The best boutique hotels in New York

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.

From Times Square frenzy to Upper East Side elegance, every pocket of New York expresses its own personality, and no two neighbourhoods are alike. This captivating city is merely a cluster of small towns, each distinct, representing the history and culture of the streets, storefronts, and people who have lived there over the years.

Hotels are threads of the very fabric woven through each area and laced into New York’s cityscape, often offering cutting edge interior design, acclaimed art collections, vibrant culinary scenes, and buzzy cocktail bars. Luxurious, one-of-a-kind properties lie within each pocket of the city and showcase alluring architecture and soaring towers that dazzle from a distance. Whether you crave an intimate art-filled escape in Soho or a five-star sojourn in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the best boutique hotels in New York promise unrivalled experiences that cater to every type of traveller.

How we review

Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.

Crosby Street Hotel

New York, United States

9
Telegraph expert rating

In the heart of happening SoHo, but on a quiet cobblestone street, the Crosby dazzles from the moment you enter, with soaring ceilings and warehouse-style windows framed with designer draperies. Art is a focal point in every space – from the avant-garde floral arrangements to quirky antique telephones hung on walls and whimsical dog sculptures. Rooms feel more like posh private apartments. Each space is uniquely decorated with exquisite designer fabrics and furnishings and they all have floor-to-ceiling windows (get a Meadow Suite with a private terrace garden). The spacious ground-floor Crosby Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch on weekends, and afternoon tea.

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From

£
618

per night

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• An insider guide to New York

The Mercer

New York, United States

8
Telegraph expert rating

As a sister property to Chateau Marmont, The Mercer attracts a stylish set of travellers and locals. The magnificent landmark Romanesque Revival structure, built in 1890 for John Jacob Astor, is a stand-out on the block. The property was converted from artist studios in 1997, when celebrated French designer Christian Liaigre curated the modern yet timeless interiors with stream-lined furnishings – think tailored slipcovered club chairs and sleek leather sofas in a soothing colour palette. The loft-like rooms on six floors overlook the bustling streets of Soho. Upon entering, expect a handsome library space and a grand living and dining room, which acts as an extension of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Mercer Kitchen.

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From

£
543

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• The best luxury hotels in New York

MADE

New York, United States

8
Telegraph expert rating

MADE is trendy in the best way: it’s in the happening neighbourhood of NoMad, a 10-minute stroll from a host of the city’s top restaurants such as Eleven Madison Park and ABC Kitchen. A warm, zen-like energy unfolds as soon as you cross the threshold. Expect earthy luxury – tons of wood, light, and greenery melded with patches of pattern in handwoven fabrics. Rooms have incredibly comfy Leesa Sapira mattresses topped with luscious down pillows, all adorned in Frette linens. You’ll feel as if you’ve trotted off to a modern lodge in the Hudson Valley or perhaps even a resort on the West Coast. To imbibe, sip a fancy cocktail in the lobby, the restaurant bar, or Good Behavior – the rooftop tiki bar – which affords a fantastic perspective of the city.

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From

£
151

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• The best restaurants in New York

The Lowell

New York, United States

8
Telegraph expert rating

With just 74 rooms, each one differently sized, shaped and decorated, The Lowell was a boutique hotel before the term was even invented; regular guests book by the specific room number rather than room category. Some suites feature four-poster beds and full kitchens, while others have large stone terraces, with wrought-iron furniture and views over the park. In the 33 rooms with working fireplaces, a member of staff will build an open fire on request. Personal and thoughtful service is of the greatest importance here, where, on average, 75 per cent of guests are returning visitors.

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From

£
662

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• The best family-friendly hotels in New York

The Chatwal

New York, United States

9
Telegraph expert rating

With only 76 rooms, this jewel in the Theatre District proves that great things come in small packages. The stunning Art Deco interiors, personalised service, and a destination restaurant and bar by Geoffrey Zakarian establish The Chatwal as one of Midtown’s preferred choices for luxury. Expect stunning Art Deco interiors reminiscent of the Prohibition Era with bold design details including warm wood veneers, shiny metal accents and bright red pops of colour. There are plenty of nods to NYC history and culture too – especially in the two-storey sepia mural of New York’s cityscape covering a lobby wall.

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From

£
396

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• The best bars in New York

The Whitby

New York, United States

9
Telegraph expert rating

The Whitby offers a sensorial stay, with eclectic, colourful design and a focus on art, alongside serious luxury and unstuffy service. The space is such a riot of rich, tactile fabrics, elaborately printed wallpapers, crockery hung like portraits, giant murals and sculptures as to be deemed a gallery in its own right. Bedrooms are all individually designed, using more than 150 different fabrics, meaning each feels unique. Even the standard rooms are spacious by New York standards. The two bustling restaurants offer an upscale menu to guests and local fashion types; everything is served on highly covetable china from Kit Kemp’s Mythical Creatures Wedgewood collection. There are also two screening rooms and a 2,500-book library in the basement.

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£
583

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The best hotels in New York

Wythe Hotel

Brooklyn, New York, United States

8
Telegraph expert rating

The industrial-chic Wythe is in the hipster enclave of Williamsburg, surrounded by bars, restaurants, clubs, and creative industries. Expect spacious, light-filled rooms; a restaurant to rival anything found in Manhattan; and a sixth-floor bar with stunning views across the East River. Following the footprint of the factory it took over and its original features, most of the 70 bedrooms vary in shape, but all are larger than your average New York hotel, starting at a generous 250 square feet, with 13 feet-high ceilings and huge windows (with blackout blinds), many of them floor-to-ceiling, facing the Manhattan skyline.

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£
139

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Contributions by Jane Mulkerrins

The best hotels in New York

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The Carlyle

HOTEL
New York, United States

9
Telegraph expert rating

Few hotels have inspired a documentary, an Assouline book and a fashion collection. The Carlyle i…

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From

£
841

per night
The Whitby

HOTEL
New York, United States

9
Telegraph expert rating

A unique, boutique bolthole from the Firmdale group in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The Whitby…

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From

£
583

per night

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The St. Regis New York

HOTEL
New York, United States

9
Telegraph expert rating

This luxury Beaux-Arts icon, standing in one of Manhattan’s sweetest locations, pulls out all the…

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From

£
556

per night

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This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.

The best boutique hotels in New York