The 15 best hotels with a view in NYC

Parallel to the Brooklyn Bridge itself, this contemporary property offers amazing architectural views over the East River. Home to a rooftop pool and bar you’ll likely never want to leave, this well-appointed, wellness-focused property is in the heart of DUMBO, so you can walk to the neighborhood’s best restaurants, art galleries, shops and more and have plenty of time to crash at the property. Request skyline views if you want to see Manhattan when you wake up, otherwise, save a few bucks and enjoy the views from the rest of the property.

The only hotel on Roosevelt Island, this property opened in 2021 and has become a meeting point for New Yorkers eager to visit the trendy hotel situated between Manhattan and Queens. Arrive by tramway, subway, ferry or bus and check in for a range of excellent views of three boroughs. Jewel-toned rooms are cozy and bright and the rooftop Panorama Room is renowned for its 360-degree indoor-outdoor views, plus great cocktails.

If you're looking for a cozy terraced hotel to soak up the NYC skyline with a coffee – or cocktail – the Park Terrace Hotel is the one for you. Featuring soundproofed rooms with high-end amenities including a Nespresso coffee machine, SmartTV, and MALIN + GOETZ toiletries, this awesome NYC hotel offers guests a luxury experience. Well, there's nothing left to do but chill on your plush double bed in your provided bathrobe while you peek out of your floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the greenery of Bryant Park and the iconic Empire State Building. 

The eccentric, super modern 21-story William Vale hotel reshaped the Williamsburg skyline. Bright rooms are adorned with eye-catching art and come with furnished balconies, massive windows, dazzling Manhattan views and all. Head to the rooftop bar, check out the glimmering vista of Manhattan across the East River – we dare you not to go a little gaga at the beauty. There's also a 20-yard rooftop swimming pool from which you can soak in the water, sunlight, and views across Williamsburg and the East River. There's also three fantastic eating spots on site. 

Unveiled in 2022, the former home of the Parker Meridian is a super-luxe hotel with gems from the Burger Joint at street level to its Upper Stories. Premium amenities, like a DryBar and jazzy lounge/bar Parker’s, are available on-site, and rooms over a dozen stories in the sky offer generous views of Central Park and surrounding skyscrapers. 

On the northernmost edge of one of Brooklyn’s coolest neighborhoods, Greenpoint, this converted factory offers splendid views over the East River, so you can gaze at the Empire State Building as you drift off. A rooftop bar and lounge offer more views, and the waterfront is just steps away for a closer look at the glimmering buildings. It’s a perfect spot for sunset, and spacious balconies on some rooms help you live like a Brooklynite.  

A room with a view is quite literally the name of the game here. The windows don't just go from floor to ceiling – they are the walls. Towering high above Manhattan, The Standard near the High Line, offers unbeatable cityscapes. Staying in one of these rooms is a bit like sitting in the clouds, especially when you're gazing out from your bathtub. That's right, there are even views to be had from the bathroom. You may want to check about being overlooked before making too much of a show, of course. Along with the glorious views of the city, it's quite the sight inside too. The interiors are modern but not all grey concrete and the rest, they're warm, chic and cosy. A homely environment to have while looking over the Hudson at sunset or whatever you'd like to do. 

The gentrification of Bowery happened so long ago now it's easy to forget that it was once America's most notorious Skid Row. Now it's a more than glitzy affair, situarted in the Lower East Side and East Village, right near the New Museum. The Bowery only emphasizes the elegant side of its life with the loft-style floor to ceiling windows and refined decor. The aforementioned windows are perfect for a spot of skyline gazing, which gets even better if you've got the green for the Penthouse Suite, which comes with a 650-square-foot private terrace. Nice. There's also a 24-hour concierge service, complimentary bicycle rentals and newspapers, and 24-hour room service. So no matter what you're up to, you know you can come back whenever suits and get your fix of that luxe service. 

This internationally-acclaimed paradise for those traveling on both work and pleasure is a certified five-star hotel for a few reasons: the scenery, the service, and the spa. Let's start with the spa, the utterly serene and award-winning spa is spread over floors 35 and 36, with highly trained therapists and panoramic views of Central Park through floor-to-ceiling windows, thick ones too – it's super peaceful up there, no car horns to be heard. Situated in (or rather above) Columbus Circle, the Mandarin Oriental’s spa is a calming respite in the midst of New York's concrete jungle and the view from the pool is a total knockout. The view of Central Park also gives an idea of its proximity – a two minute walk. Fifth Avenue is ten minutes away, and MOMA is a walk-able 0.7 miles. From your hotel room there's also views over much of Manhattan. And the service? Well, you may have to pop in and see for yourself. 

The majestic views of the Empire State Building are definitely going to end up on your gram at the Marriott Vacation Club Pulse, that much is fact. The Art Deco-inspired lobby, sleek rooms and pretty views are a welcome respite from the busy Garment District. Head up to the Top of the Strand bar on floor 21, where the skyline glows right in front of you and the caipirinhas hit all of the other senses. Along with that, there are simple and comforting rooms, a prime rooftop bar from which to enjoy the surroundings, and top-tier service. You're close to Times Square, Grand Central Station and more too. You're a stone's throw away from a subway station, so zipping off around the city will be a breeze. 

If you're staying in New York, what could possibly be better than staying in a hotel with a massive red glowing NEW YORKER sign hanging on the top of it? Perhaps one that's also an Art Deco gem famous enough to have a nickname (the "Grand Old Lady"), situated right next to Penn Station. With 912 rooms on several dozen floors, there'll be plenty of room (it's an entire skyscraper, as you can tell). The Wyndham is it's proper name. It has an old-school chandeliered lobby and a storied history. It opened in 1930 with much glitz and glam (many politicians and celebrities spent nights in The Terrace Room) and was then purchased by Reverend Sun Myung Moon and his Unification Church in 1975. Along with being right next to the station, this spot is also just three blocks from the Empire State Building, meaning you get a stunning up-close-and-personal view of the iconic skyscraper whenever you want. Inside, the rooms are simple and elegant.  

Formerly The James, this fashionable SoHo joint had a recent makeover and emerged with a Bauhaus-style resdesign and a new name. Now trading under ModernHaus, this is one hotel on a mission to reignite New York City's nightlife scene – and the centerpiece of that operation is their rooftop bar, Jimmy. You’ll undoubtedly have to jockey for a spot, but when you find one, grab a cocktail and take in the skyline of this glorious city, and Hudson River views. There's also glass elevators and many rooms make a point of positioning windows to maximize light and great things to see. There's also great coffee and food on site. 

At The Peninsula, set in a grand, century-old building on actual Fifth Avenue, the skyline is so close you can practically reach out and touch it (technically you can do this at any level, but you know what we mean, from the top floors and that). New York City looks picture perfect from the guest rooms, the glass-enclosed pool, the fancy fitness center and the sunny terrace. All up and close, bring the camera. The Rockerfeller Center is 700 yards away and Central Park is even closer. You can also see and be seen at the Salon de Ning, a trendy rooftop bar with extraordinary views. You may well catch some other fancy clientele there too. 

After a hectic day in New York, what better way to unwind than gazing at the expanse of Central Park from your spacious, plush room at the Ritz-Carlton? Grand Park View Rooms even come with telescopes for optimal viewing. But first, stop at Contour, where famed bartender Norman Bukofzer will make you a perfect Manhattan and, reportedly, remember your drink for decades (though you'll probably come back more often than once a decade after you've experienced it once). Many of the rooms overlook Central Park and the Rockefeller Center and are decorated to be light, airy, and wooden. So while it is the city that never sleeps, you will find it quite the restorative place to be. 

The Pierre—and its opulent rotunda—has been on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park since 1930. Celebrities still frequent the place today, it hasn't fallen out of style one bit. Timeless, you could say. Anyway, about that rotunda: every surface of the curved walls and sky-high ceiling are covered in ornate trompe l’oeil paintings. It’s gorgeous and dizzying. The India-based luxury hotel brand Taj spent $100 million renovating the property in 2009, adding colorful silks and Indian paintings. For a certain set of very rich New Yorkers, the ballroom here is popular for parties and weddings (and pictures).