The Peninsula New York takes first place on the list of Best Hotels With a View in NYC. While the location of the Peninsula New York is likely what draws many guests, it is the hotel's highbrow, homey touches that keep them there. During a holiday season visit, guests were greeted by festively costumed carolers from atop the grand staircase. The seasonal Peninsula Sweet Shoppe, adjacent to the check-in desk and open daily from 4 to 6 p.m. for young guests, offers a free candy store for children to mix and match from different candy jars to create custom personal goody bags. Finally, on their way to the elevators, guests come across a massive gingerbread house replica of the hotel. The Peninsula New York is heaven on Earth if the devil is in the details.

Climb the escalator to find a bounty of goodies. Stop by one of the 235 guestrooms, which range in size from 400 square feet to 3,000 square feet. Each room has an electronic system of control panels designed specifically for the hotel, allowing visitors to easily and efficiently control their environment. The wall-mounted panel, for example, controls the temperature; the bedside panel, the television, the air conditioner, and whether you want privacy or your room cleaned; and the bathroom panel, which controls lighting (including sexy mood lighting) and the wall-inset television directly over the bathtub. Each room also features a separate sitting area, apart from the comfortable bed, an oversized work desk, free Wi-Fi and in-room fax-machine capability, as well as plush robes.

Google ratings: 4.6/5.0
Address: 700 Fifth AveNew York10019
Contact: 212-956-2888
Website: newyork.peninsula.com

The Ritz-Carlton Central Park is one of those New York hotels that makes you feel like you've stepped into a scene from a storybook. This is not a hotel you want to rush through just to get to your room. From the moment two men in top hats open the door and guide you to the lobby, you want to savor and experience it. You're immediately surrounded by warm wood and cool marble, creating an enveloping experience that feels worlds away from the drab concrete sidewalk you just left.

The service is friendly and courteous, but the common areas have a formal air to them. The Star Lounge, located on the first floor just off the lobby, is the main gathering place. Guests and locals alike mingle on the luxurious green and beige furniture while sipping cocktails from legendary bartender Norman Bukofzer. Those who want to visit the bar, which is just around the corner from the lounge, should order The Central Park Cocktail. The Ramble inspired the hotel's signature drink, which is as light and refreshing as a stroll through The Ramble.

The décor in the room is understated and comfortable, much lighter than in the downstairs lounge. Nightly turndown service is provided, and a full in-room dining menu is available 24 hours a day (The club sandwich on toasted sourdough is a must-try). But, let's be honest, the best feature of these rooms are the spectacular views of Central Park. Looking out over the iconic city landmark from just across the street provides a completely different perspective on the sprawling green space, and some rooms even have telescopes to help you examine it more closely.

Google Rating: 4.6/5.0

Address: 50 Central Park SouthNew York10019

Contact: 212-308-9100

Website: ritzcarlton.com

Mandarin Oriental New York ranks 3rd in the list of Best Hotels With a View in NYC. This internationally acclaimed haven for business and pleasure travelers is a certified five-star hotel for three reasons: the scenery, the service, and the spa. Let's start with the spa, which is spread across floors 35 and 36, with highly trained therapists and panoramic views of Central Park through floor-to-ceiling, thick windows - it's super peaceful up there, no car horns to be heard.

The Mandarin Oriental's spa, located in (or rather above) Columbus Circle, is a calming respite in the midst of New York's concrete jungle, and the view from the pool is spectacular. The view of Central Park also conveys the park's proximity - it is only a two-minute walk away. Fifth Avenue is ten minutes away, and MOMA is 0.7 mile away. Views of much of Manhattan are also available from your hotel room. And what about the service? You might have to go in and see for yourself.

Google ratings: 4.6/5.0

Address:80 Columbus CircleNew York10023

Contact: 212-805-8800

Website: mandarinoriental.com

Four Seasons Hotel New York ranks 4th on the list of Best Hotels With a View in NYC. Space is scarce in most New York neighborhoods. So it's easy to see how the Four Seasons Hotel New York's expansive rooms and high ceilings can be added to the long list of amenities. Hike through the palatial marble-floored lobby, past the concierge counter, to the check-in desk. Before handing you your room key, a friendly staff member asks if you'd like a complimentary New York Times, Wall Street Journal, or New York Post to be delivered to your door in the morning—if you're unsure, you can choose all three.

Take the elevator down to the spa level to enjoy the complementary steam room and fitness center, which is stocked with both chilled and room-temperature bottles of water, fruit and sports drinks, all freely available. With short notice, the spa is able to reserve guests a personal trainer for the fitness center, hair stylists and makeup artists, and massage appointments. Continue riding the serenity wave up into your guest room's contoured deep soaking tub while watching your favorite show on the in-bathroom flat screen TV. Alternatively, use the Bvlgari toiletries in the glass-enclosed shower. After that, slip into your plush robe, press a button on the blonde wood wall paneling to open the drapes, and enjoy the panoramic city views that highlight either the grand skyscrapers of Midtown or the iconic green oasis of Central Park.

Google ratings: 4.5/5.0

Address: 57 E 57th StNew York10022

Contact: 212-758-5700

Website: fourseasons.com/newyork

When you walk through the doors of this Greenpoint favorite, you'll feel as if you've entered someone's chic penthouse apartment rather than a boutique hotel lobby. The high ceilings, bright color scheme, hardwood flooring, art-clad walls, and whimsical trinkets of Box House give the space an art gallery feel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available at the hotel's colorful Brooklyn Lantern restaurant, which serves top-notch cuisine in a quirky American Bistro-style setting. Don't miss the crusted chicken or signature cocktails like the Whore Shoes & Hand Grenades (ha!) made with gin, violette, triple sec, lemon, and infused syrup, or the traditional French 75 made with gin, lemon, simple syrup, and Prosecco.

The Box House Hotel's rooms and suites are spacious (imagine an impeccably updated pre-war apartment with an immaculate bathroom), and the hotel has taken great care to dress each room with bright, modern artwork, soft linens, and vintage décor (including vintage cameras and binoculars). Hipsters, take your shoes off! The hotel is a bit far from the subway, but it provides a complimentary shuttle service in town and to nearby trains, including the 7 and G just over the Pulaski Bridge.

Google ratings: 4.5/5.0

Address: 77 Box StBrooklyn11222

Contact: 718-383-3800

Website: theboxhousehotel.com

The Bowery Hotel ranks 6th on the list of Best Hotels With a View in NYC. The Bowery Hotel embodies the neighborhood's ethos: classic, stylish, and a little bit cooler than you. The Bowery Hotel, swathed in rich velvets and crisp white linens, with complimentary bicycles and bellboys in topcoats, rivals the old stalwart hotels of uptown, but in a much younger, trendier hood. Take in the breathtaking view from any room and relax in the courtyard before exploring the historic neighborhood, and don't miss Gemma for brunch or dinner. The after-dark scene at the lobby bar is also not to be missed.

The Bowery's gentrification occurred so long ago that it's easy to forget it was once America's most notorious Skid Row. It's now a glitzy affair, located in the Lower East Side and East Village, near the New Museum. With its loft-style floor to ceiling windows and refined decor, The Bowery only emphasizes the elegant side of its life. The aforementioned windows are ideal for skyline viewing, which is enhanced if you opt for the Penthouse Suite, which includes a 650-square-foot private terrace. A 24-hour concierge service, complimentary bicycle rentals and newspapers, and 24-hour room service are also available. So no matter what you're up to, you know you can come back whenever suits and get your fix of that luxe service.

Google ratings: 4.5/5.0
Address: 335 BoweryNew York10003
Contact: 212-505-9100
Website: theboweryhotel.com

Gramercy Park Hotel ranks 7th in the list of Best Hotels With a View in NYC. The setting alone is worth a visit: Set on Lexington Avenue and 21st Street, it overlooks the private, gated Gramercy Park. "I've always wanted to go in there but it's always so damn locked," says one resident. The Gramercy Park Hotel, built in 1925, was taken over in 2004 by famed real estate tycoon and art collector Aby Rosen, who closed it for two years to renovate with celebrated artist Julian Schnabel leading the design efforts. The end result? A visually stunning beauty that exudes style, exuberance, and one of the most relaxed vibes of any hotel in town.

Just in case you miss the massive bronze revolving door, the concrete exterior greets you with custom bronze arched doors with clear beveled glass and cast bronze handles. The second floor of the lobby was removed to accommodate the 20-foot ceilings with wood columns and a massive hand-blown glass chandelier in the center. The room features a nine-foot-high wood-burning fireplace, a black and white tiled floor, brown leather chairs and red velvet sofas, maroon curtains, and artwork by Schnabel, Damien Hirst, and Botero (all from Rosen's personal collection). Across from the two lobby bars is the hotel restaurant, Maialino, the beloved Danny Meyers' critically acclaimed Italian trattoria visible from the street level. The restaurant is always busy, with customers ordering dishes like braised suckling pig, salt-baked sea bass, and squid ink pasta with crab, Calabrese chili, and basil. Are you hungry yet?

The custom-made, vintage-inspired fixtures that add a sense of modernity to the hotel and its rooms include: velvet drapery on custom bronze rods and mahogany wooden blinds, handmade embroidered tapestry chairs, an English drinking cabinet with a flip-down mirrored lit bar top, and Bluetooth-enabled Marshall speakers, to name a few. The dark wood floors and rich, vibrant colors make the rooms feel very cozy. If you have time, you can also tour the artwork on the terrace, an indoor-outdoor event floor that also houses more art.

Google ratings: 4.4/5.0
Address: 2 Lexington AveNew York10010
Contact: 212-920-3300
Website: gramercyparkhotel.com

The James, known for its killer rooftop pool, draws crowds all summer long as an al fresco hangout stories above the buzz of the streets below, and the hotel shines even without warm weather activities the rest of the year. The views from the rooms are spectacular, as are the dining and drinking options, particularly at Jimmy, the aforementioned rooftop bar. Even if you can't go outside, it's a cool hangout with glazed brick walls, a leather-topped wood bar, and working fireplaces.

The decor is dominated by natural materials and jewel tones: reclaimed wood floors, slate tiled bathrooms, and works by local artists give the hotel a plush feel. Soho is the New York neighborhood most likely to inspire you to start a street style blog, thanks to its fashionable galleries, boutiques, and patrons. Explore its cobblestone streets for the latest fashions, emerging artists, and trendy bars and restaurants.

Google ratings: 4.4/5.0
Address: 27 Grand StNew York10013
Contact: 888-526-3778
Website: jameshotels.com

The Graduate Roosevelt Island on the Cornell Tech Campus is an 18-story, 224-room hotel with nearly 360-degree sweeping views of the city, its skyline, waterfronts, and the East River. "Flyboy," a 13-foot-tall sculpture by Hebru Brantley of a boy in aviator goggles holding a lightbulb, greets visitors. He's standing in front of the check-in desk, which is made of antique wooden drawers and surrounded by a floor-to-ceiling wall of books. Highgate will manage the modern spaces, which will have stunning views of Manhattan, Queens, and the river, as well as Malin + Goetz amenities, spacious suites, and king and queen-sized rooms. The rooftop bar will be the hotel's most exciting feature, in addition to an all-day restaurant.

So far, all they know is that they will be run by Med Abrous and Marc Rose, a Los Angeles-based hospitality team and New York City natives. The rooftop space is likely to be the hotel's crown jewel due to its location. The lodging is open to the public, but its primary function is to serve out-of-town visitors attending business and academic conferences, as well as students and professors from around the world.

Google ratings: 4.2/5.0
Address: 22 North Loop RoadNew York City10044
Contact: 929 447 4700
Website: graduatehotels.com

Hotel on Rivington took a step up in style after a multi-year renovation, much like the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood. This luxury boutique hotel lives up to its unique category, with chic interiors, creative artists-in-residence, and new, upscale dining and drinking experiences. The structure itself is stunning, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing illuminating views of the city stretching from One World Trade to the Chrysler Building. The lounge-like lobby area of the hotel is painted with original work by artist-in-residence Domingo Zapata—each piece is for sale, and featured artists will change over time. The lobby scene, while quiet on a Friday night, is set to change in 2017 with the opening of a bar.

For the time being, head to the floor level to Cafe Medi for a Mediterranean-inspired meal. The spacious space, which opened in the summer of 2016, has high ceilings and tiled walls adorned with what appear to be ancient Greek drawn figures of humans and birds. Begin with creamy burrata and cast iron skillet bread, then dip into truffle polenta with mushrooms and perfectly runny eggs. Continue the party next door at the newly opened (hotel-owned) Jia Lounge, a cocktail lounge that looks like your stylish grandmother's dressed-up living room (in a good way), complete with plush furniture and walls covered in varying velvet floral patterns.

Back in your hotel room, you'll find wall-to-wall windows through which to observe the bustling New Yorkers below. If you stay in a one-of-a-kind king room, you'll find a 15-foot-long tiled shower with three showerheads that also serves as a personal steam room—ideal for inviting new friends over for a nightcap or three. Take another look through those looming windows at sunrise if you can wake yourself up in time.

Google ratings: 4.2/5.0
Address: 107 Rivington StNew York10002
Contact:212-475-2600
Website: hotelonrivington.com

What could be better than staying in a hotel with a massive red glowing NEW YORKER sign atop it if you're visiting New York? Perhaps one that is also an Art Deco treasure famous enough to have a nickname (the "Grand Old Lady") and is conveniently located next to Penn Station. There will be plenty of space with 912 rooms spread across several dozen floors (it is, after all, an entire skyscraper).

Its official name is the Wyndham. It has an old-school chandeliered lobby and a storied history. It first opened in 1930 with much glitz and glam (many politicians and celebrities spent nights in The Terrace Room), and was then purchased in 1975 by Reverend Sun Myung Moon and his Unification Church. Along with being right next to the station, this spot is also just three blocks from the Empire State Building, meaning you get a stunning up-close-and-personal view of the iconic skyscraper whenever you want. Inside, the rooms are simple and elegant.

Google ratings: 4.0/5.0

Address: 481 8th AveNew York10001

Contact: 212-971-0101

Website: newyorkerhotel.com