• Best Value Hotel in Manhattan: The Jane. Yes, you'll share a bathroom, but that seems a small price to pay . . . for the small price you'll pay. And the rooms, while lilliputian in size, have every luxury. The hotel itself is on a lovely, tree-shaded Village Street, and the hotel's bars are among the hippest in town.
  • Best Value Hotel in the Outer Boroughs: The Nesva. Welcoming staff, contemporary decor, and a location that's only two subway stops from midtown Manhattan—you give up nothing by choosing this fine Queens hotel.
  • Best Mid-Range Hotel: The Nolitan. A ton of freebies (loaner bikes, iPads, an evening wine and cheese reception), a very hip location, and a friendly staff make this a top choice.
  • Best Luxury Hotel: The Lowell. A genteel haven that somehow manages to be both outrageously elegant and quite homey (love the wood-burning fireplaces in the suites). Plus, it's just a block and a half from Central Park. 
  • Best Hipster Hotel: Freehand New York City. You gotta love a hotel that not only has of-the-moment decor, brimming with original artworks, but also offers affordable digs to those that book directly. That's right: if you buy through the Freehand's website you might find yourself in a room with private bath for a measly $129 at a time when travelers at equivalent hotels are paying in the $300 range. Plus the Freehand has two of the hippest bars in the city, and two of the finest restaurants. A winner!
  • Best Hotel for a Romantic Tryst: Hotel Elysée. This lovely old-fashioned hotel, a favorite of mid-20th-century writers and actors (it's decorated in a way they'd appreciate), is discreetly ensconced between two mammoth office buildings and is the perfect romantic hideaway in the middle of Manhattan.
  • Best Hotel Swim-Up Bar: Room Mate Grace Hotels. There is much to like about the Grace, but I love the fact that it has a swimming pool in the lobby with a swim-up bar. You can’t ask for much more in the middle of Manhattan.
  • Best Hotel Pool: The Greenwich Hotel. Robert DeNiro’s hotel (he's one of the owners) features a Japanese-inspired pool housed under a bamboo roof from a 250-year-old farmhouse.
  • Best Inexpensive Hotel Restaurant: Burger Joint in The Thompson Central Park New York Hotel. Hidden off the lobby, this spot is beloved by locals and tourists, so the lines are long, but worth it. The burgers are fabulous and under $10.
  • Best Hotel Bar: Bemelmans Bar, in the Carlyle. Named after illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, who created the Madeline books and painted the mural here, this romantic, charming bar features white-gloved service and classic cocktails.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.