Megan Murray

Nowhere in the world does luxury quite like New York City, and from sleek, glassy, towering stays which overlook Columbus Circle and Central Park to tiny little boutique hotels which feel more like ridiculously fancy private homes, luxury comes in all grandiose shapes and glitzy sizes here.  But we aren’t just talking about cloud-like bedding and pretty decor—luxury also means gorging on dishes crafted by world-class chefs, being in prime New York locations, and enjoying polished, attentive service. So, looking to splash out on an ultra-luxe stay in NYC? Here’s where we would recommend, with new reviews of The Fifth Avenue Hotel, The Knickerbocker, and obviously, The Plaza.  Which area is best to stay in New York? For proper, over-the-top luxury, blockbuster New York hotels live on Fifth Avenue, in FiDi, or on the Upper East and West sides. You can browse our comprehensive guide to all of New York City’s best neighborhoods—it will help you figure out which is the best for your trip.  New York’s most luxurious hotels at a glance: 🤩 Most iconic: The Plaza 💎 Most luxurious: The Lowell Hotel 👛 Best budget: The Wallace Hotel 🌃 Best view: Mandarin Oriental 👙 Best pool: The Peninsula New York 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have re

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or somebody visiting New York for the first time, you deserve a place to stay which embodies everything that makes the Big Apple so effortlessly, timelessly cool. After all, a hotel is far from just a place to rest your weary, tired head: when you think about it, they’re basically your gateway into the city.  So, from towering concrete masses to boutique Brooklyn outposts, new additions for Time Out’s 2026 roundup include Nine Orchard, The William Vale, The Standard, High Line, and The Hoxton, Williamsburg. Scroll on for an expertly-curated list of the coolest hotels on the block when it comes to where to stay in NYC. Which area is best to stay in New York? If you’re after a neighborhood which is as cool as your hotel, below you’ll find stays in Tribeca, NoMad, the Lower East Side, the Meatpacking District, and Brooklyn. In fact, we have guides to all of NYC’s neighborhoods, so you can find a spot which is the best fit for you.  New York’s coolest hotels at a glance: 💎 Most luxurious: Crosby Street Hotel 👛 Best budget: Moxy NYC Downtown 🌃 Best view: The Standard, High Line 👙 Best pool: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge 🤩 Most iconic: The William Vale 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many

Gone are the days when the New York spotlight was shone solely on Manhattan. Brooklyn is not only the edgier, cooler younger sibling to the Big Apple’s heartland in terms of its vibe, but also because of its hotels. Don’t get us wrong—there are cool places to stay all over New York, but with so many peppered throughout this particular borough, we simply had to compile a list of the best. So, with new reviews of The William Vale, Ace Brooklyn, and The Hoxton Williamsburg, scroll on for our updated roundup of Brooklyn’s top hotels for spring 2026.  Which area is best to stay in New York? First-time travelers to New York will likely get the most of out of their stay by opting for a Midtown hotel, which is touristy, but super convenient for sightseeing. However, if you’re a frequent visitor to the city, and are after somewhere which feels more neighborhood-like, Williamsburg is a stylish yet well-connected alternative.  Brooklyn’s best boutique hotels at a glance: 🤩 Most iconic: The William Vale 💎 Most luxurious: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge 👛 Best budget: Pod Brooklyn 🌃 Best view: Wythe Hotel 👙 Best pool: Arlo Williamsburg 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at e

New York is special for a lot of reasons, but one of them is its stellar roster of charming, individual hotels which are as effortlessly cool as this brilliant city. From Parisian-style gardens and rooftop bars to whimsical aesthetics, antique furniture and cocktails as unusual as the bars in which they’re served, we’ve handpicked the most outstanding boutique hotels New York has to offer. Included below are brand-new reviews of Nine Orchard, The Ned NoMad, and Now Now NoHo, but there’s plenty more where that came from, so have a read and feast your eyes.  Which area is best to stay in New York? For design-forward and stylish places to stay, trendy Manhattan neighborhoods like SoHo, Tribeca, NoMad and the Lower East Side are your best bet, but in this list you’ll also find thoughtfully-renovated, pleasing-on-the-eye hotels in Williamsburg and Long Island City. New York’s best boutique hotels at a glance: 💎 Most luxurious: Crosby Street Hotel 👛 Best budget: Boro Hotel 🌃 Best view: The Ludlow Hotel 👙 Best pool: The Greenwich Hotel 🤩 Most iconic: The Hotel Chelsea 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been sel

As Germany’s second city, you’d think Hamburg would be a bigger name on the tourist circuit but this cultural gem is still relatively untapped – great news for those who like to be ahead of the travel curve. As one of the county’s biggest ports, the harbour is still the heartbeat of the city, and you’ll find fascinating maritime history, a 150-year-old fish market, and a whole lot more.  So water’s a big theme, but there’s also the Alster, a picturesque lake and walking route at Hamburg’s centre surrounded by cafes, hotels and boating clubs. Looking for the party? Hamburg’s nightlife is legendary (partly thanks to the Beatles’s time here). Find great bars and clubs in our Red Light District the Reeperbahn, as well as St Pauli and Sternschanze. For everything you need to know about Hamburg’s best neighbourhoods, read on, friends. Here’s exactly where to stay.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to hotels, Airbnbs and more in Hamburg Megan Murray is a writer based in Hamburg. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Hamburg is a magnificent city. There’s nowhere quite like it in Germany, which is impressive when considering the breadth of quality on offer here. Still, Hamburg stands tall above all, with its thrilling attractions, unbeatable nightlife and very human history. Packed in among all of that are some of Germany’s best eats. Hungry? Hamburg is waiting. The best restaurants in Hamburg showcase the city’s delectable diversity while paying homage to the traditional recipes of its past. If you’re into fish, you are in for a treat. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Hamburg🐟 The best restaurants in Hamburg🛏 The best hotels in Hamburg Megan Murray is a writer based in Hamburg. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

I’ll put my hands up: before moving to Hamburg, I was basically blind to its allure as a city break destination. Trips to Germany would more likely be taken to edgy Berlin or picturesque Munich, but therein lies Hamburg’s charm: this beautiful, historic and creative place is still relatively undiscovered – which makes it all the better for exploring. In summer, drink and paddle at the Alster lake, explore the stretch of beach along the Elbe River and visit Hamburg’s port, where its famous Fish Market has been rumbling on every Sunday for 150 years. Every neighbourhood has its own vibe, from uber-trendy Winterhude to glossy Eppendorf, but there’s plenty to get stuck into in every corner of this city. From markets to lakes and plenty of beer, here are my favourite things to do in Hamburg.  RECOMMENDED:🍲 The best restaurants in Hamburg🏨 The best hotels in Hamburg🏛️ The best attractions in Hamburg🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Hamburg Megan Murray is a writer based in Hamburg. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

This is a boutique hotel in every sense of the phrase; every detail has been poured over, from the silky, pleated walls in the corridor to the hidden Portrait Bar, just for hotel guests.  It’s full of surprises; you could round a corner to find a floral, velvet sofa and a well-stocked bookcase as a reading nook, or discover a colorful parlor filled with palms and garden furniture, available for private hire. It’s a bit like a cabinet of curiosities, but on a much larger scale—here’s my brand-new review of The Fifth Avenue Hotel.  Why should I stay at The Fifth Avenue Hotel? First up, because it’s absolutely gorgeous. Its home is found within a 19th-century mansion and Swedish-born star designer Martin Brudnizki created the design scheme, which is inspired by owner Alex Ohebshalom’s travels as well as romanticized figures of French history, like the poet Baudelaire. The vibe is all richly toned colors, exquisite materials, and romantic details, so you’ll want to get your camera out. It also genuinely feels five-star—there are special touches like tablets in rooms that control all elements of lighting, heat, sound, and television, as well as a 24/7 butler service. What are the rooms like at The Fifth Avenue Hotel? There’s a mixture of rooms (queens, kings, and corners), suites (studio, one-bedroom, terrace), and signature suites such as the penthouse, which are beautifully designed, offering features such as smart TVs, designer bath products, and even luxury car service. You do

  Let’s cut to the chase: you’re either an Ace person, or you’re not. It’s a whole vibe—a laid-back attitude, industrial aesthetic, utilitarian-style rooms, and community feel, often rooted in music. If grand dames or overly Instagrammable stays are your thing, the Ace might be too chill for you—but that’s exactly how they like it. Here’s what I thought of my stay.  Why should you stay at Ace Hotel Brooklyn? Well, it’s big. The ground floor spans several spaces with loads of room to relax with your laptop or have a drink with friends, and it’s got some cool features like a photo booth, artist-in-residence gallery, and a store.  The location is great, too. Situated on the edge of Downtown Brooklyn, there’s a shedload of things to do in the area, from strolling the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to seeing a show at the iconic Kings Theatre, and enjoying dinner and drinks from a long list of fabulous restaurants and bars. Oh, and because Ace has a whole community vibe going on, there’s usually a deal or perk in the works, too.  What are the rooms like at Ace Hotel Brooklyn? There are five room categories across queen, cozy, double, and loft, plus a suite. Within these categories, you can select an accessible or skyline-specific view option. Interior design choices feel pretty uniform, favoring warm woods, mid-century styles, white bedsheets, and pea-green leather sofas where there’s room. That said, even some of the queen rooms still have space for a sofa, and huge, Crittall-style w

Nine Orchard occupies the iconic Jarmulowsky Bank, a deeply historic building restored using its original 1912 blueprints. The Neo-Renaissance architecture has been brought back to life with care: vaulted ceilings, pink Tennessee marble floors and Botticino marble walls create a backdrop for bold artworks and patterned banquettes.  It’s a hotel that works just as well for coffee, dinner or drinks as it does for an overnight stay. It’s also a magnet for celebrities and tastemakers—on my way out, I clocked model Lucky Blue Smith and his social-media-star wife Nara Smith gliding in to check in—proof, if any were needed, that Nine Orchard is one heck of a swish place to stay.  Why should you stay at Nine Orchard? Let me count the reasons. Firstly, the location is spot on: just off the beaten path in the Lower East Side, with an indie edge and some of the city’s best boutiques on the doorstep. The design is genuinely swoon-worthy, and the dining options deliver, with the ground-floor Swan Room calling for a cocktail once evening rolls around.  What are the rooms like at Nine Orchard?  There are 113 rooms across six categories, starting with classic and studio spaces with queen or king-size beds. At the top end, there are two-bedroom suites ideal for families, plus a rooftop terrace suite and the aptly named Supreme View Suite, with skyline vistas.  While the public spaces lean into opulent maximalism, the bedrooms feel calm and relaxed, drawing on mid-century modern influences. Ex

If you already know the original London outpost, you’ll be familiar with The Ned’s love of decadent design and effortless hosting. In New York, that formula translates into a hotel that’s as much about socializing as sleeping, with multiple dining spaces including Cecconi’s and Little Ned. Guests also get access to members-only areas, which adds to the sense of being in the thick of things. The location seals the deal: Midtown landmarks are close by, while Downtown’s late-night energy is an easy hop away.  Why should I stay at The Ned NoMad? Fans of The Ned’s brand of hospitality will appreciate the familiar touches. Bathrooms are stocked with generously sized products from Soho House’s Cowshed, while breakfast in bed arrives on silver platters alongside floral china tea sets. Access to the members’ spaces is a particular highlight, especially Ned’s Club Downstairs, decorated with whimsical, hand-painted murals by Brooklyn-based artist b.chehayeb.  What are the rooms like at The Ned NoMad?  There are six room categories, from compact Crash Pads designed for solo stays to spacious Studios with a warehouse feel, plenty of natural light and artistic flourishes such as painter’s screens and vintage writing desks. I stayed in a Deluxe, a comfortable 34 square meters with a plush king-size bed, freestanding bath and walk-in shower. Large windows frame classic New York views, while Beaux-Arts details nod to the building’s history. My only gripe? The room is split with a huge divider

Château Royal Berlin is perfect for the contemporary, design-led traveller – cool, modern, but with a healthy dose of history to keep you interested. Essentially it’s an aesthetic art hotel in a central area with a great restaurant – what more could you want? Why stay at Château Royal Berlin? First off, you might recognise the ‘Royal’ part of the hotel’s name. It’s a nod to a boutique hospitality brand co-owned by Stephen Landwehr, which began with Berlin’s Grill Royal in 2007. Envisioned as a casual but elegant steak restaurant, it attracted a fashionable crowd thanks to Landwehr’s interest in art, lining the walls with an impressive collection. Since then, (alongside other investors) he’s opened a smaller Berlin address, as well as a wow-worthy restaurant in Hamburg, before delving into the hotel business. The Grill name is a bit of an institution here, by the way. As for the space, the hotel is made up of two listed buildings, dating from 1850 and 1910, which offer a beautiful, cream-toned façade and original features. It was originally a publishing company but during extensive renovations, architects discovered evidence that this may have also been a spy base during the Cold War (it’s giving: ‘if these walls could talk’). The design is a huge (if not, the) selling point here, with a concept by Studio Irina Kromayer inspired by Berlin’s 20th century heyday. Loosely, you could say it feels retro, but it’s actually an authentic interpretation of design at that time, with go