16 April 2026
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For simply the best of the best hotels in New York City, you've come to the right place. This is a hotel city, and the accommodations reflect its character: sun-drenched former artists' lofts in Soho, penthouses on famous Fifth Avenue, transformed warehouses in Brooklyn. On this list, there's no poor choice — each is a different way to revel in the city that never sleeps. Below, a rundown of all 29 handpicked Key hotels in New York City.
THE THREE-KEYS
Four hotels hold the Guide's highest hotel honor in New York City.
MIDTOWN
Aman New York:
Ascend 14 floors to the lobby and you're as far removed in vibe from the busy streets of Midtown Manhattan as humanly possible. 80-plus suites feature fireplaces, freestanding tubs and cinematic views, and butler service meets the high level of service expected at any Aman.The Whitby Hotel, Firmdale Hotels:
If the Aman is the height of contemporary elegance, the Whitby is for those with a quirkier, artsier preference. But service and services are no less expert: Expect afternoon tea service, strolls in the courtyard terrace and a private cinema.LOWER MANHATTAN
Casa Cipriani New York:
One of the Financial District's most iconic buildings, this restored Beaux-Arts gem on the water is an outpost of the lavish Cipriani brand and members club. Contemporary Italian design complements a water view that manages to make the East River feel more like a Venetian canal.Crosby Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels:
Another Three-Key under the Firmdale umbrella, this one is just as maximalist and delightful as its sister properties, but this time, it's set on the cobblestone streets of Soho inside a loft-style building with floor-to-ceiling windows.
THE TWO-KEYS
Seven Two-Key hotels span the major neighborhoods of Manhattan.
LOWER MANHATTAN
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York:
The draw is, more or less, “welcome to my Parisian apartment” in trendy Tribeca. Come for the garden-in-the-sky rooftop bar and the private cinema where you can snuggle into a velvety ochre chaise lounge with a box of gourmet truffle popcorn.Warren Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels:
A hurricane of bright colors and daring patterns blends together without a hiccup at this Firmdale Hotel, one of three of Kit Kemp's design hotels in New York. Rub shoulders with Tribeca’s fashion-forward locals at Warren Street Bar & Restaurant or keep to yourself in your marble bathtub.Nine Orchard:
At the crossroads of the Lower East Side and Chinatown is a microneighborhood named Dimes Square, a place that made headlines this decade for its emerging art, dining and bar scene. Within this buzzy setting, an ornate, historic former bank building hosts one of the city's glitziest boutique hotels.
MIDTOWN
Pendry Manhattan West:
Sleek guestrooms feature the California feel of the Pendry brand for a cool, contemporary, streamlined approach to one of the most central areas in Midtown. With thousands of feet of meeting space, it's a particularly excellent option for business travelers, or for anyone who appreciates an excellent on-site gym.The Fifth Avenue Hotel:
One of the few Key hotels in the city with a MICHELIN-selected restaurant (Café Carmellini), this relatively new hotel takes a building by the original Penn Station architects and fills it with color and artwork. The penthouse, with two bedrooms and a wraparound terrace, is one of the top splurges in our selection, and the Portrait Bar is a local favorite.UPPER EAST SIDE
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel:
President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Onassis spent so much time in a Carlyle penthouse it was apparently sometimes referred to as their New York White House. That should tell you plenty about the Carlyle's pedigree, an Upper East Side landmark that, despite the headlines, is all about privacy, intimacy, and a refined version of NYC apartment living.The Mark Hotel:
One of the classiest contemporary hotels in New York has a timeless design — bold black-and-white stripes anchor the lobby, while guestrooms keep to soft neutrals to go with marble bathrooms and soaking tubs. When you're not at Central Park, you're spoiled for dining: A caviar bar serves the signature caviar bagel, all-day dining is by Jean-Georges, and the Mark Bar is ideal for a post-theater cocktail.
THE ONE-KEYS
17 One-Key hotels fan out from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
BROOKLYN
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge:
A location on the riverside Brooklyn Bridge Park means one-of-a-kind views of the East River into Lower Manhattan, but the hotel is its own escape besides — with a sky-scraping rooftop bar and pool, farm-to-table restaurant and excellent spa.Ace Hotel Brooklyn:
The lobby’s long communal tables and work zones make it a Downtown Brooklyn hub, where the industrial, modernist, often reasonably priced rooms feature custom textiles and windows that frame Manhattan’s skyline down to the Statue of Liberty.Wythe Hotel:
In the heart of the trendy, well-known Williamsburg, the Wythe is a neighborhood fixture and a luxurious affair, with rooms that feature 16-foot ceilings, distressed brick walls and poured concrete floors that recall warehouse origins. All-day French fare is served on the first floor; the rooftop is dedicated to dinner and cocktails.CHELSEA
The Hotel Chelsea:
Murder, heartbreak and artists from Mark Twain to Madonna define one of New York City's true creative landmarks. NYC's quintessential bohemian accommodation has been remade in recent years in jewel tones, animal print and stained glass, with plenty of artwork on display — much of it once provided by on-site artists in lieu of rent. A trendy bar and multiple restaurants make this a revitalized hub on the West Side.
UNION SQUARE
The Twenty Two New York:
The rare hotel of this quality to snag real estate just off Union Square, one of Manhattan's most central areas, the building was once a refuge for single working women: it’s now both a hotel and a members club appealing to locals, visitors and low-key celebs alike.LOWER MANHATTAN
The Beekman - A Thompson Hotel:
Occupying a late 1800s vintage skyscraper (or what was then a skyscraper, a nine-story red brick tower), the lobby is perhaps the most impressive in New York. Guest rooms are done in a retro-modern design, full of light and pops of emerald green or royal purple; public spaces are classically old-fashioned, wrapped in built-in bookcases and layers of Persian rugs underfoot.The Ludlow Hotel:
Enter through a red-brick passageway to the lobby, decked out in oak panels and mosaic floors, all centered around a limestone fireplace. Like its neighborhood, full of nightlife, iconic eateries and music venues, the Ludlow is simply cool.The Wall Street Hotel:
Though the Financial District is naturally a target for business travelers, the spacious rooms and mesmerizing views over the New York harbor draw all kinds of travelers. For families, connecting rooms are plentiful. French dining and a Latin-inspired rooftop offer morning-to-night appeal, while the location shares a block with Two-Star Saga and One-Star Crown Shy.
The Greenwich Hotel:
When Robert De Niro moved to Tribeca in the early ‘80s, it was still a gritty series of abandoned warehouses. Today, it's one of the city's fanciest neighborhoods, and the Greenwich Hotel is all luxury — suites feature private saunas, there's a cozy Italian tavern downstairs, and guests enjoy a spa and lantern-lit swimming poolThe Mercer:
One of the pioneering boutique hotels of the city, the Mercer opened in 1997 in a converted Soho loft. Today's guests are treated to a fantasy version of Soho living amidst high ceilings, arched windows and a neighborhood bursting with shops, galleries, cafes and MICHELIN-Starred restaurants like Estela and Torrisi.The Bowery Hotel:
A collection of nostalgic details — uniformed bellhops in top hats, stacks of paper newspapers in the lobby, oriental rugs and leather couches — become more than the sum of their parts at the Bowery. Rooms, classic in style, contrast sharply with the cozy public spaces and sunlight pours through large factory windows. For those who splurge on the Penthouse Terrace Suite, the outdoor space has more square footage than the room itself.
UPPER EAST SIDE
The Lowell:
There's an understated elegance at the Lowell, a somewhat hidden gem that offers another take on New York apartment-style living. Original wood-burning fireplaces abound, and classic tea service takes place every afternoon, while the Pembroke Room is a wonderful breakfast and brunch spot exclusively for hotel guests.MIDTOWN AND NOMAD
1 Hotel Central Park:
One of the greenest hotels in the city, vegetation is incorporated wherever possible — ceilings, accent walls and terraces burst with plant life, while salvaged brick and flooring make up the guest rooms and gym. Yogis will find mats in each room, and some of the upper category accommodations feature window seats perfect for looking out over Central Park.The Peninsula New York:
This stately Beaux-Arts and Italian Renaissance Revival tower has the feel of Old Manhattan — case in point is the grand lobby staircase, punctuated by a crystal chandelier, that leads to sweeping Fifth Avenue views. Plus, the vantage from the rooftop Pen Top Bar is one of the best in the city.
Baccarat Hotel & Residences:
As the name suggests, crystal is a centerpiece and you'll find it dangling from the ceiling, installed in one spectacular wall, and as a receptacle for your champagne. Naturally, everything about the Baccarat is indulgent, from the giant guest rooms — the smallest exceeds 400 square feet — to the 55-foot subterranean marble pool. The Museum of Modern Art sits just across the way.Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park:
A prized location on Central Park South is supplemented by impeccable service, some of the city's largest rooms and an intimate spa. Go for high tea at least once and be sure to stop by the happy hour for Manhattans.Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad:
In one of NoMad's tallest towers, interiors are as luxurious as the views: live greenery cascades above reception and there's a glowing fabric orb in the lobby bar. Chef José Andrés oversees an Eastern Mediterranean restaurant and a dramatic 50th-floor rooftop bar.Related articles:
Hero image: Casa Cipriani provides one of the city's rarest views of New York's East River. © Casa Cipriani
