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Where to stay in New York

A fireplace-and-velvet hotel on the Bowery downtown, and a Midtown design hotel near Times Square with a 26th-floor rooftop.

  1. The Bowery HotelBoutique · East Village / Lower East Side, at Bowery and East 3rd Street$$$$
  2. Arlo MidtownMid-range · Midtown West, near Times Square and Hudson Yards$$$$
Standout pick
The Bowery Hotel · $$$$
Easy choice
Arlo Midtown · $$
Best time
May–Jun · Sep–Oct
Ideal stay
4–5 days
Hotel budget
$220–$450 / night

New York rewards a base close to the subway. Our exclusive pick is an independent hotel on the Bowery, between the East Village and the Lower East Side; our accessible pick is a design hotel in Midtown West, a few blocks from Times Square. Prices are shown as a level, from $ to $$$$: rates move with the season and the room, so check the live price before you plan.

The Bowery Hotel

$$$$
Pick no. 1 · The standoutBoutiqueEast Village / Lower East Side, at Bowery and East 3rd Street

Independent boutique hotel on the Bowery, 135 rooms

Photos: The Bowery Hotel, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.

A 135-room hotel with factory windows, a fireplace lobby and an Italian trattoria, at the corner of the Bowery and 3rd Street.

  • Wi-Fi
  • Gemma
  • The Bowery Lobby
  • Fireplace lounge
See prices (official website)Opens the hotel’s official website.

Why we picked it

We would book it for the setting as much as the room: a red-brick building at the corner of the Bowery and 3rd Street, a lobby that feels like an old club with a fire going, and Gemma downstairs for a late plate of pasta. It puts the East Village, the Lower East Side, Nolita and SoHo on foot, which is exactly where our guide says New York starts living rather than performing.

Best for

  • Couples
  • Design and old New York lovers
  • Food and nightlife
  • Floor-to-ceiling factory-style windows, hardwood floors, Oushak rugs and velvet drapes in each of the 135 rooms
  • The Bowery Lobby, a lounge with antique sofas and a stone fireplace, and Gemma, the hotel's Italian trattoria
  • Marble bathrooms with antiqued brass fixtures and rainfall showers; Deluxe rooms add a marble soaking tub, some with a city view from the tub

What the hotel offers

As listed on the hotel’s own website.

  • Wi-FiVery fast and free
  • GemmaItalian trattoria on the ground floor, from breakfast to late night
  • The Bowery LobbySeasonal cocktails and a long wine list
  • Fireplace loungeAntique sofas around a stone fireplace in the lobby
  • Breakfast at GemmaWeekdays 7am to noon, weekends 7am to 10am, then brunch
  • 24-hour room service and conciergePlus nightly turndown and a complimentary newspaper
  • Fitness roomWith private trainers on request (fee)
  • Marble bathroomsRainfall showers; soaking tubs in Deluxe rooms
  • MinibarFully stocked (charges apply)
  • In-room spa servicesMassage therapists on request (fee)
  • BabysittingOn request, for a fee
  • Laptops and iPadsComplimentary on request, plus a film library and board games

Arlo Midtown

$$$$
Pick no. 2 · The easy choiceMid-rangeMidtown West, near Times Square and Hudson Yards

Design hotel in Midtown West, with a 26th-floor rooftop bar

Photos: Arlo Midtown, official website. Shown courtesy of the property.

A design hotel steps from Times Square, with a 26th-floor rooftop bar and compact, well-equipped rooms.

  • ART Midtown rooftop
  • Altair
  • The Bar Room at Altair
  • Café at Altair
See prices (partner link, Trip.com)Official website Opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners.

Why we picked it

We would book it for the location-to-price ratio: Times Square, Broadway and Hudson Yards on foot, several subway lines a few minutes away, and a rooftop on the 26th floor for a drink at sunset. Rooms are compact, but our guide's advice for a first trip is to sleep where the subway does the work, and this is that address.

Best for

  • First-time visitors
  • Broadway and theater nights
  • Couples on a budget
  • ART Midtown, a seasonal rooftop bar on the 26th floor with views of Times Square, Hudson Yards and the west side
  • Terrace King rooms with a private furnished terrace, and Two Double rooms sleeping up to four
  • Times Square, the Theater District and Hudson Yards on foot, with a hub of subway lines nearby

What the hotel offers

As listed on the hotel’s own website.

  • ART Midtown rooftopSeasonal bar on the 26th floor
  • AltairRestaurant for brunch, lunch and dinner
  • The Bar Room at AltairCocktails and small plates
  • Café at AltairPastries, light bites and coffee in the lobby
  • Wi-FiHigh-speed, part of the urban fee
  • 24-hour gymCardio, strength equipment and a stretching studio
  • Coworking nooksPlus private meeting rooms
  • 24-hour BodegaSnacks, drinks and coffee for purchase
  • Pet friendlyUp to two dogs or cats under 75 lb, $20 per pet per night
  • Partner parkingLAZ garage at 404 W 37th St, self-park from $50 + tax a day

Where to stay in New York, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Manhattan is small and the subway runs all night, so no neighbourhood is “too far”. What changes is the feel of your evenings and how many lines stop near your door. First-timers usually do best in Midtown or downtown; repeat visitors often prefer the Village or Brooklyn.

  • Midtown

    Best for: first-timers, Broadway, short stays

    The practical choice. Midtown West (towards Hudson Yards and Hell’s Kitchen) has better-value hotels and far better places to eat than the blocks around Times Square itself.

    You gain
    On foot to Times Square, the theatres, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and the Empire State Building; almost every subway line.
    You lose
    Crowded, noisy, chain restaurants; quiet and dead-ish late at night east of Sixth Avenue.

    To Times Square: you are in it — 5 to 15 minutes on foot

    Our pick here: Arlo Midtown ↑Hotels in Midtown partner link

  • East Village & Lower East Side

    Best for: food, bars, couples

    Where New York starts living rather than performing. Close to SoHo, Nolita and Chinatown on foot.

    You gain
    The most lively streets in Manhattan at night, small restaurants of every cuisine, old tenement character.
    You lose
    Fewer subway lines on the far east side (Alphabet City); weekend noise on the busiest blocks.

    To Times Square: about 15–20 minutes by subway

    Our pick here: The Bowery Hotel ↑Hotels in East Village & Lower East Side partner link

  • Greenwich Village & SoHo

    Best for: walking, shopping, a quieter base

    The West Village is the prettiest part of Manhattan to walk around and to come home to. Good subway links up the west side.

    You gain
    Leafy brownstone streets, Washington Square Park, cafés and jazz clubs; SoHo’s cast-iron shopping streets.
    You lose
    Few hotels, mostly expensive boutiques; small rooms.

    To Times Square: about 15 minutes by subway

    Hotels in Greenwich Village & SoHo partner link

  • Lower Manhattan

    Best for: weekends, value, the harbour

    The Financial District has had a hotel boom and is well served by subway lines in every direction, including to Brooklyn.

    You gain
    Often cheaper at weekends, when business travellers leave; the 9/11 Memorial, the Brooklyn Bridge walk and the Statue of Liberty ferries next door.
    You lose
    Quiet in the evenings around Wall Street; fewer neighbourhood restaurants.

    To Times Square: about 20 minutes by subway

    Hotels in Lower Manhattan partner link

  • Upper West Side

    Best for: families, museums, calm

    Feels like living in New York rather than visiting it. The 1/2/3 and B/C lines run straight to Midtown.

    You gain
    Next to Central Park and the Natural History Museum; residential, safe-feeling streets and good diners.
    You lose
    Few hotels; evenings are quiet; downtown is a longer ride.

    To Times Square: about 15 minutes by subway

    Hotels in Upper West Side partner link

  • Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

    Best for: repeat visitors, nightlife, skyline views

    Best on a second trip. The L train links it to Union Square in minutes; the East River ferry is the scenic alternative.

    You gain
    Rooftop bars with the Manhattan skyline, a lively food and music scene, newer hotels often better value than Manhattan.
    You lose
    One subway stop under the river from Manhattan, so most sightseeing starts with a ride.

    To Times Square: about 25–30 minutes by subway

    Hotels in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) partner link

Travel times are approximate, outside rush hour. No prices here on purpose: rates change by the night — check the live price on the partner site.

The Bowery or Midtown: how to choose

The two hotels sit about 2 miles apart, in two very different New Yorks.

The Bowery: downtown, on foot

The Bowery Hotel stands between the East Village and the Lower East Side, with Nolita and SoHo within walking distance. Choose it for character, a fireplace lobby, an Italian trattoria downstairs and evenings in the city's liveliest neighborhoods.

Midtown West: the sights at your door

Arlo Midtown is a few blocks from Times Square, Broadway and Hudson Yards, near several subway lines. Choose it for a first visit, theater nights and a rooftop drink, at a lower nightly rate.

Still deciding where to sleep? Our New York City travel guide compares the neighborhoods and covers the subway, the airports and the best months to go.

Our New York travel guide

Hotels in New York: your questions

Where should I stay in New York City for a first visit?

Midtown saves the most time: Arlo Midtown is a few blocks from Times Square and Broadway, with subway lines nearby. For more atmosphere, stay downtown: The Bowery Hotel puts the East Village, the Lower East Side and SoHo on foot. Read our New York City travel guide

How far ahead should I book a hotel in New York?

Book as soon as your dates are fixed for May–June, September–October and December, the busiest and most expensive periods. At The Bowery Hotel, garden-terrace rooms and suites are booked directly with the hotel by email, so ask early.

When is the best time to visit New York City?

Late April to June and September to early November bring mild temperatures and long days. December is festive but crowded and priced accordingly; January and February are the cheapest months. When to visit New York City

How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

Arlo Midtown gives about 1 hour from JFK by car or public transport, and about 45 minutes by car from LaGuardia and Newark. For The Bowery Hotel, take a taxi or the train and subway; Broadway–Lafayette Street station is a few blocks away.

Which hotel suits families?

Arlo Midtown is family friendly and its Two Double rooms sleep up to four, though it does not provide cribs. The Bowery Hotel arranges babysitting and puts rollaway beds in its suites for $60 a night.

Should I bring a car to New York?

No. Driving into Manhattan means a congestion toll, tunnel or bridge tolls and expensive parking: Arlo Midtown's partner garage charges from $50 + tax a day. Use the subway and pick up a rental car on the way out.

Can I book these hotels directly?

Yes. The See prices button under The Bowery Hotel opens the hotel's official website. For Arlo Midtown it opens Trip.com, one of our booking partners.

Exit 10And now?Our New York guideWhat to do, where to eat, getting there
Exit 17When to visit New YorkMonth by month · best: Mid-Sep–OctExit 243 days in New York for first-timers3-day itineraryExit 31New York or Boston?Compare them side by sideExit 38Trip budgetRooms, food, car, gas, passes

Hotel picks for other destinations

Picked by Kylian Dev. These are editorial picks: no hotel paid to be here, and we never describe a stay we did not make. Facts come from each hotel’s own website; the Trip.com buttons are partner links (how we make money).