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Deluxe | Expensive | Moderate | Budget | Hostels
The Alex
205 E 45th St between Second and Third Aves (212-867-5100; www.thealexhotel.com). Subway: 42nd St S, 4, 5, 6, 7 to 42nd St–Grand Central. Rates $375–$500 single/double; $400–$700 studio/one bedroom; $1,000–$3,000 suite. 203 rooms. Credit AmEx, Disc, MC, V. 
This David Rockwell-designed hotel has a Zen theme: bamboo walls in the lobby, exotic Asian flowers scattered throughout the rooms, and built-in monitors displaying photos of rivers, rocks and leaves. The hotel keeps "preference profiles" on its guests, tracking everything from favorite ice-cream flavors to workout routines. Two thirds of the rooms are suites that feature full kitchens with Miele dishwashers and Sub-Zero refrigerators stocked with goodies from Dean & DeLuca. There's even an LCD TV in the bathroom, where you can lather up in a limestone tub with Frédéric Fekkai bath products. Riingo, Marcus Samuelsson's eclectic Japanese restaurant, provides room service ("breakfast" can mean pancakes with syrup, or miso soup and smoked salmon).
Hotel services Cell-phone rental. Fitness center.
Room services DVD player. Flat-screen TV. High-speed wireless Internet. Kitchen in some roms. Room service (24hrs).
The Benjamin
125 E 50th St at Lexington Ave (212-715-2500, 888-423-6526; www.thebenjamin.com).
Subway: E, V to Lexington Ave–53rd St; 6 to 51st St. Rates $459–$529 single/double; $499–$659 suite. 209 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
You can get some serious shut-eye at this slumbercentric executive-suite hotel. A sleep concierge is on hand to help you choose from a customized "pillow menu" of 11 types, with fillings ranging from buckwheat hulls to water. Fido will sleep soundly too—the Benjamin is not only pet-friendly but completely pet-pampering. For an additional fee, four-legged friends can enjoy a selection of gourmet treats, a session with a pet psychic or an excursion in a pet taxi. The landmark building once housed the Hotel Beverly, which Georgia O'Keeffe painted from her apartment across the street.
Hotel services Cell-phone rental. Fitness center. Pet-friendly. Spa.
Room services Complimentary newspaper. Cordless phone. High-speed wireless Internet. Kitchenette.
Four Seasons Hotel
57 E 57th St between Madison and Park Aves (212-758-5700, 800-332-3442; www.fourseasons.com). Subway: N, R, W to Lexington Ave–59th St; 4, 5, 6 to 59th St. Rates $455–$895 single/double; $1,550–$11,000 suite. 368 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
Everybody who's anybody—from music industry executives to political figures—has stayed at this quintessentially New York luxury hotel. Renowned architect I.M. Pei's sharp geometric design (in neutral cream and honey tones) is sleek and modern, and rooms are among the largest in the city (the three-
bedroom Royal Suite measures 2,000 square feet). From the higher floors, the views of the city are superb. In 2004, the hotel spa was renovated and now features high-tech "spa-ology." The hotel is known for catering to a guest's every need; your 4am hot-fudge sundae is only a room-service call away.
Hotel services Dry cleaning (24hrs). Fitness center. Gift shop. Spa.
Room services CD/DVD library. Flat-panel TV. High-speed Internet. VCR in suites.
The Muse
130 W 46th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-485-2400; www.themusehotel.com). Subway: B, D, F, V to 47–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr. Rates $379–$469 single/double; $509–$599 suite. 200 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
Pampering is the purpose at the Muse: Rooms are equipped with puffy feather beds, Modern Organic Products toiletries and in-room spa treatments. District (212-485-2999) is perfect for pretheater eats, sending off diners with intermission goodie bags that includes candy and other treats.
Hotel services Cell-phone rental. Fitness center. Valet.
Room services CD player. High-speed wireless Internet. VCR on request.
70 Park Avenue
70 Park Ave at 38th St (212-973-2400; www.70parkavenuehotel.com). Subway: 42nd St S, 4, 5, 6, 7 to 42nd St–Grand Central. Rates $375–$469 superior/deluxe; $465–$2,500 suite. 205 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
A $19 million renovation by designer Jeffrey Bilhuber has transformed the dingy Doral Park Avenue Hotel into an organic-modern oasis worthy of a spread in Dwell. Rooms, though small, are cleverly mirrored and accoutred in rich walnut and chocolate hues. High-tech amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs equipped with Nintendo 64 and a yoga channel (mats are available), and KioPhones from which guests can send e-mail, surf the Web or place room-service orders. Deep bathtubs and eucalyptus-scented Thymes Limited grooming products turn the lav into a minispa. The Silverleaf Tavern provides an around-the-clock room-service menu of creative American dishes, like duck rigatoni and short-rib knishes.
Hotel services Complimentary wine every evening. Library. Pet-friendly. Valet.
Room services CD/DVD player. Complimentary newspaper. Flat-panel TV. High-speed wireless Internet. KioPhone. Nintendo. Room service (24hrs).
St. Regis
2 E 55th St at Fifth Ave (212-753-4500; www.stregis.com). Subway: E, V to Fifth Ave–53rd St. Rates $695–$820 superior/deluxe; $1,150–$11,500 suite. 315 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
Fifth Avenue frippery at its best: In a 1904 Beaux Arts landmark building, the opulent St. Regis is adorned with ornate gold crown moldings, Louis XVI-style furniture, crystal chandeliers, marble baths, lavish rooms and silk wall coverings. Afternoon tea is served in the Astor Court, but if you need something stronger to make you merry, retire to the King Cole Bar, birthplace of the Red Snapper (a.k.a. the Bloody Mary).
Hotel services Beauty salon. Car rental. Cell-phone rental. Fitness center. Florist. Gift shop. Spa. Ticket desk. Valet. Video library.
Room services CD player. High-speed Internet. Nintendo and PlayStation on request. Room service (24hrs).
Deluxe | Expensive | Moderate | Budget | Hostels
The Algonquin
59 W 44th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-840-6800, 800-555-8000; www.thealgonquin.net). Subway: B, D, F, V to 42nd St–Bryant Park; 7 to Fifth Ave. Rates $200–$299 single/double; $299–$549 suite. 174 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
Literary greats like Alexander Woollcott and Dorothy Parker gathered in the lobby and the Round Table Room of this venerable hotel to gossip,
spar and change the world. Beautifully carved and upholstered chairs, old lamps, and large paintings of important figures of the 1920s and '30s uphold the hotel's Jazz Age splendor. The hallways are covered with New Yorker-cartoon wallpaper to commemorate Harold Ross, who secured funding for the magazine over long meetings at the Round Table. Quarters are on the small side and the decor is a bit dated, but the feel is still classic New York. Catch readings by local authors on some Mondays; cabaret performers take over in the Oak Room Tuesday through Saturday.
Hotel services Fitness center (24rs). Ticket desk.
Room services CD player and VCR in suites. Complimentary magazines and newspapers. High-speed wireless Internet. Refrigerator in suites or on request.
The Blakely New York
136 W 55th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves
(212-245-1800; www.blakelynewyork.com). Subway: F, N, Q, R, W to 57th St. Rates $245–$285 single/double; $325–$425 suite. 120 rooms.
Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
In the spring of 2004, the designers of superhip hotels the Maritime and the Mercer transformed the former Gorham Hotel into a slightly more traditional place, favoring comfort over style. Trimmed in oak and appointed with cherrywood furniture and paintings of fox hunts, the rooms recall an old English manor (or a Ralph Lauren catalog). Handsome marble bathrooms—some equipped with deep Jacuzzi tubs—are stocked with Frette robes and toiletries from Brit line Penhaligon's. There's no on-site spa, but massage therapists from chic mobile spa service Cortiva are on call 24/7 to provide in-room rubdowns. Abboccato, an Italian eatery from the owners of Molyvos, draws an upscale crowd.
Hotel services Dry cleaning (24hrs). Mobile spa.
Room services CD/DVD player. Complimentary newspapers. Flat-panel TV. High-speed wireless Internet. Kitchenette. Video library.
The Bryant Park Hotel
40 W 40th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-642-2200; www.bryantparkhotel.com). Subway: B, D, F, V to 42nd St–Bryant Park; 7 to Fifth Ave. Rates $265–$395 single/double; $395–615 suite. 128 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Former Ian Schrager partner Philip Pilevsky converted the 1924 American Radiator Building into his first New York property. And thanks to the hotel's close proximity to Bryant Park, a well-heeled clientele checks in each year during Fashion Week. The lobby, decked out with gorgeous red-tiled walls and mod white lamps, is the best part; the rather stark rooms look as if they were furnished from the West Elm catalog. At press time, a new Chinese restaurant was in the works (from Japanese chef Yuji Wakiya). Head downstairs for a cocktail in the vaulted Cellar Bar. Hidden beneath the lounge is a 70-seat screening room with red velour chairs and built-in desks.
Hotel services Beauty salon. Fitness center. Screening room. Spa. Valet.
Room services CD player. Digital movies on demand. High-speed Internet. Room service (24hrs). VCR.
Chambers
15 W 56th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-974-5656; www.chambershotel.com). Subway: F to 57th St; N, R, W to Fifth Ave–59th St. Rates $315–$400 single; $350–$400 double; $475–$500 studio; $650–$1,600 suite. 77 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
The style-saturated Chambers is as close as you're going to get to Soho in midtown. Developers Ira Drukier and Richard Born (of the Maritime and the Mercer) turned a parking garage into an industrial-chic hotel. David Rockwell-designed guest rooms resemble artists' lofts, with original artwork, brushed cement floors, oversize windows, stainless-steel track lighting, and funky glass desks with waxed paper and colored pencils for doodling. Area duvets, Japanese-style soaking tubs, Bumble and Bumble bath products, Mario Badescu spa services and personal shopping by Henri Bendel complete the luxurious wallow. You'll find equally engaging creations of the culinary variety at the hotel's restaurant, Town (212-582-4445).
Hotel services CD/DVD library. Complimentary pass to New York Sports Club. Computer rental. Personal shopping. Pet-friendly. Valet.
Room services Cordless phone. High-speed Internet.
Dream Hotel
210 W 55th St between Broadway and Seventh Ave (212-247-2000, 866-437-3266; www.dreamny.com). Subway: N, Q, R, W to 57th St. Rates $275–$575 single/double; $509–$5,000 suite. 228 rooms. Credit AmEx, Disc, MC, Visa.
This year, hotelier Vikram Chatwal, who also brought us the Time Hotel, enlisted boldfaced names to turn the old Majestic Hotel into a luxury lodge with a trippy slumberland theme. David Rockwell dressed up the restaurant, an outpost of Serafina; spirituality maven Deepak Chopra conceived the ayurvedic spa; and Jed Leiber, who has produced albums for U2, owns the main-level recording studio. The lobby sums up the resulting aestheticÑwalls are cloaked in Paul Smith-style stripes, a crystal boat dangles from the ceiling, and an enormous gold statue of Catherine the Great stands guard. Every room is lit by an ethereal blue glow and contains a feather-duvet-topped bed with a blue satin headboard; a washroom outfitted with Molton Brown products; a 37- or 42-inch Panasonic plasma TV with movies on demand; and an iPod, loaded with ambient music, connected to Bose speakers. Ava, the rooftop bar, offers panoramic views of the city.
Hotel services Cell-phone rental. Complimentary breakfast. Dry cleaning (24 hrs). Fitness center. Flat-panel TV. Pet-friendly. Spa.
Room services CD/DVD player on request. High-speed Internet. iPod. Movies on demand.
Dylan
52 E 41st St between Madison and Park Aves (212-338-0500, 800-553-9526; www.dylanhotel.com). Subway: 42nd St S, 4, 5, 6, 7 to 42nd St–Grand Central. Rates $249–$549 single/double; $495–$1,200 suite. 107 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
If you ever fantasized about your eighth-grade chemistry teacher, then you'll love this breathtaking boutique hotel, fashioned out of the once crumbling 1903 landmark Chemist Club building. The lobby has a grand marble staircase, fluted columns and beautifully ornate moldings. Most rooms are flooded with natural light and have 11-foot ceilings and modern, dark-walnut furnishings. Washrooms sport basin-style bowl sinks, and beakers stand in for water glasses. The stunning Gothic Alchemy Suite, modeled after a medieval alchemist's lab, has soaring vaulted ceilings, leaded floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious outdoor terrace.
Hotel services Fitness center. Ticket desk. Valet.
Room services CD player and VCR on request. Complimentary newspaper. High-speed Internet.
Flatotel
135 W 52nd St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-887-9400; www.flatotel.com). Subway: N, R, W to 49th St; 1 to 50th St. Rates $249–$349 single/double; $499–$1,800 suite. 288 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.
A slew of reality-TV shows, including America's Next Top Model, have been filmed at this contemporary hotel, which has suites large enough for an entire camera crew. Upon entrance, the Flatotel looks promising: Techno beats pump through the granite lobby, and dimly lit nooks and cowhide-and-leather couches are filled with cocktailers. But that's where the sleek stops—the rooms are far more basic, although still modern and roomy. A fitness center on the 46th floor offers striking city views. Moda (212-887-9880) serves Italian-inspired fare; in temperate weather, catch a breeze when you sip Bacardi in the restaurant's alfresco atrium. For private imbibing, just call the martini butler, who will mix the drink right in your room and present it on a silver tray.
Hotel services Cell-phone rental. Complimentary breakfast. Fitness center. Gift shop. Spa. Valet.
Room services CD player. High-speed Internet. VCR.
Hotel Elysée
60 E 54th St between Madison and Park Aves (212-753-1066; www.elyseehotel.com). Subway: E, V to Lexington Ave–53rd St; 6 to 51st St. Rates $285–$395 single/double; $525 suite. 101 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
Built in the '20s, the Hotel Elysée is a well-preserved piece of New York's Jazz Age. Quarters are furnished with a touch of romance (period fabrics, antique furniture), and some rooms have colored-glass conservatories and terraces. Elysée is popular with publishers and literary types, who convene over complimentary wine and cheese in the evening. Downstairs is the Steakhouse at Monkey Bar (212-838-2600), where a well-coiffed clientele dines on fine cuts. For sister hotels, see Casablanca Hotel, the Library Hotel and the ultramod newcomer Hotel Gansevoort.
Hotel services Complimentary breakfast and pass to nearby gym. Valet. Video library.
Room services CD player in suites. High-speed wireless Internet. VCR.
Hotel Roger Williams
131 Madison Ave at 31st St (888-448-7788; www.rogerwilliamshotel.com). Subway: 6 to 33rd St. Rates $225–$340 single/double; $325–$450 suite. 191 rooms. Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
This small, stylish hotel was recently acquired by the Oceana Hotel Group and then got a $5 million renovation that brought in a vibrant color palette of greens and bright tangerine. The soaring lobby has floor-to-ceiling win
