Uptown New York hotels: Find accommodation in NYC

Pro tip from a born-and-bred New Yorker: if you want to best experience all of the greatness of midtown Manhattan—the big-name Broadway shows, the bright lights of Times Square, the bucolic escape of Bryant Park—then get the hell out of midtown Manhattan. You don’t need to stay directly in the chaotic center of the city to enjoy all of those attractions and amusements, especially not when an elegant respite like The Wallace Hotel is set a mere few subway stops north (it’s set almost directly between the 72nd and 79th Street subway stations), giving you all of the convenience without all of the commotion. A fossil’s throw from the American Museum of Natural History, the 124-room Upper West Side property opened in October 2020, bringing with it boutique-style sophistication to the largely residential neighborhood. That luxuriousness starts in the chicly dressed lobby, where you’re greeted by geometric black-and-white tiled floors, a kinetic clock sculpture by Per Emanuelsson and a large marble reception desk manned by an exceedingly attentive staff.  Through a golden curtain on the ground level, you’ll also find the Wallace Lounge, a swanky Deco-style cocktail bar festooned with jewel-toned velvet sofas, an atmosphere-boosting fireplace and a 1920s Mason & Hamlin grand piano whose ivories get regularly tickled during near-nightly jazz performances. During my stay, the lounge was positively buzzing while singer-songwriter Izze Stein crooned standards to the clink of cocktail...

The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, is everything you want in a classic New York City stay, from sweeping views of Central Park to top-notch service that makes you feel special. This classic, five-star hotel sits right on the southeastern edge of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street and is by far the best hotel stay I’ve had in the city. Its understated elegance is felt as soon as you walk into the lobby, which plays host to myriad lavish events throughout the year. Opened in 1930, the 41-story hotel with 189 small dog-friendly rooms and 76 apartments was modeled after Versailles by famed architects Schultze and Weaver (who also designed the Waldorf-Astoria) and boasts neo-Georgian accents, checkered marble floors, incredible ballroom spaces with grand staircases and a rotunda with murals hand-painted by American artist Edward Melcarth in 1976—one of the most romantic rooms I’ve seen in NYC. After my stay here, I can see why it’s been featured in films like First Wives Club, Meet Joe Black and Oceans 8. It’s also hosted luminaries like Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, Hubert de Givenchy, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Yves Saint Laurent, Barbra Streisand, Joan Collins (and many UN delegations) over the many decades and you can see them represented in the hotel’s incredible candid photos by Ron Galella that line its main hallway. But where The Pierre really shines is in the details, which make it feel like home. Check-in was a breeze with staff who welcomed me...

There are some NYC hotels that have, over time, become synonymous with the city itself. The Carlyle is one of those New York grand dames that still manages to feel as relevant today as when it first opened in 1930. The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, (its official name) has a prime location in the center of the elegant Upper East Side. Located a block from Central Park, its central tower can be seen throughout the neighborhood—as intrinsically a part of the upscale area as the flowers of Park Avenue.  A large part of what’s helped maintain this hospitality icon’s relevance has been its charming, idiosyncratic public venues: Bemelmans Bar, Café Carlyle and—more recently—Dowling’s at the Carlyle. During a recent stay, I was most looking forward to being able to drop in to experience these classic New York spots without having to step outside. (Especially since it happened to be downpouring that night.)  With 192 rooms and suites, there is a wide array of options for a night here. We stayed in an Upper East Side Suite which had a separate sleeping area as well as a full kitchen—perfect for those interested in a longer stay. The minimal, Art Deco design felt both modern and timeless. Meanwhile, the full (but quite tiny) kitchen was a useful touch that made our time here feel more like a home away from home than a hotel stay—one of The Carlyle’s superpowers. Another big bonus of a night here is hopping into one of the historic gold-trimmed elevators and soaring up to your throwback...

The Surrey is a slice of English charm situated less than one block east of Central Park. It’s so serenely secluded, in fact, that you’ll likely never want to leave its privacy. Instead, savor afternoon tea with a side of celebrity sightings while gazing upon the park from afar. Life could be worse.

A hidden place within the elegant avenues of New York's Upper East Side is currently in the spotlight. The Lowell Hotel is a serene establishment that is tucked away within a residential block and surrounded by some of the top fashion stores in the world. This 74-room hotel is 17 floors full of creature comforts, refined artwork and posh furnishings, and is consistently named one of the best hotels in the world. The minute you walk into the lobby of the Lowell Hotel you are immediately hit with the smell of fresh orchids and hydrangeas. The enticing scent only gets better with the complimentary hot chocolate and cookies offered to guests while checking in (best way to beat off the New York winter chills). The Italian marble lobby is currently under renovation but is still quite extravagant, with no expense spared by the current owners. This boutique hotel has been decorated by famed interior designer, Michael Smith. He is best known for decorating the Obama’s private residences in the White House and being BFF’s with the family. When you get up to your private residence, be thankful you don’t have to deal with the typical flimsy hotel key card; you actually get an wrought iron key to unlock your oasis. One also may luck out and get one of the few rooms with an actual wood burning fireplace, a rarity in NYC. Just make sure to call down to the front desk to have them light it, while you are lounging in your sitting room, drinking fresh made Keurig coffee and wrapped in your...

Undeniably lavish, minus the pomp, The Mark does everything right (and makes it seem easy, too) Known for its impressive celebrity clientele, The Mark beckons the fashion-conscious with near-tangible magnetism. Why? Because ostentatious aspects of design are married with more contemporary and zealous aesthetic choices. Yes, there’s black-and-white decor and yes there are marble features, but it’s all punctured by distinctive orange hues in the form of flora, wallpapers and soft furnishings. In short, it looks really, really nice.  And the whole operation is slick and polished, from succinct check-in to simple check out. As for the suites, the bath is luxuriously deep and the wifi is speedy. Plus, it’s culinary wonderboy Jean-Georges Vongerichten who heads up the fine dining restaurant and bar offerings, so you can expect an eclectic menu with the likes of hamachi sashimi, Scottish salmon and parmesan-crusted chicken with artichokes and lemon-basil butter. Delicious. Neighborhood: A five-minute wander from Central Park and pretty close to the Guggenheim, The Met and the rest of Museum Mile, you’re perfectly located for a few days of culture. But while it may be the glistening streets of the Upper East Side that draws tourists and inner-state travellers to the hotel, it’s The Mark’s flamboyance that keeps them there.  Nearby: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: for creative inspiration Papaya King: to get your fill of hot dogs and syrupy papaya juice Bemelmen’s Bar: for a luxe...

This stylish hotel with its seamless blend of art deco and industrial chic decor still manages to maintain that cozy casual neighborhood vibe. Tourists mingle with Upper West Side locals who come to enjoy the dimly lit ambience of the hotel’s 1920’s inspired bar, library and piano lounge. Many of the loft-inspired rooms have balconies, and terraces on the 14th and 16th floors offer sweeping views of the Hudson, Central Park, and Midtown that just might render you speechless. You won’t go hungry either with three restaurants to choose from, including the popular Northern Italian trattoria Serafina, and RedFarm- a hip Chinese dim sum spot. For small bites and cocktails, try the lobby bar Locl with jazz era libations like the decadent “bubbles and pink” made with with Croft Pink Port, Prosecco Champagne, Cointreau and bitters.

The name of this charming B&B on the Upper West Side is pretty accurate. Spacious, immaculately maintained studios with kitchenettes, four-poster beds and flagons of brandy make this intimate inn a special retreat in the middle of the metropolis. Rooms: 4.

The dark-wood interior, moody lighting and lilting jazz music make musician Rene Calvo’s Harlem inn feel more like a 1930s speakeasy than a 21st-century B&B. The airy suites, named for Harlem Renaissance figures such as Chester Himes and Cozy Cole, have restored tin ceilings, a quirky mix of junk-store furnishings and period knick-knacks, and working sinks in original antique cabinets. There are just two suites per floor; each pair shares a bathroom. Rooms: 4.

This historic 1903 property with original mosaic tiling in the lobby and a quaint coffee bar has a distinctly European vibe. Mark Twain and Babe Ruth both stayed here as guests, and if you want to be surrounded by memorabilia reminiscent of these famous denizens, you can stay in one of the hotel’s themed suites. Not only will you find free coffee and pastries in the morning but also a free New York Times, and better yet, free WiFi throughout the entire hotel.