The century-old, 282-room Plaza is a New York landmark. A $400 million overhaul in 2008 gave the huge rooms gold-plated bathroom fixtures, but it also converted most rooms overlooking Central Park into privately owned residences. Still, the exceptional spa and 24-hour butler service make it worth the splurge.

The grand, century-old St. Regis is known for its extraordinary service -- rivaled only by that of the Plaza -- but the hotel has many other outstanding features, including 229 elegant rooms with great amenities; a world-class spa, and a great location on Fifth Avenue. While it lacks the pool and Central Park views of the Mandarin Oriental, a famed Bloody Mary at the King Cole Bar more than compensates.

One of New York's most visually stunning hotels, the 899-room New York Palace has a gilded, grandiose style that is a little gaudy but still fabulous enough to blow away the boutiques. With 899 rooms, this is an excellent, modern (and less uptight) alternative to its Midtown East neighbor, the famed Waldorf-Astoria. Huge rooms, a luxe spa, and a fantastic gym make the Palace a great value among luxury hotels.

The Lowell is a high-end boutique known for its top-notch service and gorgeous individually decorated rooms. It is located in the tony Upper East Side, a block from Central Park, and a short walk from designer boutiques along Madison and Fifth avenues. Its 72 rooms and suites have elegant, stylish decor and great amenities, including Bulgari toiletries, flat-screen TVs with movies on demand, and free Wi-Fi. Most units also have wood-burning fireplaces, full kitchens, and terraces. The two solid on-site restaurants and the fitness center are all perks, but the hotel does not offer spa services.

The 239-room Peninsula has small TVs in the standard rooms, but the indoor pool, superb gym (free workout gear, organic teas, and a sauna and steam room), widely praised spa and salon, and in-room fax machines make it a fine choice for a quiet, classically luxurious hotel. And for designer shopping, its 5th Avenue location is ideal.

The Gotham, one of Manhattan’s skinniest hotels, opened its doors in 2009 in the same spot that was once endearingly known as the Gotham Book Mart. The 66-room boutique pays homage to its former tenant through the name, of course, but also through the sophisticated bookish decor. The cheerful lobby has a welcoming feel -- even more so when guests are offered a glass of wine from one of the trendily dressed staff members (no uniforms here). With the cozy Tenpenny restaurant and bar in the rear, Gotham attracts regular corporate types for the ultra-cool, modern rooms. Every room comes with a balcony or patio, and guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and use of the neighborhood sports club.

A Midtown East icon, the 1,300-room Waldorf Astoria comes with some of New York's best (or at least most expensive) spa services, fitness facilities, restaurants, and bars. Rooms are elegant and feature the high-end amenities expected of a hotel of this category, and suites have palatial black-and-white marble bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs. However, Standard Rooms are small for the price, and there’s a fee for Wi-Fi. The dress code and antique decor aren't for everyone, though the cinematic history and unrivaled elegance might make the price tag well worth it.

The Lombardy is an upscale boutique right on the border between business-y Midtown East and the ritzy Upper East Side. All of its 154 rooms are privately owned, and have a strong apartment feel to them, with kitchenettes (suites have full kitchens), tons of space, and homey touches such as curated selections of books and seating areas. There’s a seafood restaurant, a great salon with spa treatments, and a small but well-equipped fitness center -- but the breakfast included in the nightly rate is actually a discount voucher for a nearby diner. Still, the hotel is a great pick both for business and leisure travelers.

Former boutique hotel joins the Marriott big leagues; excellent beds, great service, and attention to functionality means an easy stay in Midtown East, near Bloomingdale's and other major shopping destinations. The neighborhood doesn't have much nightlife, but the on-site Opia bar is pretty happening.

A homey, 60-room, literary-themed boutique, located down the block from New York's famous Public Library, and among Midtown East's corporate skyscrapers. It's one of New York's best values, mostly because of the perks: an upscale bistro on the ground floor, a lively bar on the penthouse floor, free Wi-Fi, free gym passes, and free daily pastries, wine, and cheese.