The best hotels near Grand Central Terminal

The New York outpost of this high-end Hyatt brand is all about embracing the New York minute: Efficiency and convenience are built right in. The hotel is directly connected to Grand Central, equipped with express check-in kiosks and even a currency exchange center. Combine that with the high-end amenities Hyatt connoisseurs have come to expect from the Grand Hyatt name. Whether you’re racing to make your train or rushing to the next big meeting, you’ll have to try really hard to not make it on time.

Undoubtedly one of NYC’s finest hotels, this five-star embodiment of Old World New York luxury is at the heart of it all: shopping, dining, theater, Central Park and Grand Central. The 235 guest rooms average 400 square feet and max out at a sprawling 3,000. Sexy in-room features include wall-mounted panels that control everything from temperature to television to mood lighting. A spa, fitness center and a long list of dining options round out the services. A cocktail at Bar at Clement is a must, followed by a nightcap at Salon de Ning, especially in the summer at its outdoor area with breathtaking city views.

The second Pod hotel in NYC lives in a former 1918 residential hotel for single men. Today it’s a hipster haven in otherwise bro-central Murray Hill. The ground floor (and rooftop) are home to Salvation Taco, one of the city’s more popular upscale Mexican cantinas serving tacos, tequilas, mescals and other tasty treats. The rooftop is a great spot for a potent margarita and prime Manhattan views. Rooms are small, to be expected, but some have queen-size beds while other are bunk-bed style, with individual TVs and bedside shelves.

Midtown suits and ladies in slinky dresses love the dark, glam lounge-vibe of the Royalton. Guests sip complimentary coffee and cappuccino from the hotel’s American brasserie Forty Four, which is heralded for its seasonal cocktails—which go nicely with the bronze fireplace and cozy armchairs. Rooms are sleek and grey with mahogany furniture. Most bathrooms have a Roman tub (though not in rooms on floors 11 through 14). In the winter, request a fire in your room’s wood-burning fireplace.

W’s flagship NYC property is everything you’ve come to know and love about W hotels, but with a decidedly New York essence. Standard amenities include the W Mixbar, minibar, 24-hour in-room dining and Bliss bath products. Take a trip to the Bliss 49 Spa, which spans two floors and has mani-pedi stations with personal headsets, movie-while-you-mani services and a snack buffet. Dining is fulfilled at Heartbeat Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whiskey Blue is a popular Midtown cocktail stop, while The Living Room is prime for people watching.

The Japanese-influenced Midtown hotel is glossed with understated elegance. The 149 rooms are minimally decorated, with marble bathrooms, mahogany-and-cherry furniture and plush down comforters. Book a reservation at the intimate supper club, Hakubai. And if you’re truly craving a escape, book the Tatami Suite.

Though the name Waldorf Astoria drips with old world New York elegance, the modern hotel doesn’t quite live up to the storied past. A renovation is certainly called for at this 1931 once-grandiose hotel, and it’s on the way. The treatment, however, is certainly A-list. Former guests include Princess Grace, numerous U.S. presidents and Marilyn Monroe, who actually called the hotel home for a time in 1955. While perhaps not worth the price, it is a definite landmark of Art Deco architecture and design and is iconic to New York City.

Mad Men fans will recognize the Roosevelt as the New York location for Don Draper's temporary pied-à-terre in the cult TV series. Occupying an entire city block, the hotel maintains its classic looks in both the chandelier-lit lobby and the bedrooms. Fittingly, there are plenty of choices when the cocktail hour arrives: The old-school Madison Club Lounge, the more modern Vander Bar and mad46 rooftop lounge.

The Midtown sibling to the downtown success, Andaz 5th Avenue is a swanky addition to the hotel scene. In-room perks include free Wi-Fi and complimentary mini bar treats. The restaurant, The Shop, is fantastic for brunch, while the bar downstairs is a sexy, dimly lit den for cocktails and small bites.

This bookish boutique hotel is designed on the principles of the Dewey Decimal System. That is, each of its floors is named after a category, like Literature, the Arts and General Knowledge. The hotel takes it one step further by pairing book collections in each guest room based on the floor designation. The popular Love room, filed under Philosophy, has a king-size bed, an ivy-clad balcony overlooking the New York Public Library and books like Ovid’s The Art of Love and Dr. Ruth’s The Art of Arousal. The Library Hotel goes above and beyond typical hotel freebies like continental breakfast and wine—it offers free cheese, all-day tea, coffee, fruit and cookies, Wi-Fi and passes to New York Sports Club gyms.