Top Luxury Hotels in New York City

The top luxury hotels in NYC that provide their guests with the very best service and quality

What Does the Term “Luxury Hotel” Actually Mean?

The word “luxury” is often tossed around freely in hotel descriptions, but few New York City hotels can be classified as true top luxury hotels. It takes more than just gold adornments, crystal chandeliers, and other luxurious furnishings to be regarded as an actual New York luxury hotel. Beyond the lavish appearance, New York luxury hotels must feature services that provide personal attention that is unparalleled.

Top New York luxury hotels exude ultimate quality, hospitality, and cater to their guests’ every need for the best possible hotel experience. Concierge services assist the guest in gaining access to any exclusive restaurant, concert, or Broadway show, while planning teams assist in the execution of any event, from small meetings to lavish weddings. Examples of other common New York luxury hotel features that are a step above the rest include onsite medical assistance, butler service, babysitter service, and unique room details like top-of-the-line bathroom amenities, a baby grand piano, or menus for your choice in pillows or essentials for a bubble bath.

These New York luxury hotels often cost much more than a typical hotel stay, with prices ranging between $500 and $1,000 or more per night.

5 Stars Doesn’t Guarantee Luxury

Luxury hotels in New York City are usually classified as being 5-star hotels; but this doesn’t mean that all 5-star hotels are luxury, in fact quite the opposite. There are many five and four-and-a-half star rated hotels that do have all the hotel services to be well classified, but clearly they don’t have the attention to detail that the true luxury New York hotels possess.

Below are two four-and-a-half star hotels and eight five-star rated New York luxury hotels, along with interesting details about what makes them worthy of luxury hotel entitlement.


Top 10 NYC Luxury Hotels

Mandarin Oriental Hotel NYC
Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Mandarin Oriental

80 Columbus Circle, New York, NY

212-805-8800

Mandarin Oriental is a New York luxury hotel in Columbus Circle with Central Park and Hudson River views in New York City. On site is a five-star spa, Oriental Tea Lounge, yoga room, and VIP Spa Suite with private steam and sauna facilities. A pool on the 36th floor offers floor to ceiling windows with incredible views. Concierge can help with any need, from arranging daily activities to planning a wedding.


The Pierre

2 East 61st Street, New York, NY

212-838-8000

The Pierre, located on Fifth Avenue in New York City, re-opens on June 1, 2009 after a $1 million renovation. This New York luxury hotel has an award-winning concierge team to provide everything from personal shoppers and private tours, to planning a last-minute wedding or arranging the purchase of a yacht. Other unique features include babysitting services, an on-call doctor, courier services, and currency exchange.


New York Palace

455 Madison Avenue, New York, NY

212-888-7000

The New York Palace offers spacious luxury guestrooms, suites and four penthouse suites with roof-top terraces. This New York luxury hotel offers lavish event spaces and assistance in event and meeting planning. Guests can also access the state-of–the-art spa and fitness center, a 7,000–square-foot facility overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral, offering personal training and complimentary exercise clothing and sneakers.


Four Seasons Hotel NYC
Four Seasons Hotel in New York City

Four Seasons Hotel

57 East 57th Street, New York, NY

212-758-5700

Four Seasons Hotel, a five-star brand of luxury hotels and resorts, offers assistance in arranging reservations for any tour or activity. Accommodations include suites and penthouses, some with a terrace. Toys, cribs, and other baby equipment for families are available at no extra charge. Other features include private dining rooms, complimentary in-room breakfast and newspapers, and access to a CD and DVD library.


Ritz-Carlton New York

50 Central Park South, New York, NY

212-308-9100

The Ritz-Carlton New York is a well-known luxury hotel brand in New York City with exceptional service and amenities. Beds are made with custom linens, down duvets, and a menu with a selection of pillows is available. Bathrooms feature Frederic Fekkai bath amenities and rooms with Central Park views have telescopes. Chef Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Market Restaurant, serving French and American cuisine, can host private events.


The Plaza Hotel

768 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY

212-759-3000

Famous New York City landmark The Plaza Hotel is a New York luxury hotel located at the southeast corner of Central Park that recently reopened after a $400 million renovation. The 282 guestrooms and 102 suites each come equipped with a guest services panel designed to control room ambience and provide access to an array of concierge services, from butler services to the use of The Plaza’s Rolls Royce Phantom.


The St. Regis New York

2 East 55th Street, New York, NY

212-753-4500

The St. Regis New York is a 1904 Beaux Art landmark luxury hotel several blocks from Central Park in New York City, providing guests with butler service, an onsite flower shop, valet parking, childcare services, packing/unpacking services, and a concierge service ready to reserve event tickets or handle any request. A unique signature bath menu offers guests options of champagne, chocolate, rose petals, caviar—the works.


Peninsula Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Peninsula Hotel in New York

The Peninsula New York              

700 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY

212-956-2888

The Peninsula New York offers an airport greeting service and luggage assistance, suites with Fifth Avenue views and marble bathrooms, and in-room office equipment such as a silent fax machine and universal power adapter outlets. Executive suites offer a movie library with films in several languages. An event planning team is on hand to assist in any occasion at this hotel in New York City.

Jumeirah Essex House

160 Central Park South, New York, NY

212-247-0300

Located across the street from Central Park in New York City, Jumeirah Essex House is a four-and-a-half star luxury hotel with classic art deco design. Some services and amenities are onsite medical assistance, computer rentals, personal trainers in the fitness facility, event catering and other business services, onsite shopping, babysitting and childcare, and an expert concierge team.


The Carlyle

35 East 76th Street, New York, NY

212-744-1600

A Rosewood Hotel, The Carlyle on the Upper East Side of New York City has 60 residential apartments (for purchase or extended stay) and 187 guestrooms and suites; some suites have a baby grand piano, full kitchen, or fireplace. Other features include a white-gloved elevator operator, valet and secretarial services, and an in-house antique shop, florist, Vera Wang boutique, and art gallery.