The 12 best hotels in Chelsea

Perched above the High Line on concrete pillars, The Standard’s super modern rooms flood with light from the wall-to-wall windows, which also ensure stunning views of the city and the Hudson River. If you're an exhibitionist, you'll be thrilled to know these windows also allow outsiders a look in, and if not, be sure to request a higher floor. This is easily one of the trendiest hotels in NYC, with plenty of nightlife nearby (it is Chelsea after all) and inside – dine at the hotel’s Standard Grill and imbibe at the outdoor Biergarten. Play naughty at the clubby rooftop Le Bain, or drink in the exclusive views at Top of the Standard. There's a 24-hour front desk and room service too, so you needn't worry about getting back late.

Mood? Views on views.
Location perks? Did we mention the views?
Budget range? On the pricier side.

A boutique beauty, the Renaissance Chelsea hotel is a four-star slice of luxury, complete with its own ballroom. Right by the Chelsea Flower District and near attractions like Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building, the Renaissance Hotel is fab for those exploring Chelsea, or New York for the first time, including if you plan to do a lot of ‘research’ (i.e. sampling) of the amazing array of restaurants in this area of town.

There are various rooms to choose from, such as the standard guest room or the city view king, if you want to experience being amongst the tall boys. Each room is stylish, yet functional, ideal for resting after a busy day tripping around. We particularly rate the bold use of wall art which gives the rooms a touch of individualistic flair without going overboard.

And, if you’re someone who struggles to abandon their fitness routine when on holiday (well, we hear rumours there are some people to whom this applies), the hotel also has a good fitness suite for you to use.

Mood? Renaissance dreaming.
Location perks? Views of the Empire State from your room (potentially).
Budget range? Surprisingly affordable. 

Along with the cool name, Moxy is the real deal when it comes to stylish and convenient travel. Rooms are spacious, boasting insane views of Manhattan's skyline and have a modern retro vibe interiors that tend to attract young professionals looking for a hip place to crash while scouring Midtown for the best bars, coffee shops and pizza joints in Manhattan. Then again, you needn't actually leave the hotel to find a hangout-worthy spot for your NYC adventures - the Lobby Bar on the second floor does the trick with its killer cocktails and playful atmosphere. For the real wow factor, head up to The Fleur Room rooftop lounge for good vibes and juicy panoramas.

Mood? Modern, industrial and eclectic.
Location perks? Wall-to-wall windows for magnificent skyline views.
Budget range? Relatively affordable when you book ahead of time. 

From the nautical-themed Maritime’s porthole windows, guests can gaze out onto the High Line, the Rubin Museum of Art and Chelsea Market – or out into the Hudson, in true boating style. The glamorous hotel was once home to the National Maritime Union. Now there are waterfall showers in green-tiled bathrooms and wood-paneled walls. Location-wise, you're within stumbling distance of excellent nightlife, a load of 9th Avenue subway stations, and The High Line is also a short walk. But with the adjoining Catch Steak restaurant and the flashy Pan-Asian eatery Tao Downtown in the basement, you don't need to step outside the hotel for a primo bite to eat.

Mood? Dreamy decor.
Location perks? Walking distance to Chelsea Market.
Budget range? Affordable on most budgets for two.

Very few hotels can boast their own Wikipedia page – very few, for that matter, deserve or need one. But The Chelsea Hotel (in case you didn’t know) has an illustrious rock-n-roll-meets-arts history that features luminaries including Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix… the list just goes on and on. All that, of course, is a big draw. But it’s also oh-so-worth going to in its own right. Victoriana gothic combines with deshabille glamour (velvet, carved wood, really nice set of stairs) to make this a contemporary hotel that still rivals the best.

Mood? Iconic.
Location perks? A pleasant stroll to Greenwich Village is waiting for you.
Budget range? From high to low and back again.

The Moore is a boutique hotel stay to remember, and the more you glance the more you'll want to cozy up in one of the 81 guest rooms. Here you will find warm, ambient interiors and stunning city views, all packaged up with a large serving of trendy, metropolitan chic.

The vibe here is purely contemporary but the kind of ‘contemporary’ that those who like browsing flea markets and shopping online for ceramics go for. In that regard, it’s perfectly suited to Chelsea, combining a louche attitude with an appreciation for history.

If you want to really upgrade your experience – or impress a new beau – book the Moore Suite which has a seasonal outdoor soaking tub and shower. Or, even if you don’t go all out on the room, you can still spend plenty of lazy evening time at Moore Wine, the hotel’s fashionable rooftop wine bar. Excellent views and a good little tipple.

Mood? Urban glam.

Location perks? Enj the rooftop wine bar, coffee lounge, and gym. 
Budget range? Pretty affordable for New York. 

A few blocks from Penn Station, Kimpton Hotel's Eventi lends a spot of elegance to a bleak stretch of discount shops and wholesale vendors. It’s incredibly easy to get around the city from here, but you’ll want to make time for lounging in lush Frette linens in the hotel’s spacious rooms, gazing out of floor-to-ceiling windows, and sipping cocktails at one of the chic lobby restaurants. Not to mention the spa, offering both in-room treatments and a full-service in-house – the perfect wind-down after a session at the 24-hour fitness center. The Eventi also pays homage to the thriving Chelsea Arts District with a regularly changing collection of contemporary art.

Mood? Boutique chic.
Location perks? 28 Street subway station is a three-minute walk away. 
Budget range? Great value. 

This arty luxury hotel’s rooms are stocked with a great minibar selection, blackout shades and sleek mid-mod styling. In the warmer months, head to the 14th floor to lounge on one of two outdoor decks and take a dip in the pool (which is heated in winter). Feast on modern South American fare at in-house restaurant HOWM (pronounced home). It’s easy to get to the Javits Center or the long-running immersive theatre experience Sleep No More at the nearby McKittrick Hotel. Here, you're a mere stroll from Chelsea Market and Penn Station, while Times Square is a cool mile and a half away. 

Mood? Bright and modern. 
Location perks? Walking distance from Chelsea Market.
Budget range? Surprisingly cheap. 

This towering hotel is a monument to a very particular kind of unfussy, utterly dust-less urban chic. If you find ‘stuff’ stresses you out, the stripped-back, geometric-worshiping aesthetic of Motto by Hilton could be right up your street. The rooms have a slightly nautical, no-nonsense style to them (although they’re way more luxurious than they look). Things get far more adventurous in the shared areas of the hotel where a reimagined Art Deco-slash-Art Nouveau fashion comes into play. Close the night with signature cocktails at Lulla’s, the hotel’s Italianate bar and restaurant.

Mood? High-shine urbanity.
Location perks? Head out to Chelsea Market for gourmet wonders.
Budget range? Hilton-y prices.

Are we in the future or are we in Chelsea? It’s hard to tell in the uber modern Dream Downtown, located directly behind the Maritime Hotel on the border of the Meatpacking District. The pool’s glass floor looks down into the lobby. There’s a 24-hour gym, hair salon, art exhibition space, two restaurants and a rooftop lounge where you can dance the night away before collapsing into 350-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens. Ridiculous, amazing. Hard to consider even leaving the place, but if you do, you'll realize New York's heart is merely a mile away.

Mood? Dripping in luxury. 
Location perks? Super central.
Budget range? Very well priced.

Welcome to the Ace Hotel, an international hipster Mecca. The lobby is the place to work on your laptop during the day or dance to whichever DJ is spinning at night. Don’t miss the turkey club at The Lobby Bar or the cold brew at Stumptown. The rooms feature work by more than 70 local artists, and some come with turntables and guitars. It's just a 10-minute walk to Madison Square Garden and the front desk is open 24 hours a day. They don't call it the city that never sleeps for nothing.

Mood? Contemporary style.
Location perks? Easy walking distance to Madison Square Garden. 
Budget range? Mid-range and so worth it. 

Okay, so, as far as hotel stays go, we consider this one more of a fixer-upper. Don't get us wrong, it's certainly a cut above the bog-standard inn, but it's no Four Seasons. Featuring clean and inviting interiors and decent-size rooms, Chelsea Pines Inn is a quiet refuge with playful nods to classic Hollywood, all topped off by a charming private garden terrace where you can kick back and enjoy the sun for a few hours. 

Mood? Home-from-home.
Location perks? Just on the border of Greenwich Village and the Meatpacking District. if you like a cozy laid-back vibe, you'll love this place. 
Budget range? Cheaper than most.