The Mercer
One of the best new boutique hotels in New York, and sister hotel to Hollywood's famed Chateau Marmont, the Mercer prides itself on its service and attention to detail.
Guests are asked to treat the front desk as their private secretary and every staff member as their personal concierge.
The rooms are on six floors of a Romanesque building in the heart of Soho, and wooden floors throughout. They are elegant and sparsely furnished, with white-tiled bathrooms, some only separated from the bedroom by a wooden partition that slides backwards.
There's a super-trendy restaurant helmed by chef du jour Jean-Georges Vongerichten but you'll need to book weeks before arriving in the Big Apple as it's so popular right now.
Why We Love It
The basement is home to the trendy bar and nightclub Sub-Mercer which attracts long queues of the in-crowd behind the velvet rope... fortunately hotel guests have automatic access.
Gramercy Park Hotel
The legendary Gramercy Park Hotel has been given the full Ian Schrager treatment since the 2006 relaunch, with about as eclectic interiors as a hotel can get away with and stay the right side of good taste.
The comfortable rooms and suites are big for a city where they can be notoriously tiny, and continue the theme for seemingly random furnishings.
In keeping with a hotel that is also a favoured local haunt there are two bars - the Gramercy Park Bar, which has been a regular haunt of celebs past and present, and the High Bar, which overlooks the park from a rooftop garden, and offers light meals. For more substantial dining, there is the Danny Meyer restaurant.
Why We Love It
The hotel overlooks the eponymous green space which is the only private park on Manhattan.
Greenwich Hotel
Any hotel owned by Robert de Niro is likely to be pretty cool, but you can be pretty sure there won't be too many unhappy customers demanding face to face complaint time with the owner either.
Not that there's much - if anything - to complain about in this super sophisticated TriBeCa townhouse hotel that feels more like a private member's club.
The rooms and suites are all individually decked out with tasteful furniture and art works from the around the world, and it all reeks of rank good taste.
There is a comfortable library come bar, as well as Locanda Verde - a casual neighbourhood Italian tavern, and probably most stylish of all, a spa and pool housed in an exquisite Japanese bamboo building in the basement.
Why We Love It
Some of the artwork in the hotel's public areas and bedrooms is courtesy of Mr de Niro senior, who is an artist.
Viceroy New York
New York is famously the city that never sleeps, but if there's any hotel that might tempt you to get a little shuteye it's the Viceroy New York.
Situated in Midtown on West 57th, so within easy reach of both hipster downtown and glamorous uptown, the Viceroy has 240 rooms (including 43 suites), some with Central Park views, spread across 29 storeys.
The supremely stylish guestrooms make elegant use of metal, wood and leather, with floor to ceiling windows and well-appointed bathrooms. Every room also features individual little design details such as vintage wallpaper in the wardrobes (we love a detail). The terrace suites also have a balcony or terrace.
On the subject of terraces the one at Roof rooftop bar on the 29th floor has amazing views out across the city and Central Park. Inside, the look is luxury yacht, with brass fittings, walnut and leather sofas and seacape photography from Dalton, and the drink to order is a perfectly mixed Monkey Business (scotch, aperol, contreau and fresh lemon juice) cocktail or one of a selection of local craft beers. Drinks are also served in the Library.
Why We Love It
Marc Murphy, the chef behind the perennially popular Landmarc in TriBeCa, has created Kingside, the Viceroy New York's lobby restaurant looking out on to 57th Street and serving modern American with a nod to French and Italian classics. In other words, a pretty good combo.
The Bowery Hotel
The Bowery Hotel sits in the heart of New York's East Side. With a boho-chic vibe and a stylish interior, the hotel offers guests a sophisticated space to relax in the heart of New York.
There are 135 rooms and suites across 17 storeys, ranging from queen rooms to suites. All rooms feature stunning floor-to-ceiling, factory-style windows filtering in natural light. To ensure maximum comfort and a dreamy night's sleep, bedding comprises of soft 400-thread count Egyptian cotton linens. Room amenities include high-definition flat-screen TVs and iPod stereo docking stations.
Dine in the Gemma Restaurant. With its intimate interior and exquisite Italian cuisine, this trattoria provides the perfect setting for a romantic candle-lit dinner. The restaurant also serves brunch and cocktails, a firm favourite in New York.
Complimentary bicycles are available should you wish to explore the city by two wheels, or take your pick of movies in the hotel's complimentary film library. Facilities also include a fitness room and spa services.
Why We Love It
The stunning and artful event space in the hotel has showcased several successful album release parties and charity events, so keep your eyes peeled for celebs mooching about the lobby...
