms to the striking art by Brooklyn-based artist Marela Zacarías in the lobby.

The rooms also feature artwork by local artists, adding pops of colour to the otherwise calming white walls and neutral tones. All the rooms have impossibly comfortable beds (thanks to the Bellino linens and 12-inch mattresses), balconies and a thoroughly futuristic feel: modern, angular furniture, floor-to-wall windows and expansive city-scape vistas make The William Vale feel as cutting edge inside as its architecture suggests. Most spectacular of all are the corner rooms, which boast wrap-around terraces offering a 360 degree look of the Manhattan skyline, as well as the sprawling expanse of Brooklyn itself. Even the spa-style bathrooms, fitted with an all-glass outside wall, have those same epic views – there’s nothing quite like a morning shower backdropped by the Brooklyn Bridge, or a nighttime bath lit by the twinkling lights of the modern world’s most iconic buildings.

If you can drag yourself away from your terrace, however, The William Vale has also got the longest outdoor hotel pool in Brooklyn (60 feet), not to mention a brilliant Italian restaurant. Leuca, where breakfast is served each day (don’t miss the baked eggs with mozzarella) is a buzzy local spot, so be sure to make a reservation if you plan on stopping by for dinner. For those who want to grab something on the go, there’s also Mister Dips, where proper NYC burgers are served from a retrofitted 1974 Airstream on the hotel’s elevated outdoor promenade. Best of all, however, has to be the utterly dazzling Westlight – a restaurant and bar located on the 22nd floor that is hands down the entire city’s No1 rooftop spot. Kathleen Johnston

Rooms from £176 per night. thewilliamvale.com

Manhattan may be full of history, but few hotels have such a storied heritage as the St Regis, which was founded by John Jacob Astor IV (who died in the sinking of the Titanic) in 1904 and has welcomed guests from Salvador Dalí to John Lennon. It was one of the very first luxury hotels in the world, and now, more than 100 years on, it still has a reputation as one of the absolute best. Located on East 55th between 5th and Madison Avenues, the handsome Beaux-Arts building – which, at 18 storeys, was also one of the tallest in Manhattan when it opened – houses 238 rooms and the St Regis Residences, as well as a restaurant and the legendary King Cole Bar.

Named after the Maxfield Parrish mural that many now consider to be a must-see New York attraction, it’s the bar where James Bond drinks in Fleming’s Live And Let Die , but is best known as the birthplace of the Bloody Mary (first mixed in 1934). Stop by for a nightcap before retiring to your room; so spectacular are the interiors, so blissfully comfortable the beds, that you’ll want to spend as much time as possible in there throughout your stay. Even the most modest of rooms have more space than you’d think possible in New York and all are lavishly decorated with top-tier amenities, from Bose speakers to 300 thread-count bed linen. The Italian marble bathrooms are a thing of true beauty – ornate detailing, a truly extraordinary, wet room-style shower and, to top it all off, a mirror that also contains a TV (visible only when you turn it on) situated in perfect viewing proximity from the bath.

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about the St Regis, however, has to be the famous butler service. A treasured hallmark of the hotel for over a century, every room comes with a personal butler on hand to meet your every whim. From unpacking to pressing, your wish is their command, but GQ ’s favourite has to be the complimentary beverage service: each morning, your butler will arrive to draw your shades and deliver coffee or tea, as well as the day’s newspaper. Afterwards, potter downstairs through the elaborately decorated, marble-floored, classic lobby to the regal Astor Court restaurant for breakfast. Fancy popping out for pancakes? The hotel’s chauffeur-driven Bentley is on call for local use at no extra cost. For true old-world grandeur paired with a modern approach to luxury, no other New York hotel can compare. Kathleen Johnston

Rooms from £525 per night. marriott.com

While the majority of five-star hotels now amplify a home-from-home approach, the only way to experience the city like a true New Yorker is by staying in an actual apartment. Enter Plum Guide: essentially a platinum-standard Airbnb where expert critics are deployed to find the most incredible homes available for short-term rental (as well as New York, the London-born company operates in 12 cities across Europe and the US). The criteria is quite something: everything from outside noise to Wi-Fi strength are rigorously tested, with Plum Guide only accepting one in 100 of every property put forward. There are currently 824 homes available in the Big Apple, spanning modern Brooklyn studios to epic Wall Street penthouses.

GQ ’s choice? Conga: one hell of a bachelor pad in the most sought-after area in town. Set inside a stunning townhouse and spanning two floors, if James Bond circa the Daniel Craig 2003 edition had a boujee, Upper East Side apartment, this would be it. Upstairs, in the huge living room, bold artwork lines the walls above the grand sofa, while the floor-to-ceiling shelves next to the window-encased spiral staircase are stacked with slick coffee table books, perfect for leafing through lazily while you sip your morning brew. The bedroom is just as majestic, with a mammoth bed, a huge, gorgeous black-and-white nude photograph (much of the art in the house celebrates, ahem, the female form), a mounted flatscreen TV and three windows that look out onto the quintessentially Manhattan tree-lined residential street.

Most impressive of all, however, given that outside space of any size is practically unheard of in Manhattan, is the large garden. What at first might appear as a mirage is indeed guests’ own private space to enjoy, accessible from the thoroughly chic, postbox-red and sleek white kitchen. And the location? For those who don’t know, the Upper East Side is like the Mayfair of Manhattan; plus, this apartment is literally a stone’s throw away from Central Park and Madison Avenue. Should you want to stay off the tourist track and get to know the neighbourhood better, however, one of Plum Guide’s exceptional hosts will be on hand with scores of recommendations and, if you’re lucky, they’ll also bring you fresh bagels and Champagne for your first breakfast. Kathleen Johnston

plumguide.com

Moxy Chelsea

Bright, colourful and lively, it’s fitting that the brains behind Moxy Chelsea chose to plant it in New York’s flower district. From its “botanical library” (with flora suspended from a 15-foot wall) to its street-facing conservatory (which opens like an aircraft hangar to make you feel like you’re in the flower market outside), this place has green fingers all over it.

There’s real flower power atop the 37-floor purpose-built skyscraper too. The Fleur Room, a rooftop cocktail bar, has attracted a swathe of early accolades and has already become one of the hottest hangouts in Chelsea. The gigantic windows and 360-degree views up here – of the Hudson River, the Empire State Building and the Statue Of Liberty – will have you feeling as though you’re hovering in the clouds.

That’s a theme that continues in the bedrooms, with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and nimbus-like mattresses combining to similar effect. The rooms are compact – the Moxy’s millennial-friendly mission statement is great design at affordable prices – but the important boxes are all ticked, including super-fast Wi-Fi and super-strong rainwater showers.

Add no less than four in-house dining options (including the phenomenal Feroce on the ground floor, an intimate dining room that feels like it has been transported straight from the backstreets of Rome) and you have what is inarguably another budding success for Manhattan. Jonathan Thompson

Rooms from £122 per night. moxy-hotels.marriott.com

Husband-and-wife team Kit and Tim Kemp, owners of Firmdale Hotels, are masters at creating the perfect boutique stay, and last year they tightened their grip on New York with The Whitby. Retaining Kit’s colourful style in what could have been a grand if muted midtown environment, the public areas reflect the Kemps’ taste for art, with the bar-brasserie and lobby areas alive with Carla Kranendonk’s Afro-influenced art. The 86 rooms are no less startling, with fabric-lined walls, slipper-soft furnishings and marble bathrooms. The Whitby also sports a well-equipped gym and 130-seat theatre, but this is first and foremost an ideal retreat for anyone wishing to be close to Moma, the theatre district or the super-brand souks lining Fifth Avenue.

Rooms from £529 per night. firmdalehotels.com

The Standard High Line

The Standard High Line has some of the best views in New York, east over the Hudson (spectacular at dawn or sunset) and north towards the glittering skyline. The minimalist white interiors and comfortable beds, baths, showers and desks are all positioned to let the floor-to-ceiling glass fourth wall do the talking. The higher up the 18 floors you go, the more extraordinary the scene: you can stand in the window and watch the taxis beetling below your toes. Unless you suffer from vertigo, for a Village base, this is very hard to beat.

Although you can’t hear any of it in the extremely comfortable beds, this being a Balazs creation, the hotel is party central – whatever time you make it home, the Boom Boom rooms mean that’s there’s usually some kind of after-hours activity in progress.

Back on the ground floor, come morning, you can blow away the cobwebs with a walk or run along the High Line park , above which the building perches, and the hotel does a buzzing business as a breakfast and brunch spot. (The High Line, now stretching all the way to 34th Street, is a great reason to revisit.) As you wander out into the Meatpacking District and into the West Village, in the true test of an urban hotel, you’ll feel like you belong in the neighbourhood, instead of just passing through. Olivia Cole

vhiphotels.co.uk

Consider The Lowell Hotel your new home from home. Actually scrap that, it's way nicer than your actual home. Just live in The Lowell instead. With its unrivaled luxury: plush lounge areas, roaring fire places and exceptionally accommodating service, we guarantee you won't want to go home. Check yourself and the family, friends and general loved ones into the two bedroom suite which has some of the best views of Manhattan. The suite comfortably fits four adults, with a king and twin beds, everything about it is pure luxury. Go to The Majorelle, the hotel's restaurant, for a sublime three-course lunch. Charles Masson and his creative culinary team, under the leadership of chef Richard Brower, have put together a menu of stand-out classics. After, make sure you go for their afternoon tea in the Pembroke Room.

lowellhotel.com

Viceroy New York

Viceroy New York is on the doorstep of Central Park, so in terms of location it's unrivaled. Although there isn't much of an entrance to the hotel, the rooms are wonderfully stylish and minimal and the staff are exceptionally accommodating. Get yourself checked into a suite, the rooms are cleverly designed and exceptionally functional. The beds and pillows are potentially the most comfy you'll sleep on during your time in the Big Apple. The bathrooms are also beautiful and marbled, with a power shower strong enough to make you want to run that park on your doorstep.

viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

The Williamsburg Hotel

The Williamsburg Hotel is an outstanding choice if you're in Brooklyn. The lively, spacious bar downstairs ensures there's atmosphere at all times. The food is excellent and in keeping with everything you've seen on Broad City . The Queen Room comfortably accommodates two or three people, and the views are outstanding. There's even a pillow menu for you to choose the ideal comfort and a sound machine for you to zone out to.

thewilliamsburghotel.com

The latest opening from Studio 54 founder Ian Schrager; Public launched in the summer of 2017 with the promise of reimagining and democratising the luxury hospitality experience.

As with Schrager’s previous hospitality openings (which include The Edition hotels) the design is impeccable. Exposed poured-concrete columns punctuate the public spaces, with Douglas fir plywood panels and beautifully designed lighting softening the aesthetic.

In place of a traditional lobby is a buzzy deli/shop/café hangout, cut through with an Instagram-friendly, LED-lit escalator whisking guests to the first floor. It’s here that it becomes evident how Schrager has rethought the service experience at the hotel. Guests self-check in using static iPads in the lobby ("Public advisors" are on hand to help out) and there is no room service – guests can preorder for collection from ground-floor eatery Louis. The rooms are small, but sophisticatedly simple. Imposing floor-to-ceiling triple-glazed windows frame the New York skyline (and include automatic blackout blinds in you’re in need of a lie-in after partying too hard at the rooftop bar)

With rates starting from $200 a night, The Public certainly lives up to the promise of affordable luxury and is a welcome addition to the Lower East Side.

publichotels.com

Citizen M Bowery

Situated in Midtown Manhattan, Citizen M Bowery occupies the perfect location if you think you will be exploring each end of the island. What Citizen M hotels do well is offer fuss-free, affordable and comfortable luxury in some of the best spots across the world and this hotel is no different. With function at its heart, you won't be disappointed by what's on offer. You also won't be disappointed by the view from the top of the building, where you'll find the rooftop bar with views across the Hudson of the World Trade Center and Empire State Building. If you aren't looking to splash out, but want to experience NYC living at its best, we recommend you stay here.

citizenm.com

Located in Williamsburg, this is undoubtedly one of the hippest and most happening hotels in the city. With views across to Manhattan, the hotel is as Brooklyn as you could possibly get, with exposed brick and industrial interiors defining it. But don't let that make you think it won't be luxurious, because, boy, is it! Located in a 117-year-old factory building that has been meticulously converted into a 70-room hotel, it oozes contemporary opulence with just the right amount of edge.

wythehotel.com

Undoubtedly the most luxurious hotel in Manhattan, this is a favourite of the likes of Kim Kardashian. Situated mere metres from Times Square, this hotel is a sanctuary of silence and calm. Walk into the lobby and you're met with a deliciously fragrant space. Up one flight of stairs (or lift) and you find the opulent lounges, reception and dining rooms, which act a sanctuary to the madness outside. The bedrooms offer private Parisian pied-à-terre living in the heart of New York City – what more do you need?

baccarathotels.com

1 Brooklyn Bridge

The name says it all really. When you stay at this hotel, you may as well be sleeping on the Brooklyn Bridge itself. With the most spectacular views of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge itself, this is a hotel that is worth a visit, even if you just go to have a swim in the rooftop pool. Rooms here are a retreat from the contemporary designs you usually get in new hotels, like taking Yosemite national park's famous cabins and planting them on the waterfront opposite Manhattan. Simply stunning.

1hotels.com

If you’re looking for somewhere a little less manic to stay in the city then we recommend The Ludlow Hotel. It is located down in the quieter Lower East Side of town with beautiful views of the rest of the village neighbourhood. Rooms are designed with dark hardwood floors with handmade silk rugs and Moroccan-style lamps are featured in every bedroom to match the brass detailing in the bathrooms - each provided with a pair of Maison Margiela dressing gowns, by the way. On the corner of Ludlow Street just 50 yards from the hotel is the famous Katz's Delicatessen known for where Harry says, "I'll have what she's having" in When Harry Met Sally. Here you can order the biggest pastrami on rye and to make you feel less guilty, The Ludlow Hotel has one of the coolest 24-hour rooftop gyms with views all the way across the Williamsburg Bridge (pretty convenient). Guests can also grab a drink or relax for a brunch in the hotel’s restaurant next to the lobby called Dirty French and the name says it all.

ludlowhotel.com

The New York Edition

Originally constructed in 1909 as Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s headquarters, this clocktower is an iconic piece of the architecture that makes up the Manhattan skyline. Now, with the help of Ian Schrager, the clocktower has been transformed into what can only be described as one of the best hotels in New York City. With 360 degree views and a Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Jason Atherton, you'd be silly not to stay here.

editionhotels.com

By Rebecca Dolan

By Daphne Bugler

By David Levesley

By Adam Cheung

By Samuel Hine

By Mike Christensen

By Finlay Renwick

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Condé Nast Traveler-Recommended Boutique Hotels in NYC

Read Condé Nast Traveler 's full article and hotel reviews here !

Crosby Street Hotel

A downtown dandy

Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's New York

French & Fabulous

The Greenwich Hotel

Discreet downtown bolthole

The High Line Hotel

Nestled in the heart of Chelsea

The Boro Hotel

Hotel chelsea.

Living Legend

SoHo's Most Sophisticated Urban Retreat

Modernhaus Soho

A Luxury Canvas In The Heart of New York's Soho

Nine Orchard Hotel

Style in the City

Soho House New York

Industrial Elegance

The Beekman

Old Manhattan, Reborn

The Bowery Hotel

Captures the classic style of NYC

The Chatwal

Gatsby-esque glamour in Times Square

Residential-style refinement

The Whitby Hotel

Design Legend

Wythe Hotel

Walker hotel greenwich village.

Deco Darling

Skylark is a new kind of luxury travel company. Amazing deals on 5-star hotels and flights + perks with experienced agents at the ready.

666 3rd Ave, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10017 USA

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(212) SKYLARK

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10 Best Family Hotels in New York City

W hen it comes to family vacation spots , New York City is at the top of the list. From Times Square and the Empire State Building to Broadway and the Central Park Zoo, the Big Apple is a wonderland for visitors of all ages. And while New York may be the City That Never Sleeps, the hotel where you choose to stay the night is among the most important decisions you can make on your NYC vacation. Fortunately, in a city that’s so big, so busy, and so packed with tourist attractions , there’s no shortage of great family hotels in New York City to choose from.

As a seasoned family traveler and longtime New York resident who’s visited all of the best family hotels in NYC, I can tell you that location matters— a lot . It will impact almost every aspect of your visit. From the hectic heart of Midtown to residential Washington Heights, here are my picks for the top family hotels in every New York neighborhood, giving you the option to stay in the center of the action or to live more like a local, whichever your family prefers.

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1. The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites

215 east 64th street, upper east side, new york.

The Upper East Side is one of Manhattan’s most exclusive residential neighborhoods, and when you stay at The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites  you can live like a local family at one of the best family hotels in New York City. Located on a tree-lined street, the hotel’s apartment-style suites have full kitchens, a separate bedroom, and a sleeper sofa in the living room. Pack-and-play cribs are available, as is additional baby gear such as strollers , bottle sterilizers, and sound machines.

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What’s nearby: The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites is a short walk to the Central Park Zoo and the cultural riches NYC’s Museum Mile , a 22-block stretch on 5th Avenue that’s home to some of the city’s most popular museums.

2. Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan

320 west 36th street, hudson yards, new york.

Hudson Yards is Manhattan’s newest neighborhood. Nestled in among shiny skyscrapers, Crowne Plaza HY36  is a sleek New York family hotel with spacious rooms that come with a separate bedroom, a living room with a pull-out couch, and a mini fridge. If you’re traveling with a baby or toddler, ask for a crib or bassinet , which are available upon request. When hunger strikes, adjoining restaurant Burgerology answers the call with over-the-top milkshakes, burgers, and tacos, plus a dedicated kid’s menu.

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What’s nearby: Among the most family-friendly hotels in NYC, Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan is a stone’s throw from  Edge , the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also an easy walk to the  Circle Line  sightseeing boat. 

3. Radio Hotel

2420 amsterdam avenue, washington heights, new york.

If you’re willing to stray a little from the tourist path for one of the best family hotels in New York City, the fabulous Radio Hotel  will be your reward. Located in Upper Manhattan’s residential Washington Heights neighborhood, this boutique NYC hotel reflects the neighborhood’s Dominican heritage with brightly colored masks, fun feather accents, and vibrant murals.

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Guest rooms with bunk beds are just right for kids. When you’re ready to sightsee, the A train can bring you to Midtown in approximately 20 minutes. And the onsite restaurant,  Jalao NYC , is a second location of the popular Santo Domingo restaurant of the same name, with great food, entertainment, and the all-important high chair for little ones.

What’s nearby: Radio Hotel is not far from the colorful unicorn tapestries that decorated the walls of the Met Cloisters . Of note to baseball fans, this hotel is about a mile from Yankee Stadium.

4. Park Hyatt New York

153 west 57th street, midtown, new york.

A luxury hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Park Hyatt ‘s family-friendly rooms and suites have natural stone flooring and soaking tubs made of marble. Some also have views of Central Park. Connecting rooms provide space for families to spread out. Kids can enjoy mini-bathrobes, slippers, and bath toys, plus an in-room teepee for an extra charge. Cribs are complimentary. 

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What’s nearby: Centrally located, Park Hyatt is just two blocks from NYC’s Central Park and across the street from Carnegie Hall . 

5. Aloft Harlem

2296 frederick douglass boulevard, harlem, new york.

Located in the heart of Harlem,  Aloft Harlem  is one of the best hotels for families who want to explore a dynamic Manhattan neighborhood that has long been the center of NYC’s Black community. Rooms present clean lines and high-tech amenities. Public spaces are inviting and include a 24-hour grab-and-go cafe. Hop on the 2 or 3 subway line and you’ll be in Times Square in 20 minutes. 

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What’s nearby: From this family-friendly New York hotel it’s an easy stroll to the historic  Apollo Theater , with its famous Amateur Night that has launched the careers of artists from Ella Fitzgerald to Machine Gun Kelly. 

6. The Rockaway Hotel

108-10 rockaway beach drive, rockaway beach, queens, new york.

When the weather gets hot, New Yorkers flock to Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk in Queens to jump the Atlantic waves—and the family-friendly Rockaway Hotel  is steps from the sand. A popular staycation hotel choice for local families as well as one of the best family hotels in New York City for visitors, The Rockaway Hotel rocks a coastal vibe with blond wood furnishings and pops of sea blue and sunny yellow. A swimming pool, rooftop deck, board games, and seasonal programming for kids enrich the experience. 

ON THE WATER: 16 Best Lake Resorts and Hotels in the U.S. for Families  

What’s nearby: Manhattan’s urban charms are accessible in an hour via subway or scenic ferry, so you can enjoy a late afternoon ocean swim after a day of sightseeing. Borrow the hotel’s beach cruisers to pedal Rockaway’s wooden boardwalk. 

7. The Chatwal New York City

130 west 44 street, theater district, new york.

Located in a landmark building built in 1905,  The Chatwal  puts you right in the heart of Broadway’s Theater District. It’s a swanky (but very kid-friendly) family hotel with butler service and a concierge. Each of its 76 rooms and suites are suitable for children, with in-room amenities such as a record player with classic Broadway albums and a puppet theatre that allows kids to unleash their dramatic flair. The hotel partners with premium stroller brand Uppababy , offering tiny guests a quality stroller for cruising around the city.  

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What’s nearby: What isn’t nearby? It’s one of the top family hotels in New York City if you’ve got tickets to a Broadway show, want to explore Times Square, or simply catch a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus.

8. Hotel Beacon

2130 broadway, upper west side, new york.

Located in New York’s Upper West Side and sandwiched between Central Park and Riverside Park, Hotel Beacon  has multi-bedroom suites with kitchenettes that feel homey. It’s perfectly situated for a kid-friendly family vacation with plenty of walkable attractions just outside the door.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY: 11 Cheap Family Vacations That Are Super Fun

What’s nearby: It’s a quick walk to the  American Museum of Natural History and other cultural attractions from Hotel Beacon. For an authentic taste of NYC fast food, go three blocks south to no-frills  Gray’s Papaya  and order the “Recession Special,” two snappy hot dogs served with tropical fruit juice. 

9. InterContinental New York Times Square

300 west 44 street, times square, new york.

In the heart of Times Square, the  InterContinental New York Times Square wows guests of all ages with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the cityscape. Suites have pull out sofas; rollaway beds are available upon request. The helpful concierge can recommend kid-friendly attractions in the area and beyond, and a large fitness center makes it possible for parents to stick to an exercise routine. 

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What’s nearby: When you’re staying in Times Square, everything’s nearby. Notably, however, this kid-friendly NYC hotel offers a package that includes admission to the famous wax museum  Madame Tussauds just a few blocks away.

10. The Hoxton Williamsburg

97 wythe ave., williamsburg, brooklyn, new york.

A boutique hotel in a transformed factory in Williamsburg, one of Brooklyn’s hippest neighborhoods, The Hoxton ‘s industrial-chic aesthetic might not seem kid-friendly at first glance. But this family-friendly NYC hotel fully embraces tiny travelers with its Tiny Hox program , providing essentials to make an overnight stay with kids a breeze. Perks include cribs with an organic mattress, bottle-warmers, diaper wipes, and a tote bag filled with coloring books. 

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What’s nearby: Let the kids run around the playground at Brooklyn’s Domino Park . If you’re traveling with a fashion-forward tween or teen, hit the vintage clothing stores. And you can all ride the subway or ferry to Manhattan in a jiffy. 

More from FamilyVacationist:

• 13 New York Family Vacations Beyond the Big Apple  
• 10 All-Inclusive Family Resorts Even Teenagers Will Love
• 17 Best Flight Booking Sites for Cheap Airfares

The post 10 Best Family Hotels in New York City appeared first on FamilyVacationist .

‘Egypt is a special place’: Robert De Niro on plans for new Nobu hotel and restaurant in East Cairo

By Sagal Mohammed

Last summer, Nobu announced its expansion into Egypt by unveiling plans for a Nobu Hotel, restaurant and residences in both West Cairo and on the North Coast, developed in partnership with leading Egyptian real estate developer, Sodic. Now, the luxury lifestyle brand has added yet another location to that list by sealing the deal on a Nobu Hotel and restaurant in East Cairo – the third opening in the country, coming in 2025.

The news was confirmed by actor and Nobu co-founder Robert De Niro, Nobu CEO Trevor Horwell, chef Nobuyuki (“Nobu”) Matsuhisa, and Ayman Amer, general manager at Sodic, over breakfast at New York’s Nobu Fifty Seven, where they shared details of their partnership and plans for the new North African locations.

“ Egypt is a special place. I was first there on a family vacation right after president Barack Obama got inaugurated in 2008. I went with some of my children and friends, and we had a very nice time, so I have always looked forward to going back,” says De Niro, who along with chef Nobu and film producer Meir Teper opened the first Nobu restaurant 30 years ago in New York ’s Financial District. The brand now has 41 hotels, 77 restaurants and 12 residences, worldwide.

“We have opened locations across the five continents now, which we never even thought about doing in 1994 when we launched the first restaurant,” says chef Nobu. “Egypt especially is very interesting for me because it is a place where I have wanted to introduce my food. I’m very excited to use the local produce there, the fish, the vegetables – I might even get some new inspiration from the pyramids.”

Nobu Hotel and Restaurant East Cairo will be situated in the newly developed Eastown District New Cairo, known as EDNC – a prime location in the city, surrounded by luxury boutiques, unique dining offerings and entertainment experiences, as well as The American University in Cairo. “We are very excited to bring Nobu to EDNC in East Cairo, the fastest-growing market in Egypt,” says Amer. “We look forward to opening the restaurant as soon as early next year.”

Nobu’s entry into Egypt, with development partner Sodic, is set to enhance the country’s growing tourism and real estate sectors, but also reflects Nobu’s plans to expand and introduce the brand to a key global market. “It was never a question of when to do it but who to do it with,” says Horwell. “We’ve had a lot of opportunities given to us before but it’s really about the partners, and our relationship with Sodic has been so natural. Now is the right time because Nobu has grown into something bigger than it was 10 years ago. We have so many more offerings now, with the hotels, the restaurants and the residences. We’re creating something that’s great for the locals because that’s really what it’s all about.”

Nobu’s openings in Egypt will mark its second destination in Africa , following the launch of Nobu Marrakech , Morroco in January 2023 – complete with 71 suites, just steps from the historic heart of the city, souks, Medina and Djemaa el-Fna square. Last year, the brand also announced the forthcoming Nobu Hotels and Residences Abu Dhabi , which is set to open on scenic Mamsha beach on Saadiyat island in 2027 alongside an ultra-luxury Nobu-branded residence with real estate company, Aldar, cementing the brand’s expansion into the Middle East .

“All I want for us is to develop and grow in the right way, and with the right partners,” says De Niro, looking ahead to the future of Nobu in the Middle East. “So far, that’s what we have been doing and I knock on wood for it to continue that way.” Similarly, for chef Nobu, the brand’s expansion is determined by the organic relationships around them. “I like to take things step by step,” he adds. “We start everything based on relationships and it’s about the people we work with. Now that we have this partnership with Sodic, maybe it will spark another opening. I’m taking it one by one.”

The Best New Affordable Hotels in the World: 2024 Hot List

By CNT Editors

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech, or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List's most affordable hotel winners for 2024—properties with options from under-$400 per night.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

This story appears in Condé Nast Traveler 's Hot List issue. Never miss out when you subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler .

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Celestine — New Orleans Arrow

Built in 1791 as a private residence in the fabled French Quarter , The Celestine marks the glowing return to what its storied former tenants—the Creole chemist Antione Peychaud, responsible for his namesake bitters and a female hotelier who ran the fashionable Maison Deville hotel (where Tennesse Williams is said to have penned A Streetcar Named Desire )—would have enjoyed. The property, named after Peychaud’s wife, was lovingly restored by local restaurateur and hotelier Robert LeBlanc (The Chloe), interior designer Sara Costello (The Chloe), and cocktail whiz Neal Bodenheimer (Cure, Cane + Table). A stylish sprawl of 10 rooms features antique furniture, four-poster beds, pencil drawings, and a trove of 19th-century oil paintings discovered in the building’s attic. Sip a Sazerac from your balcony or descend into the dimly-lit Pecyhaud’s Bar for a nip. Outside, a tropical-fringed courtyard with a babbling fountain is a delightful spot for a Ramos Gin Fizz amid the sounds of jazz music wafting from the legendary Court of Two Sisters next door. From $225. —Kate Donnelly

Cap Karoso — Sumba, Indonesia Arrow

For years after the millennium, Nihi Sumba was the only top-end stay on Sumba, an island of raw beauty, epic surf, wild horses, and ancient animist culture. More competition has edged in over recent years, but none quite like Cap Karoso. Opened by French couple Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara on the island’s untouched western perimeter, it is surrounded by pointy thatch-roofed uma mbatangu homes, their design unchanged for centuries. Unlike many Sumbanese resorts, Cap Karoso doesn’t ape the local style. Its sprawling 47 rooms and 20 villas are straight-lined and concrete-clad, with a crisp tropical-modern feel. With slatted roofs casting perfect lines of shade and daybeds sprinkled throughout, barefoot guests—the sort that flit between Tulum and Santa Teresa—waft around the pools, restaurant, and surf-caressed beach. But Cap Karoso is still imbued with some of the magical old soul of the island. A striking artwork of colored threads is draped on the back wall of the lobby, woven by Kornelis Ndapakamang, one of the best-known ikat makers on Sumba. Scattered everywhere are Indigenous symbols, sculptures, and paintings. Fishermen populate the landscape, and nut-brown wild horses gallop past. As the sun sets, everyone gathers for papaya spritzers and jackfruit piña coladas before dinner at the long communal table for just-caught-and-plucked feasts by the latest visiting chef: Oliver McGeorge from Paris’s Michelin-starred, sustainable Frenchie is lined up for summer. From $310. —Chloe Sachdev

César Lanzarote — Spain Arrow

Naming a hotel after Lanzarote ’s greatest art and design icon, then building it in his father’s former home, is a bold move. But the latest outpost by the fledgling Numa Signature group (Amagatay and Morvedra Nou in Menorca) is an unapologetic love letter to César Manrique, the architect and activist who art-directed Lanzarote with his style of whitewashed volcanic modernism. This isn’t the first Manrique- and nature-inspired design on the island, but it’s the most polished, and a step up for this underrated destination. There are 20 rooms amid an estate of vineyards, newly furrowed olive groves, banana trees, and pineapple plantations. Rooms have views of the ocean, volcanoes or both, and most have terraces and interior courtyards filled with plants. Interior designer Virginia Nieto leverages the landscape to weave a natural tapestry of lava stone and wood finishes with a white, brown, and green palette. The pool, shaped to resemble a lake, is surrounded by sunloungers ensconced in semi-circular stone dividers, a nod to the walls that protect the vineyards from Atlantic winds. Guests roam among vines that are already yielding wine; soon to follow will be the production of olive oil to accompany chef Zebenzui Ferrera’s seafood specialties, including John Dory with calamari and Canarian red mojo sauce. This is art and nature in an immaculate union: Manrique would surely approve. From $386. —David Moralejo

Hotel Corazon — Mallorca, Spain Arrow

Mallorca ’s west coast has long been a magnet for writers, artists, and musicians seeking spiritual connection—an intangible alchemy that has been channeled into Hotel Corazón. A wild and spoiling spot between Deià and Sóller, it’s the creation of photographer Kate Bellm and her partner, the artist and cactus gardener Edgar Lopez, who set out to open a hotel that feels more like the private home of an arty friend, a place where anything seems possible. Their creative pals are regular guests, and the 1970s-inspired, free-flowing sculptural interior design blurs the boundaries between indoors and out. Palm fronds peek through the windows of the 15 linen-draped bedrooms, each unique, with shaggy carpets and egg-shaped dome showers in hazy shades of pink, sage, and ochre. At the heart of the property is the abundant land, which is cultivated using traditional regenerative farming techniques. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs are harvested to conjure up seasonal dishes, served on the restaurant terrace backed by mountain views. Palm-leaf parasols cast languid shade onto day beds by the pool, and healing medicinal teas and elixirs are sourced from the garden. Sound baths, yoga, and reiki are on offer, as well as insider advice on where to find hidden waterfalls and caves. Hotel Corazón immerses guests in the island’s artistic scene—an invitation to dare to dream. From $289. —Katie Metcalfe

María Casbas

Jessica Chapel

Madison Flager

Dawn Ranch — Sonoma, California Arrow

Over the past few years, long-bohemian Sonoma has seen a handful of splashy, big hotel openings that make the area feel like it’s headed in the same way as ritzy neighboring Napa. Dawn Ranch is not one of those openings—in the best, most magical way possible. The cabins, cottages, and glamping-style tents (87 keys all in) are spread out across the retreat’s 22 riverside acres punctuated by ancient giant redwoods, grassy meadows, and a century-old apple orchard. From the minute you step on site, there’s a clear invitation to slow down and take in the surrounding nature. The check-in area is low-key and more outdoor than indoor, with a chalkboard that highlights the week’s activities—morning yoga or meditation, an origami workshop, stargazing in the orchard, or live music at the band shell. The front desk can kit you out with picnic blankets, sketchbooks, and binoculars, and there are acoustic Fender guitars available for campfire sing-alongs. There are quiet places—a bench in the sweet kitchen garden, a picnic table under the shade of a cedar—that beckon for guests to stop and stay put for a moment. While the decor and design is very contemporary, there’s this lovely throwback-to-simpler-times feel (and no phones or TVs in the room help keep this vibe going). Dawn Ranch is the rare property that makes it easy to relax, truly befitting its idyllic setting. From $299. —Rebecca Misner

Further — Bali, Indonesia Arrow

With Bali’s traffic-choked Canggu district bursting at the seams, the smart crowd have set their sights on Pererenan, a sleepy village one beach to the west. Even though new villas have pitched up over recent years, they abut rice paddies and turmeric-hued temples—a flashback to the Canggu of three decades ago. At Pererenan’s heart sits the new Further, a “diffused hotel” spread out over two terra-cotta-toned buildings (with more on the way) along the village’s palm-hemmed main drag. Each is home to parts of Further’s ambitious collective of creative spaces. There’s a board shop and concept store by Australian label Thomas Surfboards; a boutique by Jakarta-based natural skin care brand Oaken Lab; and a breezy, tropical-Parisian bistro for classic apéro sundowners and dinners of pumpkin Pithiviers and steak tartare smothered in sambal. Upstairs, almost a dozen suites by Aussie design outfit Studio Wenden riff on traditional Balinese shapes and textures, with walls bedecked in burnt sienna plaster and breezy brickwork that filters the morning sun. Robust furnishings made from cast iron, earthy travertine, and timber balance out the sultry black-and-white photography, and a wraparound balcony doubles as an alfresco bathroom. This is go-slow territory, with palo-santo-scented mornings filled with leisurely lie-ins and picnic-basket breakfasts delivered to your door (an in-house restaurant will follow at a later stage), while jazzy tunes seep from the record players in every room. On an island riddled with copy-and-paste hotels, Further brings a fresh perspective. From $230. —Chris Schalkx

Jannah Lamu — Kenya Arrow

I fell for Lamu , the 14th-century former powerhouse on the maritime trade route between Africa and Asia, as a student in the late 1980s—a time of semi-ruined mansions and no electricity. The island, specifically the outlying former fishing village of Shela, is a bohemian hot spot today, and the new Jannah Lamu is buzzing with energy (and air-conditioning, still a rarity here). This is the latest hospitality project of Kenyan designer-hotelier Anna Trzebinski, who has incorporated old village buildings and outdoor spaces into one innovative “constellation hotel.” It’s easy to shed layers of stress here, lulled by the sounds of Shela: children kicking around a football, calls to prayer, village elders putting the world to rights, and donkeys drinking from stone basins at the hotel’s bougainvillea-draped entrance. Jannah—now the highest building on the skyline—features Gaudí-esque curved windows and a vertiginous staircase tower, which connects the bedrooms to the penthouse and communal roof terrace. The Swahili-chic decor is punctuated with touches of glamour, and terraces overlook the wooden dhows on the bay—three of which are at the disposal of Jannah guests. The hotel also owns a canopied and cushioned barge, for languid day trips to distant dunes and islands, morning swims through the mangrove inlets where turtles like to surface, or shopping trips to vibrant Lamu Town just along the coast. Because as everyone who lives here knows, the essence of Swahili culture is inevitably best imbibed afloat. From $220. —Catherine Fairweather

SIRO One Za'abeel — Dubai Arrow

Encased within Dubai ’s newest landmark, the debut hotel for Kerzner International’s new Siro brand is conceptualized around fitness, self-care, and recovery. While Siro One Za’abeel’s 132 rooms may look basic at first, they are anything but. Between the muted tones and clean lines, every element serves to enhance Siro’s grand mission. Mattresses are thermoregulated, the pillow menu has 11 categories, the integrated Siro app controls blackout blinds to wake guests up in natural synchronization with their circadian rhythm, and—at the recommendation of elite runners who test-drove the rooms ahead of the Dubai Marathon—ceiling fans have been installed to prevent dry throats after a night of heavy air conditioning. In-house nutritionist Heeral Shivnani can put together a macro-counted meal plan for the duration of your stay, while the neon-lit lobby-cum-community-hub serves salads, bowls, and protein shakes. In the 9,687-square-foot Fitness Lab, imposing cardio machines look squarely onto Downtown Dubai’s towering skyline; and upstairs in the Recovery Lab, everything from cryotherapy and electro-muscle stimulation to calming vibroacoustic therapy is on offer. Once you’re done with all that recharging, wind down with yoga and reformer Pilates studios, relaxation suites, and sound-healing sessions before your (scientifically designed) good night’s sleep. From $245. —Sophie Prideaux

De Durgerdam — Amsterdam, Netherlands Arrow

A former 17th-century clapboard inn located in a fishing village just a 20-minute cycle from downtown Amsterdam, De Durgerdam has been restored and relaunched as a friendly hotel, with astonishing food by the team behind Michelin-starred restaurants 212 and De Juwelier. Named after the historic village it calls home, the 14-room creation is a celebration of simple, low-impact design, with a mix of vintage and custom-made furniture, including Hypnos beds with beautiful wave-inspired local tulipwood headboards; but also of the golden age of Vermeer, through its moody use of natural light, velvety throws, and palette of green, rust, and putty. The relaxed open-plan restaurant, De Mark, takes over the whole ground floor and is already a local favorite, with a wood-burning stove, a bar, and doors that open onto a terrace overlooking saltwater lake Ijmeer (an inlet of the North Sea until it was dammed in 1932). It’s overseen by head chef Koen Marees, known for his imaginative, vegetable-forward menus featuring dishes such as tomato steak tartare and roasted cod with buttermilk and cream of barbecued celeriac. Downstairs is a candlelit wine snug. Guests can whiz into town in a cab, hire one of the hotel’s electric bikes to explore, or just cozy up by the fire. The braver among them scamper down the hotel jetty and leap into the lake. From $330. —Francesca Syz

Farasha Farmhouse — Marrakech Arrow

Marrakech has been abuzz with the arrival of new medina and Palmeraie hotels in the past year. But it’s this farmhouse embedded in an olive grove between the Atlas and Jbilet mountains, 45 minutes from the medina, that feels most like a gear-shift in the city’s hotel scene. The vision of husband-and-wife event stylists Fred and Rosena Charmoy—who have planned some of the most talked-about parties in town over the past 20 years—it’s the kind of in-the-know desert retreat you would expect to find in Ibiza or Joshua Tree. There are no flashy signs; instead the Hamsa, or Hand of Fatima, is etched on a rock to signal you’re close by. Long pathways sprinkled with argan nuts lead the way to the dusty-pink converted farmhouse. Inside, the smooth space looks like a sleek art gallery, with shimmering tadelakt surfaces. Vintage Italian sofas join pieces by local artists and craftspeople, from shaggy carpets by Beni Rugs to Amine El Gotaibi’s giant wooly art installations and coffee-table books handed down from the city’s legendary Vreeland estate. Of the three oversized suites in the main building, the two cavernous rooftop rooms are the best for views across to the mountain peaks. In the wispy gardens, an adobe house has been turned into a stylish casita, where traditional clay contrasts with oxblood and mustard zellige tiles. The 164-foot pool has huge daybeds between plumes of olive trees, where guests sprawl before drifting into evenings fueled by hibiscus sundowners and New Age cosmic chats. From $380. — Chloe Sachdev

The Global Ambassador — Phoenix Arrow

Phoenix has its fair share of easy-to-categorize hotels, from rambling retreats for families to Old Town Scottsdale party spots seemingly custom-made for bachelorette blowouts. But a chic, cosmopolitan hotel? A property that’s a legitimately cool day-and-night destination for locals? Absolutely nonexistent in the Valley of the Sun—until the arrival of the Global Ambassador. At first blush, you feel more like you’ve touched down somewhere in Europe: Peek outside at the sweet pool with its pink-striped chaise lounge and orange-with-white-piping sun umbrellas, and you’ll swear you’re on the Amalfi Coast. Despite the abundant modern touches (and complete lack of southwest design aesthetic), however, the backdrop of the magnificent Camelback Mountain will remind you exactly where you are. The overall palette in the 141 guest rooms and suites is soft beiges and whites, with many different textural delights—and there’s good framed art everywhere. Of the five food and drink venues, rooftop restaurant Théa is the crown jewel, thanks to a Mediterranean-inspired dinner menu and 360-degree views of Camelback at sunset. The cutting-edge spa and fitness offerings nicely round out this stylish, sophisticated hotel—one that feels totally transportive yet exactly right for this fast-changing desert city. From $350. —Rebecca Misner

Our Habitas Atacama — Chile Arrow

There’s a stillness in the Atacama Desert , where undulating red-sand landscapes are graced with brittle shrubs, slow-moving camelids, and the impending volatility of geological formations. But safe from the towering volcanoes and bursting geysers, ripe for days of exploring, the recently opened Our Habitas Atacama is an oasis for adventure travelers. Here, adobe walls and thatched roofs keep travelers rooted in the destination, with earthly pleasures like a plant-focused menu and desert-herb body scrub that speak to the wellness-inclined. The sprawling 51-room lodge is a natural extension of the Our Habitas brand—which has already found a home in bohemian destinations like Bacalar, Mexico, and Agafay, Morocco—promising creature comforts like a shimmering pool with cocktail service, as well as quiet gardens where you can plop down to stargaze at night. The elevated but unfussy atmosphere is a treat in a destination best known for its backpacker accommodations and ultra-high-end lodges: Much like the nearby Licancabur volcano, which straddles the Chile-Bolivia border, Our Habitas lands invitingly in the middle. From $300. —Megan Spurrell

Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll — Iceland Arrow

Iceland really has been the “land of fire and ice” lately, with the recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula causing the temporary closure of the Retreat at Blue Lagoon, a 60-suite hotel and subterranean geothermal spa. Luckily the sustainably minded wellness company’s new sister venture, a year-round off-grid retreat for adventure extremists, is 110 miles—and another planet—away in Iceland’s vast and mostly frozen interior, which remained unexplored until the 1930s. Highland Base in Kerlingarfjöll—a vast reserve of snowdrift-blanketed peaks, glaciers, lava fields, and silence—might as well be on the moon. Getting there is a mission. In winter, after arriving at Skjol Basecamp (90 minutes on the Golden Circle from Reykjavik) it can take two to five hours of “floating” over virgin snow in adapted Super Jeeps. The angular Highland Base huddles in a valley like a Nordic minimalist space station, a 28-room hotel and six podlike lodges occupying the abandoned structures of the pioneers who have gone before. The pods, which have sunken living rooms, Polaroid-like windows, and hanging ponchos, were designed with sustainable aged wood and concrete by Icelandic firm Basalt Architects, masterminds of the Blue Lagoon. There’s also a sleeping bag option in A-frame huts left over from a 1960s summer ski school. Activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking, as well as jumping in the geothermal baths to see the northern lights after dinners of Arctic char and warming shots of Brennivín schnapps. From $360. —Stephanie Rafanelli

Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur — India Arrow

Breakfast by the lake, yoga under the stars, bird watching, nature hikes, outdoor movie screenings—no demand is too high at Mementos by ITC Hotels. The hotel, which is the first under ITC’s Mementos brand, promises mental souvenirs you’ll be tapping into days after your vacation. The hotel is situated 50 minutes from central Udaipur, but therein lies its charm. It’s a perfect alternative for travelers looking to spend time in the countryside, away from the thick of the throng yet within easy access of the historic center. The 117 villas and suites start from 500 square feet and, depending on the category, come with either terraces, gardens, private plunge pools, or all of the above. All rooms offer a view—some overlook the valley, while others the lake. They are sumptuously decorated with golden accents simmered by a muted color palette. Some bathrooms come with Victorian-style bathtubs that sit under sunroofs or the warm glow of a chandelier. For meals, there’s the ITC signature Royal Vega, where your silver thali gleams with recipes from the kitchens of maharajas of the past. At Kebabs & Kurries, feast on perennial favorites such as galouti kebabs, dal Bukhara, and nihari. But before you settle down in one of these restaurants, note that sunset drinks are de rigueur by the infinity pool at the Rock Bar. From $375. —Shradha Shahani

Monument – Athens, Greece Arrow

Classified as a modern monument, this mansion was designed in 1881 by Ernst Ziller, the German architect whose eclectic neoclassicism shaped Greece’s new 19th-century capital. Hotelier Grigoris Tolkas spent three years transforming the neglected beauty into an intimate hotel, undeterred by strict building restrictions, maddening bureaucracy and spiralling costs. Restoration specialists from the Ministry of Culture painted the delicate acanthus flowers on the ceilings and trompe l’oeil stairwell, which leads to nine subtly different rooms and suites. There are sepia-toned limewash walls, brass lamps beside bespoke wooden beds and a smattering of contemporary Scandinavian furniture to keep things from sliding into retro pastiche. Modern bathrooms are concealed in mirrored boxes, a neat trick that makes the lofty rooms seem even bigger. Some suites have marble balconies overlooking the domed church of Agios Dimitrios, the pavement scene at fashionable Linou Soumpasis restaurant and the Parthenon hovering above the rooftops. A locally sourced breakfast is the only meal served in the subdued living and dining room that occupies the whole ground floor. The complimentary sauna and steam room in the basement is a lovely perk. Service is hyper-personal, from the morning crew remembering your coffee order to behind-the-scenes tours tailored to your interests, whether you’re into art, architecture or eating your way around Athens. This is a charming hideout in the heart of the city, where you can peel back layers of the past while checking the frenetic pulse of the present. From about $305. —Rachel Howard

Palacio Arriluce — Getxo, Spain Arrow

The mills of God grind slowly—or, as they say in Spain , “Las cosas de palacio van despacio.” But most of the time, patience pays off. In the case of the transformation of the Palacio Arriluce into a luxury hotel, expectations were almost as high as the imposing façade itself, as well all wondered when the doors of Palacio Arriluce Hotel would open. The result rises above any and all of those expectations—we are facing a true masterpiece of hospitality. The long-awaited five-star hotel, a member of the distinguished collection of Leading Hotels of the World, turns the guest into a protagonist of a movie. Sometimes the romantic, historical, mysterious hotel feels like stepping into Downton Abbey or Hogwarts. Other times it may be a scene taken from Pride and Prejudice or a Sherlock Holmes story. Art (with works by Sonia Delaunay and František), gastronomy (with the signature of chef Beñat Ormaetxea), and contemplation all coexist in this icon of the Biscayan coast, wrapped in a halo of luxury, sophistication, and charm. Palacio Arriluce offers one of the most coveted luxuries today, that of watching time go by: reading one of the books from the library, playing croquet, chatting in front of an abstract painting, enjoying a glass of txakoli (a traditional wine from the Basque Country), relaxing at the spa, or admiring the sunset from the pool. Don't call it a hotel—call it a palace. From $380. —Maria Casbas

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