New York City is by far one of the best hotel towns in the world. Whether you travel for business, or you always return to the Big Apple for leisure, there is always a new spot in New York City offering a new experience.
As the number of travelers and their expectations are continuously increasing every year (leaving the Covid-19 pandemic aside), hotels have been focusing on offering exquisite experiences to their visitors too.
The most luxurious properties pay a higher attention than ever to details: from furniture, food & beverage outlets, Spa experiences, to employees’ uniform, amenities and other details that can influence the entire ambiance. The goal is always the same: to transform each visit into a memorable experience, a story.
After a never ending pandemic (I am sure you had the same feeling at some point), in 2021 New York City began to welcome guests back. People all over the world couldn’t wait to visit their favorit hotel again, or discover that new spot in town.
Condé Nast Traveler is one of the world’s leading travel publishers, followed especially by those with a fine taste for luxury. Get more Condé Nast Traveler’ insights here.
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New York City Top 10 Hotels in 2021
These are the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice top 10 hotels:
10. Ink 48 Hotel
The 222-room hotel is located in Hell’s Kitchen, in a repurposed printing house from the 1930s. What do you get? A 16th floor rooftop bar, Press Lounge, an in-house restaurant, Print, bright decor, extremely comfortable beds, and above all, a stunning view of Manhattan’s skyline.
9. The Lowell
This 74-room hotel is located in the Upper East Side, and was reopened in 2017 after a 3-year renovation. Unlike big luxury chains, The Lowell offers a personalized feeling: wood-burning fireplaces, grisaille wallpaper in the lobby, tasseled key fobs and many other high-end details.
8. Archer Hotel New York
Archer Hotel has 180 rooms and is located in New York’s Garment District. Its top attraction is the 22nd-floor Spyglass Rooftop Bar , with views over the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. The entire decor ranges from tufted leather headboards to subway0tile bathrooms.
7. The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel
The Carlyle has been an emblem of New York City since its opening in 1930. Their 189 rooms have even been redid into 155 beautiful rooms and suits in 2020. The Carlyle offers a lot of texture and shine: mirrored hallways, brass and black-lacquer wall panelings. Its Bemelmans bar represents a destination itself.
6. The Langham, New York Fifth Avenue
The hotel is situated three blocks north of the Empire State Building on Fifth Avenue. Expect to see walnut furnishings, Duxiana beds, deep soaking tubs, full stainless steel kitchens. But the hotel is also a great place to learn about Alex Katz’ artwork, being home to several original paintings of the artist.
5. Freehand New York
Freehand hotel is famous for its outlets, rather than the rooms, having an award-winning cocktail bar, a breakfast spot, The Smile, another bar from Gabriel Stulman and two more restaurants. The entire decor combines glossy tiles, dark woods, walls in deep turquoise, and quirky touches such as sheepskin rugs and plants in mismatched pots.
4. The Mark
The Mark gives you a sense of cool elegance, combining Art Deco-Inspired elements such as fixtures, furniture, and modern art.
3. Equinox Hotel New York
The Equinox is known as being a temple of wellness and fitness. Choose this hotel for massages followed by IV vitamin drips, cryotherapy chambers, but also for its rooftop pool. When it comes to the rooms, expect to see beds made of horse hair, non-toxic fibres, sauna-seized showers with multiple heads.
2. For Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Located in Lower Manhattan, this Four Seasons Hotel has been infused with a comfortable, contemporary feel by the well-recognized design firm, Yabu Pushelberg. The hotel is known for its CUT restaurant, by Wolfgang Puck, but also the breathtaking spa (75-foot heated lap pool, fitness center, steam room, infrared sauna, and a sundeck).
1. The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City
The Chatwal Hotel combines classic and contemporary like no other. This iconic hotel built in 1905 by Stanford White has been restored and renewed by master architect Thierry Despont. For admirers of architecture, lovers of design, seekers of wellness and connoisseurs of great hotels, the hotel offers a wide range of amenities and touches, in a most discreet, yet stylish setting.
