The Gramercy Park Hotel currently sets the bar for New York cool -- hence the celebrities in the lounge and the paparazzi on the sidewalk. It offers ultra-luxe but small rooms done up in high Boho-chic style, a gorgeous gym, and a young, attentive staff. True, even guests sometimes feel excluded from the glamour-fest in the bar. But the place is utterly unique.

The 214-room Langham Place Fifth Avenue is a modern, luxurious hotel conveniently located close to the popular tourist sites and corporate offices of Midtown Manhattan. Rooms are huge and come with top-notch features (free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, high-end linens and toiletries), but the decor is plain and lacks character. For more striking design, consider the nearby Chatwal or the (slightly less luxurious) Andaz hotels.

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.

It's not an icon like the Plaza or the Pierre -- but so what? The Mandarin Oriental, located across Columbus Circle from Central Park, offers a dizzying array of modern luxuries -- a 75-foot pool, one of the city's best spas, sweeping views from nearly every common area, and superb on-site fine-dining options, to name a few -- even as it upholds traditional values and outstanding service.

Deliberately business-like, the 368-room Four Seasons in Midtown East has all the luxury essentials: stylish lobby, beck-and-call service, a fine spa and fitness center, and some of the city's largest rooms. Plus, guests can use spa facilities for free. But before booking, check the rates at the Waldorf-Astoria (more historic) or the Mandarin Oriental (better gym).

The Conrad New York, opened in 2012, is a stylish luxury option right next to the Goldman Sachs building in Battery Park City. Its soaring atrium lobby with large art installations makes a dramatic first impression; the gourmet restaurant is a buzzing after-work drink spot; and there is 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Rooms are enormous, particularly for New York City; all have separate living rooms and sliding partitions. High-end amenities include Nespresso machines, quality toiletries (three different brands are available), fluffy robes, and a wet bar. The location is a bit far from popular tourist sights in Midtown, but there are excellent restaurants in the immediate vicinity and numerous subway stops are within walking distance.

The Dream Downtown is an aggressively modern hotel located directly behind the Maritime in Chelsea. The hotel blends public spaces together in a unique way: The fitness center has portholes overlooking the pool, and the pool itself has a glass bottom that looks down into the lobby. The hotel's scene is decidedly hip, especially at PH-D lounge (a popular celeb haunt) -- with stunning, sweeping views of Manhattan, PH-D is easily one of the best parts of the hotel. Gold King rooms have portholes surrounding the bed with killer views. But the super modern, futuristic touches can be weird (such as the odd lighting near the minibar, and overly metallic bathrooms), making the space feel less comfortable.

This large, luxurious Art Deco icon, located on the southern edge of Central Park, evokes the opulence of bygone times. A 2007 resdesign put modern technological amenities in the rooms, and the Essex House is moving comfortably into the future.

The name says it all. "Ritz" tells you that the hotel -- like its siblings -- features gorgeous rooms, top-notch service, and a premier gym and spa. "Battery Park" tells you you're in for a lower-key New York experience, with Lower Manhattan's quiet nights, cobblestone streets, and -- best of all -- rates often lower than those of other 5-star hotels.

This stylish, all-suite hotel is one of the best luxury deals around -- incredibly large rooms, two on-site restaurants from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, a central location near Central Park and Times Square, and a great fitness center. All that's missing is an on-site spa.