The best five-star hotels in New York for an elegant city break

New York City is a place where the best of the best come to live, work, and play. This town is a glamorous destination dazzled by Michelin-lauded restaurants, high-end boutiques, and first-class hotels flush with stellar amenities and outstanding service. From a posh prewar on the Upper East Side and a regal icon overlooking Central Park, to a fashionable nest amid the buzzy streets of Nomad, here's our pick of the best five-star hotels in New York.

This swanky hotel is tucked in One57, one of the city's tallest and most talked about residences. Anticipate minimalist but inviting spaces with lots and lots of natural stone and Avant-Garde floral designs. Recognise the energy of Manhattan through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the city lights that lie beyond. While the area surrounding Park Hyatt is far from quiet, inside, you'll slip into calmness and discover more than 350 pieces of museum-quality art. All 210 guest rooms are spacious (among the largest in town) and flawlessly decorated, while tons of atmosphere and a big city vibe infuse The Living Room, a beautiful restaurant set against a windowed backdrop of 57th Street.

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Elegance and sophistication epitomise this Asian-inspired hotel that spans the 35th through 54th floors of the Time Warner Center. You won’t want for much of anything; in fact, if it weren’t in New York City, you might forgo venturing outside. Instead, stay tucked high in the sky while quaffing inventive cocktails and grazing on visually stunning (and delicious) food, working out with a view, pampering yourself at the five-star spa and tea lounge. Round things off with a dip in the indoor lap pool afterward. The adjoining Shops at Columbus Circle include Cole Haan, Hugo Boss, Coach and William Sonoma, which visitors can enter through a private entrance.

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This contemporary showpiece, with interiors by Yabu Pushelberg, radiates luxury from the inside out, adding sophistication to the corporate vibe of Lower Manhattan. The slim 82-storey tower – the hotel is situated on the first 38 floors – assumes a residential feel, clad in warm walnut and Italian marble, with rich textures throughout. There’s no shortage of facilities for an indulgent stay. Take advantage of the full-service fitness centre, or pamper at the spa – an oasis featuring massages, skin treatments, an Aromatherapy Blend Bar and the ‘Bespoke Aromatherapy Experience’, while the beautiful mosaic and mother of pearl lap pool is a stunning sight to behold.

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This Ritz Carlton flagship, occupying a grandiose 19th-century limestone building overlooking Central Park, features fine interior flourishes such as warm wood panelling, the lobby’s gold-leaf cove ceiling, and swathes of taupe, grey, and pink marble. The team is friendly and accommodating, making you feel like the hotel is indeed a 'home on the park': a Les Clefs d'Or Concierge is ready and waiting to assist with tickets and coveted reservations, while a Mercedes house car is available upon request. The La Prairie Spa is the essence of a calming oasis, and you can work out in a state-of-the-art fitness centre, with On-Demand classes, Technogym equipment and Peloton bikes.

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This 41-storey hotel boasts a superb location in Lenox Hill, luxurious apartment-like rooms and suites with sweeping views of Central Park. The style is neoclassical with a nod to Indian heritage: cross the threshold to the main entrance on East 61st Street, and you'll encounter scores of black and white marble flooring, gilded mouldings, stone pilasters and an array of classic details. Be sure to spend some time in the Rotunda and relish the curved walls wrapped in colourful trompe l'oeil murals by Edward Melcarth. This is also one of the few remaining New York hotels with lift attendants, an old-school service to complement the restaurant, cocktail lounge, tea service and, in warm weather, sidewalk café.

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Be ready for old-world glamour at The Mark. The Upper East Side hotel, situated just off Madison Avenue, promises spacious accommodations, chic design details, and frills galore, along with a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and bar where the stylish and elite dine and drink. Besides a celebrity-chef restaurant and bar, The Mark features a slew of services and extras. Schedule a workout session with fitness guru Dan Flores. After which, you can slip into the Frédéric Fekkai Salon for a manicure and an up-do for a fancy night out on the town. Hop in the pedicab for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood or personal tour, or zip over to Central Park on one of The Mark Bikes.

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The Carlyle has been a favourite of everyone from Jackie O to Lady Di. A handsome 35-storey 1930s Beaux Arts building, it's a wonderful merging of old world elegance and contemporary style, recent updates to its Art Deco interiors including a lavish restyling of the black and gold hued marble lobby now hung with oil paintings that call to mind a Renaissance museum. Some of the Art Deco rooms have Central Park views. You can dine on French haute cuisine and seafood classics such as lobster thermidor at elegant in-house restaurant The Carlyle Restaurant; while Bemelmans Bar, just off the lobby, remains one of the finest cocktail bars in the world.

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A landmark hotel set in a convenient Midtown location, with five-star service, an upscale modern American restaurant, and a chic rooftop bar. The traditional Beaux-Arts exterior sets the tenor before you enter: clusters of slender seasonal flowers greet you, and an ornate all-plaster ceiling houses a handsome crystal chandelier. Meanwhile, magnificent dual staircases lead to the main restaurant and reception area. Anticipate world-class contemporary art in the public spaces, as well as a world-class spa. There’s also a glass-enclosed pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre that provides group classes as well as live and on-demand Peloton workouts, and a sprawling sun terrace.

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With only 76 rooms, this jewel in the Theatre District proves that great things come in small packages. Expect stunning Art Deco interiors reminiscent of the Prohibition Era with bold design details including warm wood veneers, shiny metal accents and bright red pops of colour. A warm and welcoming team promises a memorable experience from beginning to end. The Chatwal's personalised service remains one of the hotel's highlights, and butlers are included with your stay. Beyond a 24-hour fitness centre, guests can unwind and rejuvenate in the MYND Spa, and a complimentary car service can whisk them to dinner, shows, and attractions within in a 20-block radius.

Contributions by Douglas Rogers