Where To Stay In New York City

If it’s your first visit to New York, deciding where to stay can significantly impact your vacation. The city has five distinct boroughs and many neighbourhoods, not just Manhattan. From the fancy Upper East and West Sides to Midtown, the West Village, Brooklyn and even Queens, it can be difficult to know where to start since all are packed with great places to stay and things to do.

If you’ve never been to the city before, being close to some of the best sights is paramount, so areas such as Midtown, Soho or the Lower East Side are great options. New York’s subway system is easy to understand and goes all over the city, but some places have more connections than others.

Another thing to consider is the type of neighbourhood you’re after, for example, if you have children, you may want a quieter, more family-friendly area and if you’re on a trip with friends, a lively party area could be lots of fun. No matter where you end up staying, the Big Apple is one of the world’s best cities, and each neighbourhood has its own distinct charm. Here’s where to stay in New York City…

Where To Stay In New York City

Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan is one of the most popular areas for first-time visitors.

This neighbourhood is where famous sights such as Times Square, the Empire State Building, Broadway and the Rockefeller Center are located, so you can walk to many landmarks.

This district also contains Penn Station, which has direct lines towards the airport, and connections to many subway lines throughout the city, giving you an easy way to explore New York.

The only downside to Midtown is that it can be pricey due to being so central and hotels book up quickly.

Also, this area can get very busy due to having the most attractions, particularly in summer, over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Where To Stay In Midtown Manhattan

Luxury – The Plaza

If you’re willing to splash out, there’s only one place to stay in New York: the iconic Plaza Hotel, famous for being one of the city’s most beautiful hotels and featured in films such as Home Alone.

The hotel is next to Central Park on a corner of Fifth Avenue, so there’s no shortage of luxury shopping nearby.

Inside, rooms have iPads and gold-plated fixtures, plus it is home to Palm Court at The Plaza, one of New York’s most high-end places to enjoy Afternoon Tea.

Mid-range – Royalton, New York

For a great and central mid-range option, the Royalton is located on West 44th Street, close to the beautiful Bryant Park, just 300m from Times Square.

It has an onsite restaurant and elegant rooms with slate showers.

Multiple subway stations are located just a few hundred meters from the property, placing it in an ideal location for exploring the city.

Budget – Springhill Suites by Marriot, Times Square

Marriot owns a few hotels in the centre of New York and Springhill Suites in Midtown is one of the best (and cheapest!).

Just a couple of streets over from Times Square, Pen Station and the Empire State Building, in low season, you can book a room for $100 per night.

Rooms have comfy beds, large walk-in showers and flatscreen TVs, a huge buffet breakfast is included and the lobby has a small marketplace, bar and live music.

Upper East Side

The Upper East Side is known widely as New York’s upmarket area, stretching from 59th to 96th street to the east of Central Park.

This neighbourhood is where you’ll find high-end shops such as Gucci and Prada along Lexington and Madison Avenues and beautiful townhouses with doormen and chauffeur-driven cars.

Despite the expensive shops, it has some delicious and affordable restaurants and is mostly residential, so it remains quiet.

The famous Metropolitan Museum of Art lies directly in front along Central Park, and there are many subway stops connecting the Upper East Side to the rest of Manhattan in around 15 minutes.

The UES can be a costly area to stay in due to only a few hotels being located here and its prestige as a location, however, for a special occasion or to splash out, it’s one of the best places to stay in New York.

Where To Stay In Upper East Side

Luxury – The Pierre

Part of the TAJ Hotels group, The Pierre is one of the nicest hotels in the Upper East Side.

Just next to Central Park and Fifth Avenue, the hotel has its own high-end restaurants and a bar, which hosts live jazz nights each week.

With private butlers, concierges, and some of the city’s best shops, you’ll feel like royalty if you stay at The Pierre.

Mid-scale – voco The Franklin

Just a short hop from Museum Mile, the Met and Central Park, voco The Franklin is a great option if you’re looking for something more affordable on the UES.

The spacious rooms have TVs, robes and luxury bedding, and guests can access 24-hour espresso and cappuccino service.

Bigger rooms here come with two double beds too, which is perfect if you’re visiting with kids.

Budget – The Bentley

The Bentley is located on the Upper East Side, very close to the East River, in fact, the hotel overlooks the river and the 59th Street Bridge.

Despite being a fantastic budget option, this hotel still features an onsite gym and rooftop restaurant.

Rooms also include minibars and iPod docking stations.

The hotel is a short walk from the famous shops on Fifth Avenue, and Lexington Avenue subway station is even closer.

SoHo

Southcentral Manhattan is home to SoHo, one of New York’s most fun residential neighbourhoods.

Although many people choose to live here, it is also a trendy place to stay since it is surrounded by almost all other neighbourhoods, such as Greenwich, the Bowery, Little Italy and Midtown.

SoHo is known for having some of the best restaurants in New York City, particularly pizza.

It is also home to many unique boutiques, coffee shops and bars, so you’ll never run out of things to do.

SoHo is slightly more affordable than staying in Midtown or the UES, so if you’re a foodie or looking for somewhere less busy, SoHo could be the place for you.

Where To Stay In SoHo

Luxury – The Mercer

Just a five-minute walk from the famous Washington Square Park and Little Italy, The Mercer may be located in SoHo, but it remains one of New York’s most luxurious hotels.

With 24-hour concierge service and loft-style rooms with flatscreens, WiFi, walk-in showers and video gaming systems.

The hotel also provides personal trainers, massage therapists, yoga lessons, dog walkers, and private limousines.

Surrounded by great shops and restaurants and a short subway ride to major attractions, it’s in an ideal location for staying in the city.

Mid-range – Arlo SoHo

Located in a trendy area of SoHo, on the border with the Tribeca and West Village neighbourhoods, Arlo has rooms with flatscreen TVs and WiFi and many have terraces with epic views of New York.

With an onsite rooftop bar and restaurant, plus a relaxing lounge area, market and gift shop, it will be hard to find a reason to leave. However, subway connections to get the ferry to Liberty Island or go up to Times Square are very close by.

Budget – Soho54

Soho54 is in the heart of SoHo and has its own terrace and garden, the latter of which is a rarity in New York City.

Some of the rooms, each of which are spacious, with TVs and minibars, have their own balcony from which you can enjoy the city views.

The hotel is between three subway stations for easy access to the rest of Manhattan and is surrounded by some of SoHo’s best eateries – ask the staff on duty 24 hours a day for recommendations.

Greenwich Village

Although the Upper East Side is known for being exclusive, Greenwich Village, located on Manhattan’s Lower West Side, is now the trendiest (and most expensive) place to live in New York.

It has some lovely places to stay, and you’ll be able to wander around the classic NYC townhouses you often see in movies – including those from Friends and Sex and the City!

Greenwich, also known as ‘The Village’, has lots of high-end boutiques, Instagrammable cafes and cute parks for during the day.

At night, there are many quirky bars and restaurants and a great live music scene.

Some of the world’s most famous musicians, such as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Taylor Swift, have had homes in the area, and it remains popular with celebrities.

Since there are so many homes here, you won’t find many hotels, and the ones lucky enough to be here can be pricey.

It is also a stone’s throw from Washington Square Park, home to NYU, so students can make it noisy on weekends.

Where To Stay In Greenwich Village

Luxury – Gansevoort Meatpacking

Located towards the outskirts of Greenwich Village, not far from the well-known Whitney Museum of Art, Gansevoort Meatpacking is the neighbourhood’s best hotel, with excellent service and incredible views.

The hotel has a rooftop bar with a heated pool and lounge area, and rooms come with TVs, minibars and high-end speakers.

Aside from the bar, the hotel also has its own restaurants where you can enjoy three meals a day or during the day, get a bite at the world-class Chelsea Market just 450m away.

Mid-range – The Marlton

The Marlton is conveniently located in the heart of Greenwich Village at the top of Washington Square Park and offers comfortable rooms, free WiFi, onsite dining and more.

Each room has an ensuite marble bathroom, and breakfast is included daily, plus you can visit their spacious downstairs restaurant or coffee bar.

NYU is just around the corner and two subway stations are nearby for easy access to the surrounding area.

Budget – The Standard, High Line

The Standard is famed for having luxury properties around the world, but their New York hotel is refreshingly affordable.

This is one of the area’s best places to stay, featuring a fantastic rooftop hot tub and terrace, with panoramic views across the water to New Jersey.

Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows with the same incredible views, plus the hotel has multiple onsite bars and restaurants.

They also offer complimentary bike hire and you can even bring pets.

Chelsea Market and the High Line are just a few hundred meters away, perfect for a summer walk or a bite to eat.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

If you’re on the hunt for the trendiest neighbourhood in New York City, look no further than Williamsburg or many other districts in Brooklyn.

Although Brooklyn is across the river from Manhattan, it is one of New York’s largest boroughs and has some of the best bars and cafes in the entire city.

Views from Williamsburg and DUMBO, both right on the river, are unmatched, and it’s a paradise for foodies too.

This is a popular area to stay in the summer since it’s slightly more affordable than Manhattan and has some epic rooftop bars, plus many of its sights, such as parks, markets and the Brooklyn Bridge, are all outdoors.

The neighbourhood has lots of green spaces, vintage shops and art galleries, so if you’re searching for somewhere more quiet but quirky, Williamsburg will be right up your street.

It also has quick access via the subway to Manhattan, and you can see all of New York’s most famous sights, such as the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building from here.

Where To Stay In Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The Hoxton

Another of The Hoxton brand’s exceptional properties, their Brooklyn location is affordable luxury with easy access to Manhattan.

The hotel has room service, free bike hire, restaurants and bar.

Many of the elegantly designed rooms, which come with stocked minibars and coffee machines, have stunning views over the river, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan, and an a la carte breakfast is included each day.

Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo sits in the heart of Williamsburg and is an ideal, budget-friendly option for visiting New York, particularly if you have kids.

The hotel has a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, garden, lounge and terrace, so there is plenty of space to relax and play.

The multilingual staff can offer helpful tips on what to see in the local area and check you into your room, all of which have huge comfy beds and views of the city, and some even have multiple floors or a terrace.

The hotel is also opposite Metropolitan Avenue subway station, which provides quick access around the city.

42 Hotel

One of Brooklyn’s best budget hotels, 42 Hotel is also in the centre of Williamsburg, just a short walk from Hewes Street subway station.

The rooms at the hotel all have large beds, lounge areas, TVs and great views of Brooklyn just outside the window.

The hotel also has its own restaurant and a bar, and guests can take advantage of a complimentary breakfast each morning.

Surrounded by some of Brooklyn’s best restaurants and a few blocks from the pretty riverfront and parks, 42 Hotel is a great hotel choice for staying in New York on a budget.