Best Design Hotels in New York

Mandarin Oriental has long borne a reputation as an expert hotelier brand, with fans including stars such as Gary Barlow, Rami Malek, Christian Louboutin Dame Helen Mirren. You too can live like a celebrity at their impressive Manhattan residence, with glittering views from its floor-to-ceiling windows (some overlook Central Park or the Hudson). Opt for a luxe suite for the comfort of your own living area, or one of the 244 other rooms and suites. Eat and drink at one of three in-house venues, take a swim in the indoor pool and bliss out at the large spa. The Mandarin Oriental is an ideal spot for those discovering NYC for the first time.

NoMad opened its doors in July 2022, named after its locale north of Madison Square Park. Its 50-storey facade is striking, offering top-floor views from 500 feet above the city and 250 guest rooms, including suites and penthouse residences. The on-trend hotel really excels when it comes to dining, with Zaytinya’s mezze menus by Michelin-starred Chef José Andrés, Nubeluz cocktail bar boasting 270-degree views across Manhattan, The Lobby Lounge & Bar, for drinks, coffees and pastries in the morning and The Bazaar, arriving later in 2022. NoMad’s 6,800 square-foot spa includes eight treatment rooms and the RelaxSpace Wellness Pod, a 15-minute multi-sensory experience.

The Whitby is an eclectic, funky addition to Tim and Kit Kemp’s British Firmdale Hotel group. Located in the upper midtown, this is the place to be for lovers of innovative contemporary art and design. It has its own state-of-the-art screening room, as well as a gym, drawing room, meeting rooms, restaurant, bar and orangery. It’s very family-friendly too, providing popcorn and movies, board games, books, cribs and special slippers, bathrobes & toiletries for little ones. There’s a programme of hip, cutting-edge events and you can even hire the entire top floor as your own two-bedroom, two-fireplace suite with a dining room and outdoor terrace.

Located opposite the Museum of Modern Art, Baccarat Hotel New York is the global flagship of the legendary French crystal brand. This ultra-luxurious property offers 114 rooms and suites across 12 floors, each blending 18th-century French style with modern elegance. Designed by Barry Sternlicht, the hotel pays tribute to Baccarat’s heritage, incorporating crystal details throughout its décor.

Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, four-poster beds, Mascioni linens, and marble bathrooms with exclusive Maison Francis Kurkdjian amenities. Guests can press a bedside “Champagne” button for in-room bottle service delivered in Baccarat flutes.

Facilities include the dramatic Grand Salon with all-day dining, The Bar serving tenth-anniversary cocktails, and the serene Spa de la Mer – the only one in the U.S. – complete with a 50-foot indoor pool.

Located in Hudson Yards the Equinox Hotel New York prides itself on anticipating and catering to your every need by providing every modern comfort and providing guests with bespoke experiences. There is a contemporary selection of lavish rooms and one- or two-bedroom suites. The Equinox Penthouse Suite is more of a customisable experience than a room with one- and two-bedroom options, skyline views, an in-room fireplace, and a private marble soaking tub. Guests can savour American flavours in the Electric Lemon Restaurant and sip cocktails in the Electric Cocktail Lounge or opt to dine alfresco in the rooftop restaurant and terrace. There is a 25-yard indoor pool for guests to enjoy in addition to the stunning outdoor pool and terrace which overlooks the iconic city skyline and the Hudson River. The Equinox Club boasts state-of-the-art fitness facilities and classes include Soulcycle. The hotel Spa offers relaxation in the form of wellness treatments, massages, and high-tech Cryotherapy and Infrared Sauna therapies.

Stay surrounded by the action, yet submerged in a contemporary oasis at The Times Square EDITION. Michelin-starred chef John Fraser oversees the four floors of dining experiences with indoor and outdoor seating including a fine-dining signature restaurant, an all-day New York restaurant, a cabaret and performance space, and a Lobby Bar. 452 bedrooms and suites display a forward-thinking design combined with a timeless style in moody, seductive palettes. Party till dawn on the Paradise Club’s colourful dance floor with sounds provided by top DJs, relax surrounded by leafy palms on The Terrace and sip on premium selections from the champagne trolley at the vintage-style 701West.

Constructed in 1909 as Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s headquarters, this Edition hotel was once a clock tower. It’s since taken on a new lease of life as a boutique hotel, spa and Michelin-starred restaurant with epic 365-degree views. From the dark oak wood-panelled foyers, 273 guest rooms can be found, offering a contemporary style with neutral palettes. Located in Madison Square Park, this hotel takes a thoroughly modern approach – it’s a doggie-friendly establishment, and has everything from cooking classes to social pours and Haiku nights. The Bar, attached to The Clocktower Restaurant, is a jewel in the hotel’s crown with a fibreglass globe chandelier, 24k gold leaf bar and carved plaster ceilings.

The Ludlow Hotel, within walking distance of Katz’s Deli on the corner and a block north of Beastie Boys Square, feels born on the Lower East Side. Elegant and comfortable, but with artful rough edges and personal quirks, the hotel conjures the area’s vivid history, from the “Gangs of New York” era to Jewish immigration to the wild art and music of the ‘80s. The Ludlow comes with its own New York story. MacPherson, Drukier, and Born rescued a derelict building that had been abandoned by its original developers after the financial crash.

The Ludlow’s solid brick façade and factory casement windows make it fit seamlessly onto its historic block. Throughout the 175 guestrooms, we offer our guests the eclectic personality and rough edges of downtown NYC while delivering all the luxuries and amenities a savvy traveller has come to expect. All rooms are appointed with hardwood floors, handmade silk rugs, artisan-crafted Moroccan pendant lamps, petrified wood nightstands, and Indo-Portuguese style beds. The marble mosaic bathrooms feature brass rain showers, many of which also offer spectacular views from a deep soaking tub. Our one-of-a-kind minibar highlights locally produced products including many gluten-free and healthy options. The high-floor views from the oversized industrial windows offer a spectacular panorama of lower Manhattan, downtown skyscrapers, and New York’s most famous bridges.

The Marmara Park Avenue Hotel, a stylish boutique hotel centrally located on Lower Park Avenue which opened in 2016. Acclaimed artist /designer Joe Ginsberg redesigned it to create an environment where guests feel they are coming home to a chic New York apartment. The Marmara Park Avenue has some of the city’s most spacious accommodations and offers 128 residential-style guestrooms and suites for short- and long-term stays. Rooms available are standard rooms, suites, long-term residences, and penthouses. All rooms exude the essence of a dream New York apartment, complete with bespoke furnishing, original wallpaper designs, and iPads with 24/7 virtual concierge service.

Located in the lobby, tuti Restaurant Bar Lounge offers a global menu with French, Italian, and Mediterranean influences, curated by Executive Chef Ömür Özkan. There is also a carefully curated cocktail list, an extensive wine collection, and internationally acclaimed Vinkara wines from Turkey. The hotel’s rooftop, also known as Balcón, has sweeping views of New York City’s skyline and serves small bites and craft cocktails. Beneath the lobby is the Wellness Center, which offers a Hammam, a traditional ancient Turkish experience performed on the “Gobektasi,” a heated marble slab that follows authentic Turkish Hammam architecture.

Other amenities include an indoor saltwater lap pool and fitness centre for hotel guests or a daily pass/monthly membership for non-guests. Situated just off the renowned Park Avenue, the Marmara Park Avenue is steps from the Empire State Building, Macy’s Herald Square, luxury shopping on Fifth Avenue, and near Grand Central Station Concourse, which can transport guests to any part of NYC in minutes.

An eclectic energy in the W mirrors that which is found on its famous doorstep. Bask in the atmosphere of this part of the city at the hotel’s Living Room, a homage to Times Square’s past, accompanied by pulsating DJ beats and cocktails. 590 eclectic bedrooms have panoramic views from picture windows, as well as pillowtop mattresses, 350-thread-count sheets and Davines amenities to ensure you’re fully refreshed for the action-packed day ahead. Order food to your suite, or take the short journey to one of the in-house restaurants; Dos Caminos for Mexican cuisine with a modern angle and Blue Fin’s fresh seafood and sushi.

Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC offers 186 rooms and suites that embody downtown Manhattan’s dynamic energy and sleek sophistication. Following a complete transformation, the hotel merges industrial heritage with contemporary luxury, featuring warm oak tones, marble finishes, and curated art by local New York creatives.

At the heart of the property is the famed Gansevoort Rooftop, where guests can sip cocktails and savour Mediterranean-inspired cuisine against panoramic views of the Hudson River and city skyline. Dining continues at The Chester, an American bistro offering classic comfort dishes in a lively brasserie setting. The hotel’s heated rooftop pool, open year-round, offers one of Manhattan’s most iconic city swims.

Additional amenities include a 24-hour fitness centre, in-room spa treatments, and a concierge available to facilitate personalised cultural experiences. Situated steps from the High Line, Little Island, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, Gansevoort Meatpacking is the epitome of downtown cool and urban indulgence.

Stay close to the Midtown action at Le Méridien, a new and glittering addition to the Big Apple’s hotel scene, which arrived at the end of 2022. Rising 21 floors, the property has 165 bedrooms and condos for longer stays. It pays tribute to the swanky Fifth Avenue’s former life as a hub for the textile industry, with a scale map of the area and attention to fabric woven into the design by VLDG studio. Guests benefit from Malin and Goetz bath products, and direct access to Latitude / Longitude Bar and an all-day restaurant, Allora, serving regional Italian cuisine.