These are unusual times, and the state of affairs can change quickly. Please check the latest travel guidance before making your journey. Our writers visited these hotels pre-pandemic.
Midtown Manhattan captures the essence of New York. This lively area showcases a stockpile of shimmering skyscrapers while promising an assortment of the city’s most captivating sights and
attractions within its borders. Stay in Midtown and you’ll be within a quick walk or taxi ride of Broadway shows, Rockefeller Center, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Central Park, the Empire State Building, and Grand Central Terminal. For glamour, history, city views, and outstanding food and drink, here's our pick of the best hotels in Midtown.
Across from the MoMA, Baccarat is in the thick of Midtown Manhattan and just steps away from attractions like the Rockefeller Center, Michelin-starred restaurants (Le Bernardin; The Modern) and Fifth Avenue’s luxury fashion houses. As for getting around town, you’ll have the E/M trains on the corner, and the 1/2/3 lines within about eight minutes’ walk. With interiors by Gilles & Boissier the hotel’s look is blingy in a wonderful way – think mood lighting, herringbone wood flooring, tons of crystal, and sumptuous, drapey fabrics. Afternoon teas, a hip bar and restaurant, sleek bedrooms and a spa with a pool provide respite between city sightseeing excursions.
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From £ 594
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A mere two blocks south of Central Park and two blocks north of MoMA, this unique, boutique bolthole from the Firmdale group (which also includes New York’s Crosby Street Hotel) has a location that’s hard to beat. Firmdale founders Kit Kemp, an interior designer, and her husband Tim believe hotels should be “a celebration of art and design”, and as such, The Whitby is a riot of rich, tactile fabrics, elaborately printed wallpapers, crockery hung like portraits, and giant murals and sculptures which wouldn't look out of place in a gallery. A 130-seat screening room, a Reading Room with 2,500 books, a gym and individually designed rooms make this a truly sensorial stay.
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From £ 646
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Fitness brand Equinox’s inaugural hotel occupies 15 floors of the tallest building in Hudson Yards, a mammoth city-within-a-city development along Manhattan’s Westside. Much like the brand has pushed boundaries in fitness, David Rockwell and his team push boundaries in design, so expect a sexy sanctuary of resin, figured metal, stone, leather, and Zaha Hadid sofas. The pièce de résistance is the Jaume Plensa sculpture. There’s 60,000 square feet of workout space and guests get access to the likes of classes, pools, and a full-service spa. For captivating sunsets paired with excellent food and drink head to Electric Lemon’s 8,000 square foot terrace. Rooms are sleek but ooze luxury.
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From £ 593
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In the Garment District, this handsome boutique property is within earshot of Bryant Park and close to the action of Midtown. You’ll find it a quick and easy walk from this locale to the east and west sides of town, plus the Empire State Building is practically a next-door neighbour. Inside, thoughtful design details abound with exposed brick and walnut-stained wood offset by black metal features and a fabulous art collection. A Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, trendy rooftop cocktail lounge with gorgeous Manhattan views, concierge, overnight shoe shine upon request, valet parking, plus little touches such as handmade caramels upon arrival and excellent service make up for the dollhouse-size rooms.
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From £ 181
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Hyatt's Andaz 5th Avenue, formerly the site of Tommy Hilfiger's headquarters, is an excellent spot for exploring Midtown Manhattan and escaping to quieter sections of New York. It’s based across the street from the New York Public Library and down the block from Bryant Park, an oasis in the city (plus you’ll have easy access to more than a dozen subway lines, too). Given the brand and building’s heritage, expect a design-centric approach with interesting textures (black stone, sleek leather, plush velvet) and minimalist rooms. There’s an informal restaurant-cum-bar in the basement as well as a 24-hour fitness centre, but the best perk is the complimentary wine hour (6pm-8pm) every evening in the lobby.
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From £ 332
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Park Hyatt shares this address with One57, one of the city's tallest and most talked about residences on West 57th across from Carnegie Hall. It lies in the fever of Midtown and is two blocks from Central Park; you can get to MoMA, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Centre and Times Square in 10 minutes or less. Expect stellar service, pin-drop quiet rooms (among the largest in town), a sumptuous spa and modern but inviting interiors fashioned by Toronto and NYC-based Yabu Pushelberg. In terms of dining, tons of atmosphere and a big city vibe infuse The Living Room, a beautiful space set against a windowed backdrop of 57th Street where plates like tuna tartar and cacio e pepe with black truffle tempt.
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John Jacob Astor IV strived to create the “finest hotel in the world” when he opened The St. Regis more than a century ago. Today, this luxury Beaux-Arts icon, in the thick of Midtown and four blocks from Central Park, still aims to offer the best service and amenities, with well-trained and pleasant staff ensuring each visitor receives first-class treatment. Butlers – included for all guests regardless of room category – are on hand to fetch beverages, assist with un/packing, pressing garments (two free per guest per stay), shine shoes, and more. And a Bentley House Car remains on call for drop-offs within a 10-block radius. Otherwise, Fifth Avenue, MoMA and Rockefeller Center are but a mere stroll.
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From £ 653
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This landmark hotel in the midst of the Fifth Avenue shopping district opened as the short-lived Gotham Hotel in 1905 but closed due to bankruptcy in 1908. After several unsuccessful endeavors over the years, the architectural grand dame became The Peninsula New York in 1988, though much of the Gotham Hotel’s character remains. But while the interiors are classic, they don’t gush with style like you’d expect. Still, there’s a level of old-world luxury that shouldn’t be discounted, and even the smallest of the rooms is large by New York standards. Food and drink offerings shine, too, with two restaurants and lounge areas and a chic rooftop bar that provides magnificent skyline views.
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From £ 594
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An historic 1882-built neo-Renaissance mansion in a bustling section of East Midtown. It’s a block from the 4,5,6 Subway and taxis are ubiquitous. Fine dining restaurants (and shops) abound in the area but if you choose to stay on site there are no fewer than five venues, from intimate 25-seat cocktail salon Rarities to aromatic in-house bakery Pomme Palais, where the aroma of freshly baked cakes, pastries and macaroons prove irresistible. There’s subterranean lounge Troubles Trust but the star of the show is Villard, where Chef Oscar Granados serves sumptuous farm-to-table New American breakfasts and brunches in a gloriously ornate gilt-lined setting. Rooms are just as elegant. Please check that the venues mentioned are fully open before you book.
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From £ 412
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One of the most established, upmarket hotels in Midtown Manhattan is classical without being staid, and New Yorkers make the right noises when you say you’re staying on 5th Avenue, one of the district's most prestigious addresses. Rooms feature intuitive bedside electronic controls, a marble bathroom and Oscar de la Renta toiletries that are exclusive to Peninsula Hotels. Clement, the hotel's signature restaurant, is divided into a series of three individually decorated rooms that combine to capture the atmosphere of a New York home. Book in for the buzzy three-course brunch.
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From £ 594
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Contributions by Jane Mulkerrins & Douglas Rogers
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9 Telegraph expert rating
A unique, boutique bolthole from the Firmdale group in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The Whitby... Read expert reviewFrom £ 646
per night
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9 Telegraph expert rating
Few hotels have inspired a documentary, an Assouline book and a fashion collection. The Carlyle i... Read expert review -
9 Telegraph expert rating
This luxury Beaux-Arts icon, standing in one of Manhattan’s sweetest locations, pulls out all the... Read expert reviewFrom £ 653
per night
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Booking.com