These are the ten best hotels in New York City, ranked by Americas Great Resorts. Article updated September 16, 2026. Aman New York holds the number one position, followed by Baccarat Hotel New York, The Peninsula New York, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, and Crosby Street Hotel. All ten are in Manhattan. This guide focuses on luxury hotels, with comparisons to help you choose by neighborhood, style, and the way you want to spend your stay.
AGR weighs independent inspection credentials alongside published hotel features and traveler needs. The recommendations below explain both the appeal and the practical tradeoffs. Hotel size is not a quality score, and AI recommendation frequency does not determine the order.
On this page: Top ten · Ratings · Compare by trip · Hotel details · Booking advice · AI research.
The ten best hotels in New York City, ranked
- Aman New York. AGR’s best overall choice, with 83 suites and a three-floor spa in Midtown. Its credentials combine Forbes Four-Star, AAA Five Diamond, and Three Michelin Keys.
- Baccarat Hotel New York. A Midtown choice for French design, afternoon tea, and Spa de La Mer. It holds Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond, and One Michelin Key.
- The Peninsula New York. A Fifth Avenue base for sightseeing and rooftop drinks at Pen Top. Its credentials are Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond, and One Michelin Key.
- The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park. A park-front address on Central Park South, with park views in selected rooms. It holds Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond, and One Michelin Key.
- Crosby Street Hotel. A boutique choice in SoHo, with Kit Kemp interiors and a guest-only sculpture garden. It combines Forbes Four-Star with Three Michelin Keys.
- The Whitby Hotel. A boutique Midtown base near Fifth Avenue and Central Park, with individual room designs and a screening room. It holds Forbes Four-Star and Three Michelin Keys.
- Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. A Tribeca base for Lower Manhattan, with CUT by Wolfgang Puck and a dedicated spa. It holds Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond.
- Mandarin Oriental, New York. A Columbus Circle hotel for elevated park and skyline views in selected categories. It holds Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond.
- The St. Regis New York. Traditional Midtown luxury with butler service and the King Cole Bar. It holds Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond.
- The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel. An Upper East Side choice for museum visits, cabaret, and Bemelmans Bar. Its credentials combine Forbes Four-Star and Two Michelin Keys.
Where the ten hotels are located
| Neighborhood | Hotels in this ranking | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Midtown and Fifth Avenue | 1. Aman; 2. Baccarat; 3. Peninsula; 6. Whitby; 9. St. Regis | First-time visits, Fifth Avenue shopping, and MoMA |
| Central Park South | 4. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park | Central Park walks and selected park-view rooms |
| Columbus Circle | 8. Mandarin Oriental | Central Park, Lincoln Center, and elevated views |
| Upper East Side | 10. The Carlyle | Museum visits, Madison Avenue, and residential character |
| SoHo | 5. Crosby Street Hotel | SoHo shopping, design, and Downtown dining |
| Tribeca | 7. Four Seasons Downtown | Lower Manhattan stays and the World Trade Center area |
Forbes, AAA, and Michelin ratings for New York City hotels
Forbes ratings and AAA’s 2026 Five Diamond list were checked September 15, 2026. Michelin designations retain the August 24 record for the original shortlist, with Crosby Street and the Whitby cross-checked against Michelin’s 2026 coverage and Firmdale’s published awards. These are source checks, not new inspections by AGR.
Forbes Five-Star and Four-Star, AAA Five Diamond, and Michelin Keys are separate distinctions. They are not interchangeable, and a Google guest score such as 4.7 out of 5 is not a Forbes inspection award.
| Rank | Hotel | Neighborhood | Forbes Travel Guide | AAA Five Diamond | Michelin Keys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aman New York | Midtown | Four-Star | Since 2025 | Three Keys |
| 2 | Baccarat Hotel New York | Midtown | Five-Star | Since 2018 | One Key |
| 3 | The Peninsula New York | Midtown | Five-Star | Since 1999 | One Key |
| 4 | The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park | Central Park South | Five-Star | Since 2002 | One Key |
| 5 | Crosby Street Hotel | SoHo | Four-Star | — | Three Keys |
| 6 | The Whitby Hotel | Midtown | Four-Star | — | Three Keys |
| 7 | Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown | Tribeca | Five-Star | Since 2017 | — |
| 8 | Mandarin Oriental, New York | Columbus Circle | Five-Star | Since 2005 | — |
| 9 | The St. Regis New York | Midtown | Five-Star | Since 2016 | — |
| 10 | The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel | Upper East Side | Four-Star | — | Two Keys |
Sources: Forbes Travel Guide New York City directory · AAA Five Diamond Hotels 2026 list · Michelin’s 2026 New York City hotel guide · Michelin’s 2026 Three-Key selection.
What is the best hotel in New York City?
Aman New York is AGR’s best hotel in New York City. In the cited 2026 AAA and Michelin lists, it is the only New York City hotel combining AAA Five Diamond with Three Michelin Keys. It also holds Forbes Four-Star. AGR places it above the Forbes Five-Star hotels below because its 83-suite format and three-floor spa best fit our preference for a stay in which the hotel itself is a major part of the trip. A traveler who prioritizes a park-front room, Downtown location, or boutique design may prefer another hotel below.
The best hotels in New York City by traveler need
Start with where you will spend your time. Midtown suits Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and MoMA; the Upper East Side suits museum visits and Madison Avenue; SoHo and Tribeca suit Downtown shopping and dining. Then compare the room category and the hotel experiences you will actually use.
| Traveler priority | AGR pick | Alternative | How to choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Aman New York | Baccarat Hotel New York | Aman for suites and a substantial spa; Baccarat for French design and its salon setting. |
| Central Park access | The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park | Mandarin Oriental, New York | The Ritz-Carlton for the park across the street; Mandarin Oriental for elevated views in selected rooms. |
| Lower Manhattan | Four Seasons Downtown | Crosby Street Hotel | Four Seasons for a Tribeca base and spa; Crosby Street for SoHo and boutique design. |
| Upper East Side | The Carlyle | The Mark | The Carlyle for cabaret and Bemelmans Bar; The Mark for design and Jean-Georges dining. |
| Spa-focused stay | Aman New York | Baccarat Hotel New York | Compare Aman’s three-floor spa with Baccarat’s Spa de La Mer and indoor pool. |
| Fifth Avenue sightseeing | The Peninsula New York | The St. Regis New York | The Peninsula for Pen Top; the St. Regis for its butler-service tradition. |
| Boutique luxury | Crosby Street Hotel | The Whitby Hotel | Crosby Street for SoHo; the Whitby for a Midtown itinerary. |
Best luxury hotel near Central Park
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is AGR’s choice for direct park access, with Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond credentials. Mandarin Oriental is the alternative for elevated views. At either hotel, choose a room category that explicitly includes the park view.
Best luxury hotel in Lower Manhattan
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is AGR’s choice for a Tribeca base, with Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, and a dedicated spa. Choose Crosby Street Hotel instead when SoHo shopping and boutique design are the priority.
Best luxury hotel on the Upper East Side
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel is AGR’s Upper East Side pick for museum visits, Bemelmans Bar, and Café Carlyle. It holds Forbes Four-Star and Two Michelin Keys. The Mark is an alternative for travelers who prefer its design and Jean-Georges dining.
Best New York City hotel for a spa
Aman New York is AGR’s pick for a stay centered on wellness, with a spa spanning three floors. Baccarat Hotel New York is the alternative for Spa de La Mer and an indoor pool. These are editorial choices based on the facilities, separate from hotel inspection awards.
Best New York City hotel for privacy and discretion
Aman New York is AGR’s choice for a retreat centered on time in a private suite and the hotel spa. Casa Cipriani is an alternative for a waterfront stay with a private-club setting; review its club-access policies before deciding.
Best boutique luxury hotel in New York City
Crosby Street Hotel is AGR’s boutique pick for SoHo; The Whitby Hotel is the Midtown alternative. Both hold Forbes Four-Star and Three Michelin Keys. Choose between them according to your itinerary and preferred room design.
What makes each hotel worth choosing
These comparisons are AGR’s editorial interpretation of published hotel features and locations, not reports of new overnight inspections. Official hotel links provide room photographs, current terms, and reservation information.
1. Aman New York: best overall
At Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, Aman combines 83 suites in the Crown Building with a spa spanning three floors. AGR gives its suite-only accommodation and extensive wellness facilities particular weight in the overall ranking; its Forbes Four-Star rating is shown alongside the Five-Star ratings of several alternatives in the ratings table.
Why choose it: Choose Aman when the hotel itself is a substantial part of the trip. Suites with fireplaces and deep soaking tubs, plus the spa, give you reasons to spend time inside between Midtown outings.
Before you book: The suite-and-spa format is most compelling when you plan to use the hotel extensively. For a trip spent almost entirely sightseeing, compare whether its accommodation and wellness offering justify the rate for your dates; a room at a more conventional hotel may meet your needs.
Official Aman New York information and reservations.
2. Baccarat Hotel New York: French design and a sense of occasion
Baccarat pairs French-influenced interiors on West 53rd Street with the Grand Salon, afternoon tea, Spa de La Mer, and an indoor pool. Its location puts MoMA and Fifth Avenue at the center of the stay.
Why choose it: A strong choice for a celebration built around design, dining, and spa time. The salon and bar give the hotel a distinct social setting, while the rooms and suites offer a different aesthetic from Aman’s Japanese-inspired interiors.
Before you book: Its pool is indoors on a lower level. If your idea of a spa break includes open-air lounging or a view from the pool, check the setting carefully; the hotel’s strongest draws are its interiors, salon, and La Mer treatments.
Official Baccarat Hotel New York information and reservations.
3. The Peninsula New York: a Fifth Avenue base with a rooftop bar
The Peninsula occupies a Beaux-Arts landmark at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. Its 2024 refurbishment refreshed guestrooms and public spaces and introduced the reimagined rooftop bar, Pen Top.
Why choose it: Choose it for a trip centered on Fifth Avenue, MoMA, and Rockefeller Center, with a rooftop venue to return to. It combines a historic building with recently refurbished interiors.
Before you book: The Fifth Avenue location favors a Midtown itinerary. If most of your restaurant reservations, shopping, and evenings will be in SoHo or Tribeca, Crosby Street or Four Seasons Downtown is a more practical base.
Official The Peninsula New York information and reservations.
4. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park: best for Central Park access
At 50 Central Park South, this Ritz-Carlton places the park directly across from the hotel. Its rooms and suites use a residential design, and selected categories look over Central Park.
Why choose it: A natural choice for morning park walks and travelers who want the park to anchor their itinerary. Its position is the clearest distinction from the Fifth Avenue hotels in this ranking.
Before you book: The hotel states that park views are available in selected rooms and suites. Book a category that explicitly includes the view you want, and confirm Club Lounge access if that is part of your plan.
Official The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park information and reservations.
5. Crosby Street Hotel: best for boutique luxury in SoHo
Crosby Street combines Three Michelin Keys and Forbes Four-Star with Kit Kemp interiors in SoHo. Its 86 rooms and suites, guest drawing room, and courtyard sculpture garden create a distinct alternative to the larger Midtown hotels. AGR places it ahead of several Forbes Five-Star hotels because its top Michelin distinction and neighborhood setting support a particularly strong boutique stay in SoHo.
Why choose it: Choose it when SoHo shopping and Downtown restaurants will shape the trip. The drawing room and sculpture garden give guests places to settle in beyond the bedroom, while the hotel’s individual design makes the stay part of the experience.
Before you book: Its SoHo address adds travel if your plans revolve around Central Park, Museum Mile, or repeated Midtown outings. For a similar Firmdale design sensibility closer to those plans, compare the Whitby.
Official Crosby Street Hotel information and reservations.
6. The Whitby Hotel: best for boutique luxury in Midtown
The Whitby brings Kit Kemp’s individual room designs, floor-to-ceiling windows, an Orangery, and a screening room to West 56th Street. It holds Three Michelin Keys and Forbes Four-Star. AGR gives that combination and its boutique setting near major Midtown sights the edge over several larger hotels below; travelers who prefer a grand-hotel setting can use the comparison table to choose differently.
Why choose it: Choose it when you want a boutique setting near Fifth Avenue, MoMA, and Central Park. It offers a more intimate design-led alternative to the traditional Midtown grand hotels, with a bar and restaurant at the center of its public spaces.
Before you book: A Midtown skyline outlook is not a guaranteed Central Park view. Compare the actual room photographs and category; choose Mandarin Oriental or the Ritz-Carlton’s named park-view categories if the view is the deciding feature.
Official The Whitby Hotel information and reservations.
7. Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown: best for Lower Manhattan
The Barclay Street property puts Tribeca and the Financial District at the center of the trip, with CUT by Wolfgang Puck and a dedicated spa and wellness offering. It is a separate hotel from Four Seasons Hotel New York in Midtown.
Why choose it: Choose it for Lower Manhattan sightseeing or business, with a substantial hotel to return to. Selected suites add kitchens or kitchenettes and separate living areas that can make an extended stay more practical.
Before you book: Kitchens, kitchenettes, and terraces belong to particular suite categories. For a longer stay, compare their layouts and inclusions before choosing on the Four Seasons name alone.
Official Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown information and reservations.
8. Mandarin Oriental, New York: best for elevated Central Park views
Mandarin Oriental sits at Columbus Circle, with accommodation above the city and MO Lounge overlooking Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. Its view-led setting distinguishes it from the hotels farther east on Fifth Avenue.
Why choose it: Choose a Central Park View room when watching the park and skyline from your room matters as much as walking through them. The Columbus Circle address also suits an itinerary on Manhattan’s west side.
Before you book: Room categories have different outlooks. A Hudson River view and a Central Park view are different purchases, so confirm the named category rather than assuming every room has the view shown in the hotel’s signature photographs.
Official Mandarin Oriental, New York information and reservations.
9. The St. Regis New York: traditional luxury and butler service
At Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, the St. Regis combines a 1904 landmark with its longstanding butler service and King Cole Bar. The hotel offers both guestrooms and suites.
Why choose it: Choose it if personal assistance is part of your idea of luxury. Its published butler services include packing and unpacking, coffee or tea service, and garment pressing, making the distinction more concrete than a general promise of attentive service.
Before you book: If you need a separate sitting room for entertaining or working, compare the floor plan before booking; butler service alone does not tell you how much space your category includes.
Official The St. Regis New York information and reservations.
10. The Carlyle: Upper East Side culture and live music
At Madison Avenue and 76th Street, The Carlyle combines an Upper East Side address with Bemelmans Bar, Café Carlyle, and residential-style rooms and suites. The hotel has welcomed guests since 1930. AGR chooses it to represent the Upper East Side because its residential-style accommodation and established music venues make the neighborhood’s cultural character part of the stay.
Why choose it: Choose it when museum visits and an evening of piano or cabaret are central to your trip. Those venues give the stay a specific New York character beyond its hotel credentials.
Before you book: Its Upper East Side location is less convenient for a trip dominated by Downtown or nightly Broadway visits. Check the Café Carlyle performance calendar and reserve separately if a particular show is the reason for your stay.
Official The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel information and reservations.
How AGR ranks New York City’s best hotels
This is an editorial shortlist, not a formula that converts unrelated awards into a numerical score. AGR gives weight to high inspection distinctions corroborated by another independent program, then considers facilities, setting, and the particular stay each hotel offers. Room count describes scale; a larger hotel does not automatically rank above a smaller one.
Inspection distinctions support inclusion, but do not determine every position. AGR also seeks useful choices across neighborhoods: the tenth place represents the Upper East Side, with the Carlyle chosen ahead of The Mark for its residential character, cabaret, and Bemelmans Bar. With five Midtown hotels already included, AGR leaves The Plaza, Park Hyatt New York, The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue, and Four Seasons Hotel New York outside this ten despite their Forbes Four-Star and AAA Five Diamond credentials. These are editorial choices about the balance of the shortlist, not findings that the omitted hotels are inferior. Use the traveler table when your priorities differ.
Placement is not for sale. Payment, advertising relationships, OTA guest scores, and AI recommendation frequency do not determine inclusion. Hotels may submit factual corrections through AGR’s contact page.
Other luxury hotels worth considering
A top-ten list cannot represent every excellent New York hotel. These alternatives may be the better choice for a particular trip.
Casa Cipriani New York: a waterfront and private-club alternative
Casa Cipriani retains a strong case on its Three Michelin Keys, waterfront rooms, and club setting. AGR selects Crosby Street and the Whitby for the ten because they pair the same Michelin distinction with Forbes Four-Star, providing a second independent inspection record to support their inclusion. That is a reason to prefer the corroborated record, not evidence of a deficiency at Casa Cipriani.
Choose Casa Cipriani for a stay centered on the waterfront and Cipriani’s club atmosphere. Its 47 rooms and suites include city and river views; confirm the category and review its club policies. Official rooms and reservations.
The Mark: an Upper East Side alternative
The Mark holds Forbes Four-Star and Two Michelin Keys, matching the Carlyle on those two distinctions. Choose it for Jacques Grange design and Jean-Georges dining; AGR gives the Carlyle the place in the ten for its distinctive cabaret and piano-bar offering. Travelers who prefer The Mark’s design and dining have a clear reason to choose it instead. Official hotel information.
- The Plaza: Consider it for its Fifth Avenue and Central Park South setting and landmark public spaces. It holds Forbes Four-Star and appears in AAA’s 2026 Five Diamond list, with its current designation dating to 2022.
- The Pierre: A Forbes Four-Star alternative on Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, especially for a stay centered on the park and Upper East Side.
- The Lowell: A Forbes Four-Star and One-Key alternative for a residential Upper East Side stay. Its smaller scale is a preference, not a reason to treat it as inferior.
- The Fifth Avenue Hotel: Its Two Michelin Keys and Forbes Recommended designation make it a legitimate option for a traveler drawn to its design. Its lower Forbes tier is one distinction from the Four-Star and Five-Star hotels in this ten, not proof that every traveler will prefer the ranked hotels.
- The Greenwich Hotel: A Forbes Four-Star and One-Key choice in Tribeca for travelers drawn to its residential character and Shibui Spa.
Should you book a New York City hotel direct or through a third party?
AGR recommends starting with the hotel directly, then comparing the complete offer with a luxury travel advisor or eligible premium-card program. Compare the same room category, cancellation terms, taxes and fees, and included benefits. The lowest displayed nightly rate is only one part of the decision.
- Book direct with the hotel. Use the official links above to compare rooms and contact reservations about views, connecting rooms, and special requirements. Direct booking gives you a direct relationship with the property for reservation questions and changes, subject to the rate terms.
- Compare a luxury travel advisor. An advisor with access to a hotel’s preferred-partner program may offer benefits that change the overall value. Ask which benefits apply to your specific property, room, and dates, and which depend on availability.
- Compare a premium credit card program. If you are eligible, examine its hotel offer alongside the direct rate. Check the benefit terms and cancellation policy for the actual booking rather than assuming every hotel or card carries the same package.
- If using an OTA, check who handles changes. Confirm the room category, cancellation terms, and included benefits before payment. Keep the intermediary’s contact details and confirm special requests with the hotel.
For any channel, put an essential park view, terrace, accessible feature, or connecting-room arrangement in the booking request and obtain confirmation. A photograph of a signature suite does not describe every room in the building.
How reliable are AI hotel recommendations for New York City?
AGR’s July 2026 capture study found that hotel recommendations varied between answers and did not consistently match independent inspection distinctions. Use an AI answer as a starting point, then check the named property, room category, and booking terms. AI recommendation frequency does not determine this ranking.
Read the July 2026 study findings and capture dates
Study basis: Market: New York City. Platforms: ChatGPT and Gemini. Answers captured: 50, from 25 identical traveler questions on each platform. Field dates: July 2026, final runs completed July 9, 2026. Publisher: Americas Great Resorts. All findings trace to single-run live captures and describe this capture set rather than platform behavior generally.
Four findings from the New York City captures:
AI answers changed within the same hour. Asked the identical best luxury hotel question, ChatGPT returned three different number one hotels across four captures, and two captures taken within the same hour on July 9, 2026 returned different number one answers.
AI rankings and inspection ratings disagree. ChatGPT twice placed The Fifth Avenue Hotel at the top of its New York rankings. Forbes Travel Guide rates the property Recommended, its third tier, below Five-Star and Four-Star, and it does not appear in the AGR ten. AGR gives greater weight to current independent inspection credentials than to recommendation frequency in its own capture sample.
In these captures, AI avoid lists traced to Reddit threads. Gemini named four New York hotels travelers should avoid. All four hold the AAA Five Diamond. All four were recommended elsewhere in the same Gemini report, two as number one answers to other questions. The cited sources for every avoid recommendation were Reddit threads.
Credentialed hotels appeared rarely or not at all. One of the seven Forbes Five-Star hotels in New York City in the 2026 Star Awards appeared in zero of the 50 captured answers. Several Michelin Key properties, including hotels on this page, appeared in almost none. Institutional quality alone does not produce AI visibility.
If you run a hotel in New York City
Placement in this ranking is not for sale. No property paid to appear, and a commercial relationship with AGR does not determine inclusion or position.
The July 2026 study above records what ChatGPT and Gemini returned in a defined set of captures. A property’s absence or an inaccurate description in those answers is a reason to investigate its public information and subsequent outputs; it is not a verdict on the quality of the hotel.
Americas Great Resorts works with luxury hotels on AI representation, owned demand, and reaching affluent travelers. If your property is missing or misrepresented in AI answers, or you want to reduce reliance on intermediaries, contact Americas Great Resorts or explore the Knowledge Formation Optimization service.
Related Americas Great Resorts guides
More Americas Great Resorts destination rankings:
- Best Hotels in Las Vegas
- Best Hotels in Miami
- Best Hotels in Hawaii
- Best Resorts in Maui
- Best Hotels in Charleston
See all of our hotel coverage: Americas Great Resorts Top Hotel Picks.
About this page
Published by Americas Great Resorts, founded in 1993 and led by Andrew Paul, Founder and Managing Director. Article updated September 16, 2026; ranking reviewed September 15, 2026. The September 15 ranking order is unchanged. Source-check dates appear with the credential table; the AI research remains a July 2026 record. AGR’s recommendations are editorial, and placement is not sold.
September 16 article update: Restored award details to the opening ranked list, moved the credentials table earlier, and restored concise answers by traveler need. The September 15 hotel selections, ranking order, factual corrections, and map are retained. This editorial update does not represent new hotel inspections.
