This boutique hotel is steps from the center of bustling Times Square but feels like a calm oasis. With stylish rooms and suites, a hip new wine bar, and a restaurant with a locally acclaimed chef -- plus a free wine hour each night -- the Muse is a great alternative to the mid-priced mega hotels that pervade the neighborhood.

This upscale annex of the massive and generic Millennium Broadway hotel next door offers 125 large, quiet, and clean rooms and proximity to Times Square -- but not much else. A women-only floor has been discontinued, and the gym is shared with Millennium guests. All things considered, the Premier's prices are too high for what you get.

The 115-room, boutique Sanctuary Hotel sits on a relatively quiet street near all of the action of Times Square. There's a nice foortop lounge called Heaven, serving up cocktails and French cuisine, and a fitness center is on the way. Its luxurious rooms and sexy open bathrooms are among the city's best, but the historic building has a few lingering quirks, and there's no spa or business center.

In the heart of Times Square but just outside most of the noise, the 228-room Mela boutique brings a little South Beach style to Manhattan. Free Wi-Fi, great beds, and a high-quality fitness center make the Mela an excellent alternative to the Marriott Marquis or Westin Times Square.