The Mark, an historic hotel built in 1927, re-opened in 2009 as one of the best contemporary luxury hotels in New York. The hotel's stunning interiors by France's premier designer are colorful and bold rather than gilded and stuffy, and there's a restaurant and bar from one of New York's most famous chefs. Comfortable, high-tech rooms and personalized service make it a great option for anyone who can afford it.

After a $60 million renovation in 2009, this 190-room hotel on the Upper East Side is ready to pull guests away from the nearby Carlyle with room service by Cafe Boulud, a private rooftop garden with butler service, and some of the most comfortable hotel beds in New York.

An elegant, historic hotel across the street from Central Park, the Pierre offers a taste of grand old New York to those staying in any of its 189 small but freshly renovated guest rooms. The large staff is white-glove formal, but service is not without the occasional glitch -- and the hotel lacks the on-site amenities of some of its by-the-park luxury competitors, like the Plaza and the Four Seasons.

The Carlyle has been a historic and discreet host to artists, presidents, and local and international celebrities since 1930, and it's traditional to the core: White-gloved elevator operators, a special concierge vestibule, the classic Bemelman's Bar, and dinner performances by Judy Collins and Woody Allen (playing jazz clarinet) are hallmarks of this classic American hotel. More intimate, with bigger rooms, than the competing Waldorf-Astoria and Loews Regency.

This class act on the Upper East Side's tony, treelined Park Avenue has excellent service and an on-site supper club with a world-class cabaret. It is in walking distance of Central Park, high-end shopping, and the Midtown East corporate centers. Plus, the hotel practically invented the power breakfast. THE HOTEL ClOSED IN JANUARY 2013 FOR RENOVATIONS.

The Sherry-Netherland is one of New York’s grand dames. With only 100 individually decorated rooms, white-gloved elevator operators, and a marble, vaulted lobby with crystal chandeliers, this boutique is exclusive, elegant and historic. Rooms have classic decor and modern technology features, including iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. There’s not much in the way of hotel features, but the small fitness center is well-equipped, and the adjacent restaurant is known for its wonderful Venetian fare. The Sherry’s location -- on the southeastern corner of Central Park -- makes it a great base to explore the city’s major attractions.

Boasting 129 enormous suites, all with kitchens, plus a location within blocks of two major hospitals, the Affinia is an excellent luxury option for families on longer stays, and an obvious one for folks in town for health reasons. For everyone else, however, $300-plus is a bit steep for a place with a generic vibe and a distinct lack of amenities (there's a small gym, but little else).

All of Marmara's 108 guest rooms are basically studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. Some of its rooms might lack the new flat-screens, but it's still a clean, comfortable, pet-friendly option way up in a less-touristed part of the Upper East Side, within walking distance of Central Park and the Guggenheim museum.

Like a boutique hotel, there's a rooftop bar and swank Lather toiletries, but the 197-room Bentley Hotel typically costs less because it's a long walk from subways, museums, and Central Park (budget plenty of cab fare). It's a fine choice near the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, but also consider Affinia Gardens (bigger rooms; more convenient location).

Located in the quiet, classy Upper East Side -- close to Central Park, but far from NYC's best dining and nightlife -- the 1930s-era Franklin brings old Gotham romance into a modern boutique. Rooms are small but stylish and come with free Wi-Fi and excellent Bulgari toiletries. High-quality free breakfasts make it a great pick outside the tourist zone.