Top 10: the best design hotels in New York

An expert guide to the best design hotels in New York, including the best for quirky design, Art Deco interiors, colourful and well-equipped bedrooms, Michelin restaurants and trendy bars, in areas including Midtown, Upper East Side, NoMad and the Financial District, and near Broadway, Wall Street, Madison Avenue and Central Park.

Who is Archer? The question is answered in a roundabout way as guests spend time in this quirky space. His presence is felt throughout: he’s a collector of art, of off-beat luxury items, and a lover of good food. But he is also well mannered and expects the same of his staff and ultimately his guests. With exposed brick and butcher-block flooring, the property is evocative of the industrial past of the neighbourhood. The furniture was custom-designed for the property and the art hand-picked to enhance the elegant vibe.

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Ian Schrager went all out when he partnered with artist Julian Schnabel to re-imagine this landmark on the northern edge of private Gramercy Park. Celebrities, suburbanites on dirty weekends and successful artists retreat to this dark and moody hotel, which has a rotating collection of 20th-century art, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Perhaps no other New York hotel has as much style: red-velvet sofas, Harlequin floors, grand mirrors and Louis XV chairs— and there’s even a signature scent.

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This Lower East Side hotel is far from conventional and emits an edge the moment you step inside. The property exudes an industrial feel but with warmth and personality, with exposed red brick, stained concrete floors, reclaimed wood, and diamond pattern steel co-mingling with politically motivated pieces and a diverse collection of found objects. On the ground floor, bicycle wheels suspend from the ceiling and dramatic works from French artist Mr. Brainwash, including the iconic 'Life Is Beautiful' sculpture, add colour, texture, and soul.

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Opened in 1904 as the Breslin Hotel, this historic building in a nondescript section of The Flatiron was the famous west coast Ace Hotel brand’s first east coast opening. Rooms are as eclectic as the clientele and Michelin-starred Brit chef April Bloomfield’s Breslin Bar and Restaurant is worth a visit alone. The 280 rooms range from ‘suites’ to ‘smalls’ to ‘bunks’. and are as eclectic as the clientele.

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Inspired by the Paris apartment he lived in as a child, Jacques Garcia’s interiors combine European elegance — white walls, soaring ceilings, tiled floors — with funky, decadent touches such as tapestry-covered antique furniture, worn and faded Persian rugs, a 200-year-old fireplace, an antique staircase, and a glass atrium-like structure on the ground floor that houses a restaurant. The 168 rooms vary in size, but most have hardwood floors and soaring ceilings — so rare to find in New York these days. Opt for a room on the upper floors with city views.

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Much of the charm of the original Gothic skyscraper has been preserved, from the high ceilings to the wood-floor rooms, although the décor is never overdone. And while hipster touches abound (the staff sport suspenders and denim uniforms and, a few, waxed facial hair) there’s nothing over the top. Locally curated artwork is on display in communal areas, along with vintage furnishings. The 197 rooms over 12 floors are chicly decorated in a muted palette, with cool touches such as writing desks, which are meant to evoke vintage sewing machines. Some rooms have views of the Empire State Building.

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Lower Manhattan is thriving — who knew Wall Street would become such a happening destination — and this chic 253-room property, part of Hyatt’s boutique Andaz brand, is leading the way. Chic, modern, clean lined, with light and dark woods and red-and-black tones dominating, the interiors are a world away from most Hyatt hotels. Designers Rockwell Group bring modern furnishings that could be in MoMA, there is work by local artists on the walls, and, in keeping with the fashionable yet laid back ethos, staff in designer uniforms check you in via iPad in the lobby, forgoing the formality of a check-in desk.

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A warm, zen-like energy unfolds as soon as you cross the threshold. Expect earthy luxury – tons of wood, light, and greenery melded with patches of pattern in handwoven fabrics. This boutique hotel boasts imaginative design and a wonderfully functional lobby space that appeals to all the senses. While you're on the premises, you'll feel as if you've trotted off to a modern lodge in the Hudson Valley or perhaps even a resort on the West Coast. But one step outside the front door and you're in the heart of bustling NoMad.

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Hotelier and designer Kit Kemp has merged downtown chic with British elegance in her well-thought-out interiors. Expect soaring ceilings, grey, wide-plank oak floors, upholstered walls, and warehouse-style windows framed with designer draperies. Interior colours are bold and bright, ranging from fuchsia to pumpkin and royal blue to lime green. Art is a focal point in every space – from the avant-garde floral arrangements to quirky antique telephones hung on walls and whimsical dog sculptures (the hotel welcomes four-legged friends).

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Bellhops in baggy knickerbockers and chunky Doc Martens set the tone: there’s an authenticity and attention to detail here that’s rare for Times Square. The lobby, a palette of brown marble floors and beige textured walls seems unremarkable at first until you get the concept: it’s a sanctuary from the sensory-overload outside. Design firm Gabellini Sheppard bring some stunning interior motifs: a domed ceiling of hand polished gold leaf; a wall of espresso-colored leather panels in ground-floor coffee bar, Jake’s; and glinting silver chain mail curtains that divide the banquettes in the carpeted hush of 4th floor restaurant, Charlie Palmer.