Touchstone Hotel

This family-run hotel offers good-value basic accommodation in an excellent location (it's two blocks from Union Square and virtually next door to the pricier Clift). Rooms come with few frills, but they're all clean and nicely appointed. The Jewish deli downstairs is a local institution, popular with theatregoers for the pastrami on rye, and with guests for the free, made-to-order breakfasts with organic coffee.