Midtown Hotels

You know Baccarat, the lavish, storied crystal maker. But do you know Baccarat, the lavish, storied hotel in the heart of Midtown? The building it’s housed in is, unsurprisingly, looks like an ice cube. Inside, once you get up the elevators, it’s all cascading chandeliers, fairytale-looking wallpaper, slick marble, and sexy dim lighting. Speaking of marble, the indoor pool has a checkerboard bottom, which combines with the semi-private cabanas, has a way of transporting you to France the second you dip your toe. Maybe it’s the tufted fainting couches, maybe it’s the four-poster beds and crisp white sheets, but the rooms and suites are somehow minimal and over-the-top at the same time. And the spa? Yeah, it’s La Mer.

In its former life as the home to America's first professional theatrical club, the Lambs, this Midtown hotel was a hangout for the entertainment world’s brightest stars, like Irving Berlin and Fred Astaire, to name a couple. Today, it’s The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel—one of Manhattan’s under-the-radar gems, where its relatively small size (just seventy-six guest rooms) makes it a good choice for visitors who are turned off by the busyness of the megahotels nearby. The interior is an ode to its Art Deco history, which has the delightful feel of a glamorous ocean liner, and we love the fun little details (like backgammon sets, playing cards, and copies of The Great Gatsby) in the rooms.

In the past few years, Midtown has undergone a subtle evolution from the land of corporate offices and tourists to a neighborhood New Yorkers actually want to hang out in.

Tucked away on an unassuming side street in the Flatiron district, Made is right in the thick of Manhattan’s gorgeous sprawl, showcased beautifully via floor-to-ceiling windows in all 108 rooms.

We’ve been fans of the 1 Hotel group since it first set up shop in Miami; New York quickly followed with two locations—one near Central Park and the other on a stretch of rapidly changing Brooklyn Heights waterfront. Blurring the line between luxury and sustainability, every corner of the space is considered in terms of design, from the locally made tables to the greenery and reclaimed wood walls. The rooms are minimal but comfortable, outfitted with hemp-blend mattresses and organic cotton sheets. Another major draw is the food: Chef Jonathan Waxman’s beloved NYC establishment Jams was reprised here, and he hands down serves one of the city’s best kale salads and squid ink rigatoni.

Completed in 1993, the I.M. Pei-designed Four Seasons building was one of the most iconic additions to the New York skyline in the '90s; at 54 stories, it's also one of the tallest hotels in the city. Despite its location just steps from Madison Avenue in the most bustling part of Midtown, it feels like a quiet reprieve. If you're feeling baller, inquire about the Ty Warner penthouse on the top floor.

Since its original owners first broke ground on the building in 1907, The Plaza, with its opulent décor, luxe suites, and location right along the edge of Central Park, has been a monumental presence in the city. F. Scott Fitzgerald (a regular himself) staged Gatsby’s confrontation with Tom Buchanan in a Plaza suite, Frank Lloyd Wright famously lived there for several years while he oversaw the construction of the Guggenheim Museum, and, of course, there’s Eloise (she has her own suite which regularly hosts elaborate birthday sleepovers and such). All of the rooms—and some phenomenal suites—have been recently updated to reflect a more current, but no less classic, point of view. And for those looking for a trip back in time, tea at The Palm Court is where you want to be.

While it's a historic classic (it was built in 1907), New York's St. Regis received a 90 million dollar renovation in 2013. It's still as luxe and old-world as ever: The historic King Cole Bar, and the library—assembled by the hotel's original owner John Jacob Astor, which houses more than 3,000 vintage leather-bound books—are as wonderful as ever. The service here is famously excellent: Each guest is assigned a tails-wearing butler to attend to any special requests.

Every outpost of the Peninsula—Hong Kong, Paris, Los Angeles—delivers the same service and attention to detail (and, in New York, those Savoir beds). Their Manhattan hotel, located in a gorgeous old beaux-arts building that was first built in 1905 and opened as The Gotham, has 200 rooms, each decorated simply and luxuriously. The onsite concierge is available 24 hours a day and even organizes personalized tours of the city.

This beloved Ritz-Carlton outpost in Midtown has recently undergone an extensive renovation, and the results are breathtaking. Staying in the elegant yet inviting updated suites and guestrooms feels like settling into your very own Manhattan townhouse, complete with soaring views over Central Park. The feel is still very much classic New York, with all the amenities you'd expect (amazing beds, beautiful bathrooms, a ridiculously chic bar), though what really sets this location apart is the luxe spa, La Prairie.