The hotel dining scene is hot in The Big Apple. And, as the native crowds found in these hotel restaurants – from Manhattan to Tribeca – prove, in-hotel restaurants are no longer reserved for tourists. These are nine of the best hotel restaurants in New York right now.
New York has seen a boom in chef-driven restaurants opening inside some of the city’s best hotels. Found inside boutiques on the waterfront at Williamsburg and landmarks on the Upper East Side of Manhattan – glamour, buzz and great menus are guaranteed.
These are the nine best hotel restaurants in New York – all New Yorker-approved – for a foodie-friendly stay.
Fouquet's New York
Hugging a peaceful cobblestone corner in historic Tribeca is the new, ultra-luxe stateside sister to historic Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s in Paris. Opened in 2023, setting foot inside feels like being whisked to France – with a New York twist. There are four exquisite drinking and dining options, curated by Michelin-starred chef, Pierre Gagnaire – each with the power to distract you from the dreamlike pastel-hued Art Deco-style interior. At the all-day ground-floor vegetarian restaurant, Par Ici – with its winter-garden-like covered terrace – you won’t miss meat at all. If you do, select protein sides like filet steak are there to add. Come evening, start with a cocktail at lavender and mint-hued Le Veux, a rooftop bar inspired by the French gardens of Vaux-Le-Vicomte and Versailles. Afterwards, head downstairs to the beautiful Parisian Brasserie, Fouquet, to dine on French classics like steak au poivre. Don’t forget a nightcap in the secret 1920s-themed Titsou Bar behind a sliding panel in the lobby.
The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel
An original Manhattan skyscraper dating back to 1881 is home to this five-star foodie hotel with bags of historic charm. At its heart, a showstopping nine-story Victorian atrium with ornate balustrades and topped with a pyramid-shaped skylight. Gazing at it from your slouchy seat in The Bar Room beneath – nicknamed the ‘living room of Lower Manhattan’ – is an absolute joy. Check in at the weekend to spend a slow Saturday or Sunday snuggled on a sofa sipping an old-fashioned during Jazz Brunch – a true highlight of a Beekman stay. Together with its two signature restaurants – Le Gratin led by Michelin-starred chef, Daniel Boulud, and Temple Court by James Beard Award Winning chef, Tom Colicchio – The Beekman is a foodie wonderland. It’s also well located for strolls along the East River with Brooklyn views, and for shopping gourmet gifts at the newly opened nearby Tin Building.
The Wythe Hotel
Just one-stop L train ride from Manhattan is this industrial-chic, five-star hotel that gets rave reviews and draws the crowds. It’s set in a former 122-year-old factory building that once churned out barrels, moments from the Williamsburg waterfront with dramatic Manhattan views. Take in this scene from its bright sixth-floor rooftop at Bar Blondeau; one of two French-inspired venues in the hotel led by noted chefs, Jake Leiber and Aidan O’Neal. A seafood menu is served here, blending Portuguese, Spanish and French flavours. The other venue inside the hotel, opened in 2022, is Le Crocodile. You’ll find it on the ground floor in a space with distinct New York charm: exposed brick walls, high ceilings, arched windows and detailed tile flooring. Settle in by ordering the leeks with vinaigrette and hazelnuts alongside a cherry kiss cocktail (local vodka, cassis, lemon, cacao, moleto) while you browse the menu filled with classic French hits: steak frites au poivre, French onion soup, and the like.
Baccarat Hotel
Opposite the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown is this luxurious upper Midtown hotel, with a shimmery twist. It’s set in the first 12 floors of a shiny split-level tower covered in a crystal-like curtain – a clue to its affinity with Baccarat, the French crystal company founded by King Louis XV, in 1764. Needless to say, inside it’s a glamorous, glitzy, affair. Everything about it dazzles and feels decadent, from the glassware to Ashfer Biju’s elegant menus. Upstairs, The Bar, a buzzy scarlet-hued cocktail den, with a high-arched vaulted ceiling, is inspired by French ballrooms and the royal stables of Versailles. Light from three Baccarat chandeliers streaks the long bar and checkerboard floor like a disco ball. Bar bites such as tuna tartar and crab avocado pair perfectly with refined tipples like Laurent Perrier Rose – served in Baccarat crystal glasses, of course, here and in the adjacent Grand Salon. This elegant lounge-style restaurant is a lower-energy, more elevated alternative to The Bar. It’s also a spot for afternoon tea. On your way out, don’t miss the sparkling light installation of Baccarat’s Harcourt glassware in the darkened entranceway.
Hotel Chelsea
A few blocks from the elevated High Line Park, the legendary Hotel Chelsea is possibly the most famous in all of New York City. Fresh from a decade-plus-long revamp, it’s having a moment, thanks in part to its three exciting food offerings – two new, and one original. These have fast become food destinations in their own right, buzzing nightly, reservations essential. The new Lobby Bar has chandeliers, a grand piano, and a light-filled conservatory. Slide into a velvet seat and order a cocktail named after famous hotels around the world. The crowd-pleasing buzzy French bistro, Café Chelsea, is good for all occasions and does a great boiled egg, impeccably topped. Arguably, though, it’s the hotel’s original century-old restaurant, El Quijote, where the likes of Hendrix and Hemingway once hung out, that’s the star; still known for Spanish classics, like its famous paella, and vermouth-rich cocktails.
The Carlyle
Set in a 35-storey Beaux-Arts building, The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, is one of New York’s great landmarks, and a magnet for celebrities and royalty since it opened in 1930. In 2020, it underwent a $120 million refurbishment, including a redesign of the rooms and the creation of a new restaurant, Dowling’s at The Carlyle, which opened in 2023. It’s named after Robert Whittle Dowling, the owner of the hotel in the 1940s. The formal décor epitomises old-school wealthy New York, from the giant central flower display to the artwork-packed walls. Here, executive chef Sylvain Delpique interprets timeless New York favourites – like the steak Diane, flambéed by your table with cognac. Complete the night with a martini in its legendary piano bar, Bemelmans, a destination in itself decorated with playful murals by Ludwig Bemelmans.
The Langham
Two blocks from the Empire State Building, The Langham on Fifth Avenue at 36th Street is one of New York’s least pretentious upscale hotels. It’s both sophisticated yet understated, even zen-like. Its colourful, modern multi-million-dollar art collection by Alex Katz adds a playful touch to its gleaming minimal interior, while the elegant second-floor Michelin-starred restaurant, Ai Fiori, has a casual air. Acclaimed chef, Michael White, and the Altamarea Group’s simple menu is filled with complex Italian and French flavours. Neatly-presented dishes on white porcelain are delivered by uniformed staff. Nab a table by the wraparound window perched above Fifth Avenue, for uninterrupted people-watching. An adjacent bar and lounge opens later in the day for small plates, cocktails and a glass of something from the 1,000-bottle-strong wine cellar. In 2021, the restaurant introduced Sky Terrace, an outdoor dining option featuring a streamlined menu of shareable dishes.
1 Hotel Central Park
Spot the ivy-clad building on the corner of 58th Street and 6th Avenue, and you’re at the eco-conscious, plant-filled Midtown oasis that is 1 Hotel Central Park. Inside, congeniality and warmth is the overarching vibe. Being in the small lobby with nooks of tables, lamps and sheepskin-covered low-slung seats, feels like you’re in a (wealthy) friend’s stylish lounge. Just off it is the buzzy crowd-pleasing restaurant, Jams – a revival of farm-to-table pioneer chef, Jonathan Waxman. The menu features his all-time favourite dishes, most refreshing and light – grilled chicken with tarragon butter; and red-pepper latkes with smoked salmon. New additions such as rigatoni with crab meat, and swordfish with grilled pineapple salsa, feature too. Each dish is artfully presented and made using locally-grown or sustainably-raised organic ingredients.
The New York EDITION
You’ll find this contemporary hotel on swanky Madison Avenue, in a 1909 skyscraper originally built as MetLife’s headquarters. Its Michelin-starred restaurant, The Clocktower, a restaurant from Stephen Starr, is so-called after the historic clock on the front of the building. The three wood-panelled dining rooms – one with a roaring fire – look soft drenched in candlelight come evening. Framed black and white photographs of rock and roll greats cover the cream-coloured walls. The menu features hearty British classics like Shepherd’s Pie, Tandoori Chicken and Fish and Chips, and is also available at the small but busy Clocktower Bar, if the restaurant is full. Clocktower Bar is also a nice spot for a cocktail before dinner, or for a game of pool in the adjacent purple-painted Clocktower Pool Room.
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Lead image: Baccarat Hotel
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