DESIGN HOTELS:
The Philippe Starck-designed Hudson is one of the coolest places to stay in New York. Its artistic décor (including a Francesco Clemente fresco at the bar), stunning terrace, and private park combined, make it one of the best values in the city.
Re-launched as a design hotel, the classic Royalton now also features cutting-edge custom Philippe Starck design and a sexy tone starting at the lobby. Created by the team behind legendary Studio 54, this hotel continues to aim to attract the coolest crowds. This is also a great place for two to share, as some rooms include a fireplace and five-foot-round tubs for two.
Chic contemporary design and flawless service (not to mention location), also make City Club one of the best hotels in Manhattan. Guests tend to be moneyed incognito travelers, who come for some of the most aesthetically-pleasing rooms in the city and a master chef at the restaurant who has received great acclaim.
The Night also targets a more upscale urban crowd, with its rooms featuring a rather bold and distinctive style in dark colors to embody the mood and sensuality of night.
60 Thompson is a fashionista favorite, with stylish rooms, an excellent Thai restaurant, and an exclusive guests-only rooftop bar offering city views.
The views from the floor-to-ceiling windows also make Hotel on Rivington one of the most attractive places to stay in the Big Apple, and it's a place for big spenders. The spectacular rooms are made extra special by the flawless sleek décor by Parisian designer India Mahdavi.
Room Mate Grace used to be the ultra-hip but surprisingly reasonably-priced Hotel QT before it became part of the Spanish Room Mate chain. The pool with underwater music in the lobby is still there, as are the stylishly simple rooms and laid-back atmosphere.
Greenwich Hotel caught everyone's attention when it opened due to its celebrity owner Robert De Niro. The distinctively designed rooms attract hip, upscale guests as does the stylish restaurant.
Gild Hall offers not just stylish rooms but also a wood-panelled library and a modern English tavern in the heart of the Financial District. The champagne bar is perfect to relax after a day out on the town.
And you heard it here first: The Standard's retro-future style will soon make it one of the hippest hotels in Manhattan. The Meatpacking District location helps, and the views of the Hudson from the floor-to-ceiling windows are stunning.

BOUTIQUE HOTELS:
Conveniently located for Madison and Fifth Avenue shopping, Morgans Hotel has an intimate superchic interior. This was one of New York's first hotels to attract smart travellers who look for special elegance and superb service, and its fusion restaurant and bar continue to be city hotspots.
The Library Hotel is one of the most interesting hotels in New York (or anywhere, for that matter), with thematic rooms (for poetry, love, fairy tales, etc.). But this is not just a hotel for the intellectual or bookworm -- it also has an elegant modern décor, and "The Poetry Garden" and its views from the roof are other pleasures.
The landmark Gramercy Park Hotel was renovated into a chic mixture of fabulous antiques and contemporary pieces. The rooftop bar is open to guests only, but its Rose Bar and Jade Bar are a magnet for the city's jet set. There is also a state-of-the-art gym if you ever feel like leaving the deluxe rooms.
The London NYC was the Rihga Royal Hotel before gaining a new identity in 2007. Its most famous feature is the Gordon Ramsay restaurant but the spacious David Collins-designed suites are the real attraction. It also offers some of the best concierge service you'll ever find and a luxurious spa.
The boutique Bryant Park Hotel is ideal if your visit combines business with pleasure. It's a truly modern-chic magnet for celebs, fashion, media, and Hollywood types who also use its salon by celebrity hairstylist Ric Pepino and the fitness center.
6 Columbus is at the doorstep of Central Park and adds to your New York experience by providing snacks from Dean & Deluca and Zabar's (the two most popular gourmet shops in the city). The rooms have some light retro 60's features but with mostly modern furnishings. After putting down your luggage head to the exclusive rooftop lounge overlooking the park.
Also offering sophisticated amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, is Hotel Mela, located close to Times Square and the theater district.
Distinguished with one U_Star is The Maritime Hotel (363 W16th Street), located just off the chic Meatpacking District. Its Hiro Lounge and Matsuri Restaurant rank among the hippest in Manhattan, and the nautical theme of the décor gives it a unique luxury yacht look. Enjoy an outdoor shower? Book one of the two penthouses. It's the perfect place to return to after a night out around the neighborhood.
The Bowery Hotel was profiled in Vanity Fair magazine soon after it opened and that has peaked the curiosity of the fashionable crowds. The decor takes some classic pieces such as luxurious Persian rugs and Moorish tiles and places them around modern features such as flat screens and iPod docks.
Finally, there is a handful of W hotels in the city, but W Union Square offers the largest rooms and the best location. Inside the 1911 building are well-designed rooms and a lounge made for people-watching, much like what you'll find at W Times Square which finally brought some hipness and the sleekest rooms of the chain to the city's most famous square.

CHARM HOTELS:
Tribeca Grand is the choice for the fashionable. Its high cool factor makes it an exclusive getaway for artists and the jet set, who find a stunningly designed interior, a private film screening room, and luxury products in the bathroom.
Dream really is a dream of a hotel, located right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, and with a rooftop lounge offering some of the best views in the city. Some quite fantastic décor greets guests at the lobby (complete with a gigantic fish tank), while the rooms are comfortable and relaxing. There is also popular restaurant Serafina, and a spa center.
Dylan Hotel offers comfort and sophistication, mixing classic luxury with contemporary style. The gorgeous medieval-looking Alchemy Suite is perfect for two.
The Benjamin is even more sophisticated, a retreat for the traveller who likes pampering (and we're not talking just about the fabulous spa). You have several pillow options, your pets are catered to, and every need is taken into consideration. Something else the hotel likes to point out -- it is one of only a handful of Five-Globe ECOTEL-certified properties in the world, meaning environmental responsibility is a core philosophy.
Further downtown, The Exchange is located by Wall Street and historic South Street Seaport. It has been renovated into a combination of charming boutique and stylish design hotel.

LUXURY HOTELS:
Found in the upscale Upper East Side, Plaza Athanee has renowned service and glamorous décor to match the location. Some of the spacious rooms include a dining area (and balconies opening onto 5th Avenue), although there is a fine French restaurant on location.
Located within walking distance of Central Park, Le Parker Meridien is stylish luxury at its best. In addition to an impressive rooftop pool and fitness center, it also offers three innovative restaurants and a very helpful staff that provides insider tips for sightseeing.
Bumping into a glitzy celebutante at the SoHo Grand should not come as a surprise. This glamorous hotel features eclectic décor, a bar and lounge with sounds from top DJs, and all of the SoHo action is right outside.
With a heated rooftop pool with underwater music, a spa, a trendy Japanese restaurant, and a location right in the Meatpacking District, the Gansevoort Hotel is currently one of the hottest hotels in the Big Apple.
Then there's The Plaza Hotel, the first one to set the ultimate standard of luxury. Located at the doorstep of Central Park, you'll be staying in a New York legend surrounded by Beaux Arts magnificence and contemporary spirit.

CHEAP HOSTELS:
The ideal option for the independent young traveller is Candy Design Hostel. It includes an outdoor garden, a movie room, a lounge, and computer area by the lobby.
Alternatively, consider Broadway Boutique Hostel, a great value hostel decorated with warm colors.
Ladies who prefer an all-female hostel can choose Pink Hostels, located just one block north of Central Park.

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UCityGuides.com Hotel Awards for Excellence in Urban Accommodation and Service

U_STAR HOTELS IN NEW YORK:

Gramercy Park Hotel
Gansevoort Hotel
The Plaza Hotel
The London NYC


Plaza Athanee Hotel
Royalton Hotel
Greenwich Hotel
Hotel on Rivington


Dream Hotel
City Club Hotel
Hudson Hotel
The Maritime Hotel
60 Thompson
Gild Hall
W Times Square
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