Aman junkies and those looking to experience Aman’s gleaming gold standard of luxury will love this urban sanctuary in the New York City sky.

Thanks to designer Kit Kemp’s inspired vision, the Crosby Street Hotel is a handcrafted, ultra-luxe retreat with whimsical interiors.

Guests of this discreet Upper East Side hotel feel as though they are in one of the city’s rarefied co-ops, some of which, in fact, are just around the corner. However, the Lowell lobby offers much better service than even the best Park Avenue buildings, because the concierge can arrange for theater tickets and babysitters and fill any other special requests guests may have. The pied-à-terre concept continues with the interior design of the 70 guest rooms, most of which have soft, comfortable color schemes and tasteful mahogany furniture and prints, courtesy of the designer Michael S. Smith.

Of the 72 room options, most are suites. The best have terraces and/or wood-burning fireplaces and some come with kitchens. The Garden Suite, with two terraces (one large enough for a small dinner party) and a fireplace in the living room, is popular with couples who want to entertain when in town. Another favorite is the Penthouse Suite on the 17th floor. Envision a three-bedroom apartment with four terraces, views in all directions and interiors that manage to bring just the right sunny Southern California ease and glamour to Manhattan apartment living.

While there is no spa, the hotel can arrange for in-room treatments and there is a small but fabulous gym with windows looking onto East 63rd Street. The elegant second floor dining room serves food throughout the day and the ground-floor Majorelle Restaurant, Club Room and Jacques Bar are neighborhood mainstays.

The Mark, like its guests, is elegant, discreet and flawlessly put together.

A part of the Firmdale hotel group, the Whitby in New York City is a collaboration of contemporary design and whimsical aesthetic.

Overlooking leafy Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York Harbor and Manhattan’s downtown skyline, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is a gleaming urban resort.

Situated two blocks from Central Park, the 1 Hotel is an eco-friendly, sophisticated refuge in the midst of Midtown.

The subtle 11 Howard entrance sits next to a hard-to-miss blue and black mural facing Canal Street. This subtlety, in fact, persists throughout the property: guests are greeted not by a reception desk, but by a single staff member, iPad in hand, who assists with check in. The lobby is small but polished, and a flight up the industrial–style spiral staircase leads guests to the hotel's comfortable library and buzzing lounge bar, The Blonde.

The dimly lit, carpeted hallways are in stark contrast to the guest rooms, which are bright and airy with light wood floors, high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Decorative accents in muted navy, gray and blush colors add warmth to the minimalist design (cultivated by New York's Anda Andrei and the Danish design firm Space Copenhagen). The Terrace Suite has a full kitchen, dining and living room with French doors that open to your own 12^th-floor private terrace, boasting views both up- and downtown. While there is no spa, the hotel can arrange in-room treatments and services and there is a small fitness center on the third floor.

11 Howard's commitment to conscious hospitality is ever-present, from the organic bathroom products to the ‘create your own’ minibar system that allows guests to choose from treats sourced through Conscious Commerce and Thrive Market. Other partnerships include those with Lauren Bush's FEED and NYC's Groundswell, a public arts initiative focused on using art as a tool for social change. Every booking at the property donates a portion of the proceeds to the Global Poverty Project.

The hotspot restaurant Le CouCou is another draw to the property. Curated by local restaurateur Stephen Starr and acclaimed Parisian chef Daniel Rose, the contemporary French restaurant is expectedly fabulous. Décor is old-school glam, featuring whitewashed brick walls, extravagant chandeliers and a trompe l’oeil mural. The cuisine is delicious, with dishes like white bean salad with pig ear and anchovy and toute le lapin (“the whole rabbit”).

Another colonial charmer, the 1708 House dates back to the eighteenth century and four of the rooms retain period details, including exposed ceiling beams, clawfoot tubs and period furnishings provided by 1708 House Antiques—a boutique also owned by the innkeepers, Skip and Lorraine Ralph. The rest of the B&B’s 14 rooms are newer, though wooden floors, antique furniture and Persian rugs maintain the historical atmosphere. All guestrooms, though, have been updated with modern luxury amenities like plasma TVs, Ralph Lauren linens and radiant tile heating in the bathrooms. In the back garden area, there are three 2-bedroom cottages, two of which have their own private kitchens. The cottages, which are ideal for small families as children under twelve are not allowed to stay in the main house, have a beachier feel with lighter woods and fewer antiques. The B&B’s convenient location steps from Main Street, right next door to Saks Fifth Avenue a block away from the shops and restaurants of Job Lane. The actual beach, though, is a good 20-minute walk away so if you’re lucky enough to score a room here, you should still bring (or rent) a car.

The 1770 House, like many Hamptons hotels, was built in the colonial period (in 1663 actually) and you’ll find antiques and exposed wooden ceiling beams located throughout the building. A 2002 renovation gave the property a fresher look and the six guest rooms are both rustic and chic, with paisley wallpaper, elegant curtains and headboards and modern and antique (though mostly modern) wooden and wicker furniture. All also have flat-screen TVs on the walls and some boast private entrances and fireplaces. In an absolute coup, owners Ben and Bonnie Krupinski snagged Kevin Penner who previously wowed diners at Della Femina for the hotel’s restaurant so, like the American Hotel and c/o Maidstone, evenings here tend to draw a lively crowd. For families and larger groups, there’s also a detached two-bedroom cottage called the Carriage House.

Opened in 2015, the glamorous Baccarat is reminiscent of a French aristocratic home fused with a sleek Manhattan high-rise, and each of the 114 guest rooms are designed to make guests feel at home. Located across the street from the MoMA and right next to Fifth Avenue with its endless restaurants and shopping options, the luxe hideout is great for guests looking to explore the city from a Midtown base.

The 114 rooms at the Baccarat feature French design details (thanks to the Parisian duo responsible for the interiors) including silk walls, jacquard bed covers, white marble bathrooms and Fauchon-stocked mini bars. The Baccarat boasts several dining venues, including hot spot bar The Bar (designed to resemble the stable at Versailles), a glitzy space with a lovely outdoor terrace. Guests and locals can dine at the bar, in the Grand Salon, which is open all day.

There is a tranquil La Mer–appointed spa, located on the same floor as the elegant pool, which features cabanas with day beds. The state-of-the-art gym allows guests to workout on their own or with a personal trainer. The Baccarat provides the additional service of a chauffeured transfer anywhere within 15 blocks of the hotel in their Mercedes.

Camptown Catskills is a rustic retreat for those venturing outside of the city who still want to be within reasonable driving distance of Hudson's antique shops, art galleries and restaurants. The front desk is located within the main building, which doubles as Casa Susanna, a tavern-style Mexican eatery open for dinner and weekend brunch. Renowned in the Hudson Valley area for the inventive locally-sourced ingredients and delicious handmade tortillas, it’s recommended to make a reservation for Casa Susanna prior to arrival.

With 24 hotel rooms and 26 standalone log cabins, Camptown leans into its motor lodge history with retro touches like the neon sign at the entrance, nostalgic kitchen appliances and funky pattern decor. Other amenities on property include an outdoor firepit, an honor system pantry of local and high-end foods (from Tecate cans to local grass-fed beef, all available 24 hours per day) and a heated outdoor pool and swim club, which is open seasonally.

A short drive from Southampton off the Montauk Highway and adjacent to Shinnecock Canal, the historic Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays occupies the oldest original hotel site in America.

New Yorkers have been stopping here since the 1690s, when the property first opened. After the American Revolution, what was once a simple guesthouse grew into a refined hotel. But by the 2010s, Canoe Place had transitioned from a coastal resort into a (fabulous) nightclub, with performances by the likes of Billy Joel, P. Diddy and the Ramones.

In 2022, it reopened as a luxury boutique hotel, with 13 guest rooms, seven luxurious suites and five guest cottages (with outdoor showers). Long Island developers Mitchell and Gregg Rechler of Rechler Equity Partners, led the refurbishment, inspired by a “garden by the sea” concept. Some of the original features—seven fireplaces, the vaulted ceilings of the grand ballroom and the dome of the Pavilion—have been preserved. The public and private spaces are comfortable, residential and stylish. The Study, with a fire roaring in its fireplace, is an incredibly cozy place to get some work done or hole up with a book.

From breakfast to dinner, the meals celebrate local bounty with fresh ingredients and there is a great range of offerings curated for different ages and tastes. Breakfast is served in the Bottle Room, a quaint space painted a soft blue with a shelf of vintage kitchenware, including floral Royal Copenhagen plates and vases. Dine on Mediterranean-inspired takes on classic cuisine at the Good Ground Tavern—and don't miss indulging in the sea salt chocolate chip cookies.

The resort also features a pool and spa. Fitting the relaxed vibe, staff here is extremely attentive, warm and welcoming.

Casa Cipriani was designed by Thierry Despont and is housed in the Beaux-Arts Battery Maritime Building—alongside a fashionable members’ club, to which guests have access. The property is intimate, with just 47 polished, nautical rooms—the best of which have terraces with views of the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. Amenities include see-and-be-seen Cipriani dining venues and a modern spa and wellness center.

Out of all the Hamptons hotels, East Hampton Point most resembles a full-on hotel and amenities include a gym (still quaint though as it’s housed in a former church building), a swimming pool, tennis courts, a playground for children and a topnotch bar and restaurant. It’s a bit north of the main town area, located instead by a pretty marina so guests get a great view of incoming and outgoing boats. Lofty ceilings, fireplaces and large marble bathrooms. Accommodations are divided between suites in a building called the Palmer House and thirteen cottages scattered throughout the property.

In both, the cottages range in size—some are studios, others are duplexes—and many have outdoor decks, Jacuzzis and kitchens. The suites, all of which have their own private entrances, have large marble bathrooms and the nicer ones have high ceilings, private terraces and balconies accessed via staircases. In both, look evoked is English Country, and you’ll find large, four-poster beds, lofty ceilings, fireplaces, Oriental rugs and lots of whites, creams and pastels (popular colors are mint and cerulean). In the Palmer House, common living rooms separate all the bedrooms, so families and groups can choose from an array of possible combinations (granted of course that there’s availability).

Hudson Yards, with its restaurants, shops and attractions (The Vessel, The Edge and The Shed) has been called a city within a city, and with good reason. While on property, guests of the Equinox Hotel might not even believe they are in Manhattan, and one could comfortably choose to stay within the confines of the hotel and the campus-like neighborhood for the duration of a short stay. Clean and new, the Hudson Yards area manages to be a respite from the bustling city while also remaining within reach of the action – situated at the northern terminus of the High Line and within walking distance from Chelsea, Meatpacking and the Theater District. 

Those from out of town will also appreciate that the W. 30th St. BLADE heli-port is located just steps from the hotel, and can bring guests to JFK in just 5 minutes, circumventing the sometimes daunting New York City traffic. 

The Equinox Hotel’s large rooms and suites are entirely soundproofed and equipped with blackout shades built into the floor to ceiling windows so as to ensure a restful stay. The lighting, temperature and privacy settings in each ultra high tech room are controlled by an in-room tablet which has been set up to offer a pre-programmed ‘sleep mode’ as optimized by sleep scientists.

Amenities include a reinvented mini-bar with immunity boosting kits, custom teas, supplements, healthy snacks and skin care products, and guests can even call for a vitamin IV nutridrip.  In addition to standard entertainment options, each room’s smart TV also allows access to AM and PM rituals, a series of video guides that offer stretching, breath work and meditations designed to maximize mental and physical health while traveling. Of course, guests may also book a spa treatment, engage a sleep couch or personal trainer, utilize the equipment or participate in a group fitness class at the gym level, too. 

During our stay, the coveted (and much-photographed) outdoor pool was so crowded with other guests and Equinox gym members, that it proved impossible to get a lounge chair—and don’t even think about doing laps. That said, sitting at the edge of the pool, toes in the water and a watermelon cocktail in hand—with fabulous Vessel views to boot—was still a favorite moment of our time at The Equinox.

On the border of Tribeca and the Financial District, the 189–room property feels surprisingly tucked away from the hub of downtown activity. Guests are welcomed into a sleek and understated lobby (noticeably different from the grand, chandelier-adorned entrances of other Four Seasons) that feels delightfully intimate, as the front desk and concierge area have been combined to create one streamlined, seamless experience at check-in.

In keeping with this theme, the hotel’s interiors, designed by Yabu Pushelberg (the group behind numerous hotels including the London EDITION) are über-contemporary. The elegant, minimal design emphasizes different textures and materials, as public spaces incorporate soft fabrics like wool carpeting with industrial-style woven metal accents and metallic-printed wallpaper.

Accommodations are similarly appointed with a warm, inviting décor and are filled with sleek furnishings in muted colors of greys and light blues. One-third of the guest rooms are corner-facing, welcoming lots of natural light. The gorgeous bathrooms are a highlight, each with a deep soaking tub, luxurious walk-in showers and mosaic marble surfaces. Each room, including the property’s 28 suites, is also outfitted with an iPad Mini, high-tech lighting and control fixtures, plus Bose stereos and entertainment systems that allow guests to access their own Netflix and Airplay with ease. For spectacular views of the city, the Tribeca, Gotham and Royal Suites offer the best lookouts from the 23rd and 24th floors.

Guest rooms (and, in fact, the entire building) are insulated with material that blocks outside noise, so the hotel feels surprisingly serene, and guests are meant to feel like they are coming home to an intimate, comfortable space. The new restaurant, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, is sure to add an element of buzz to the downtown scene. The celebrity chef’s signature steakhouse (he previously headed the Michelin-starred CUT at the Beverly Wilshire) comes highly anticipated as Puck’s first restaurant in New York City that will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to Four Seasons guests (dinner is open to all). With menu specialties like Japanese Wagyu beef and pastries from acclaimed chef Zairah Molina, the 86-seat restaurant also has a sultry bar area and private dining room, which are guaranteed to be hot-ticket seats.

Among the property’s amenities is the luxurious seven-room spa, an utter oasis, that offers custom treatments from the Switzerland-based wellness expert Dr. Burgener. Guests can enjoy signature therapies with special products like detox purifying mud and hydrating milk. There is also a 24-hour, 6,000-sq.-ft. fitness center with a steam room and yoga studio that offer views of the Oculus and World Trade Center, plus a 75-ft. indoor lap pool and outdoor terrace.

The Gansevoort New York's transformation encapsulates the essence of the Meatpacking District's journey—a fusion of heritage and innovation.

Opulent but incredibly tasteful, Glenmere Mansion is a favorite romantic retreat on the western side of the Hudson thanks to its beautifully decorated rooms, spacious spa and acclaimed restaurant.

In ever-trendy Tribeca, Barrière—the brand behind properties in Paris, Cannes and St. Barth's—has added a dash of l'art de vivre to the city grind, with the opening of Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York at 456 Greenwich Street.

Following a 2010 refurbishment, the elegant Plaza Athénée remains its traditional self, only newer. Discreetly tucked among townhouses on a residential street on the Upper East Side, the iconic property is a beacon of European style and taste, notable in the intricate wallpaper and ornate, gilded furnishings.

The hotel's 114 guest rooms and suites are carefully appointed, featuring a similar design aesthetic as the rest of the hotel, as well as uncommon amenities like kitchenettes and balconies. The best suites boast atrium-like, enclosed-glass balconies that illuminate the room and offer the perfect perch from which to take in the city below. There is a small spa and gym, but guests can also head to Central Park, only two blocks away, for exercise and fresh air. The beautiful Arabelle restaurant is an elegant spot for dinner, and the hotel further indulges European sensibilities with daily afternoon tea.

Opened July 2021, Inness is set on 225 acres between the Catskill and Shawangunk mountain ranges, offering a chic country escape (reminiscent of England’s Heckfield Place) that combines classic charm (vintage furniture, woven rugs, wood-burning fireplaces) and contemporary appeal (natural wine lists, Aesop bath products, Scandi-minimalist palettes).

Little Cat Lodge is a 14-room Alpine-inspired hotel and restaurant situated on seven acres at the base of Catamount Mountain, within a century-old lodge and local landmark formerly known as Swiss Hutte.

Located on Madison Avenue across from St. Patrick's Cathedral lies the historic New York Palace hotel. The main building, the Villard Mansion, was constructed in 1882 as a private home, but the bulk of the hotel was constructed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when a 55-story tower was built and opened as the Helmsley Palace. The hotel now offers 909 rooms and suites, of which 176 were recently renovated and comprise “The Tower” section of the hotel, located on the top 14 floors.

The renovated rooms are by far the most luxurious, and interior design styles vary drastically from room to room. The more modern rooms feature earthy color palettes with lots of grey and silver, while the unrenovated ones are over-the-top with chintzy gold furnishings and heaving draping. The corner suites are spacious, at over 1,200-square-feet, and feature contemporary art and stunning panoramic views. The Tower has two themed suites: the Jewel Suite by Martin Katz and the Towers Champagne Suite. Both offer floor-to-ceiling windows, over 5,000-square-feet of space, three floors and a large outdoor terrace with a hot tub. The Jewel Suite is more feminine, with a warm color palette and Martin Katz jewelry on display. The Champagne Suite’s dark carpets and walls make the space feel more masculine, incorporating aesthetic elements of the Dom Pérignon brand.

A two-story lobby with a grand staircase links the historic mansion with the tower, and includes a ballroom, three dining venues and space for special events. The upstairs Gold Room Bar is a Gilded Age masterpiece, and is popular with Midtown locals and out-of-towners alike (you may recognize it from shows like Gossip Girl and Inventing Anna). 

The transformation of Columbus Circle from a roundabout bordered by a dingy meeting hall to a high-end shopping and cultural hub owes a lot to the hotel that anchors one of the two towers in the Time Warner Center. Mandarin Oriental has long been known for luxury in Asia (specifically its legendary Bangkok outpost), but its 2003 opening in New York helped cement its place as a global luxury brand. Among other features, it gave the city its first sky-high lobby, on the thirty-fifth floor, affording stunning Central Park views: in the morning, you can see hawks soaring among the high-rises, and at night, the show of city lights below hypnotizes.

An Asian aesthetic informs the 244 rooms and suites. The angular configuration of the rooms may at first seem odd, but many of them maximize what the hotel knows is its winning feature: floor-to-ceiling windows, the best of which face east for spectacular views over Central Park.

In addition to its incredible vistas, the hotel has proved that it can deliver the same seamless service in America as it does in Asia, thus attracting sophisticated travelers from around the world. It has also become a popular overnight retreat for couples from Greenwich and Bedford who come into town for opera or ballet at Lincoln Center and would rather walk home than face a drive. Be sure to go downstairs for a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center, especially if you can hear a concert in the Allen Room, where musicians stand before the four-story-high windows. Listening to Jazz riffs with an electric-cityscape backdrop can raise goose bumps in even the most jaded.