New York City has lots of small hotel rooms with big price tags. If you’re looking for another place to stay, here are some little-known alternatives.
The average hotel room in Manhattan is close to $300 a night. You may cut costs—but not quality—at a bed-and-breakfast or inn.
These establishments—B&Bs include breakfast, while inns may or may not—usually have a more intimate atmosphere than hotels and almost always cost less for the ample space provided.
Here are seven B&Bs and inns we recommend. Many are on residential streets, away from bustling tourist areas like Times Square. For more options, visit Bedandbreakfast.com or Bnbfinder.com.
Stay the Night, 18 E. 93rd St.; 212- 722-8300; staythenight.com. Rooms from $75; continental breakfast left in kitchen or kitchenette first night only. A five-minute walk from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and other cultural gems, Stay the Night sits on a tranquil street bordered by trees. Between Fifth and Madison avenues, the restored brownstone offers three Victorian suites, several guest rooms, and a one-bedroom apartment with full kitchen. The well-appointed Madeline Suite features oak paneling, a graceful chandelier, and antique cabinetry. The bathroom boasts a deep, cast-iron tub where you can indulge in long, luxurious soaks.
The Inn on 23rd, 131 W. 23rd St.; 212-463-0330; innon23rd.com. Rooms from $269. In Manhattan’s Chelsea area, with its flea market and art galleries (for more on Chelsea, see page 103), this charming five-story inn offers 14 spacious bedrooms in a renovated townhouse with elevator. Rooms are decorated with a mix of antiques; modern touches include high-speed Internet access and satellite TV. The Canopy Room features a king-size bed topped with a lacy canopy, as well as a plush sofa and chaise. Enjoy fresh-baked muffins, bagels, hard-boiled eggs, granola, fresh fruit salad, and tea or coffee in the antiques-lined library as well as an “honesty bar” where you self-serve drinks and leave money in a glass jar. The atmosphere is decidedly serene, thanks to double-glazed windows and white-noise machines.
Ivy Terrace, 230 E. 58th St.; 516-662-6862; ivyterrace.com. Rooms from $180 (extra for daily maid service). In the mood for shopping or culture? This Upper East Side inn is walking distance to Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf’s, and the Museum of Modern Art. Ivy Terrace features four studio suites with private baths, high ceilings, and hardwood floors. Each room’s kitchen is stocked with continental-breakfast items. The Rose Room accommodates four with its queen-size bed and futon sofa. Each morning, you can enjoy breakfast on your private wooden terrace.
Inn New York City, 266 W. 71st St.; 212-580-1900; innnewyorkcity.com. Suites from $295. On the Upper West Side, a short stroll from Lincoln Center and Central Park, Inn New York City dazzles with four luxurious suites in a restored 19th-century townhouse. You don’t have to be a soprano to appreciate the Opera Suite’s baby grand piano and high-ceilinged living room with stained-glass panels. The romantic Spa Suite features a Jacuzzi bath, a kitchen with a granite countertop, and a king-size bed on a raised oak platform. The price includes a kitchen stocked with complimentary wine, cheese, bagels, croissants, pastries, and breads.
Abingdon Guest House, 21 Eighth Ave.; 212-243 5384; abingdonguesthouse.com. Rooms from $169 (breakfast not available). This Greenwich Village gem was created from two adjacent 1850s townhouses. Each of the nine rooms boasts its own Federal-style decor. The Garden Room has exposed-brick walls and a queen-size bed with a fanciful topiary-themed headboard. The room’s windows face the patio garden, which can be accessed from this floor. The vibrantly hued Ambassador Room offers a king-size bed and a single sofa bed, with dark-toned wooden furniture.
1871 House, 130 E. 62nd St.; 212-756-8823; 1871house.com. Rooms from $295 (breakfast costs extra). Off prestigious Park Avenue, this five-story brownstone features such Old World details as high ceilings and marble fireplaces. Choose from seven apartments and guest rooms; all feature an antique iron or brass bed with a country quilt as well as tasteful touches like Oriental rugs. The Garden Room has a four-poster Ralph Lauren bed, a Normandy armoire, and large paintings. A French door leads to a private terrace, where aromatic lavender, roses, and other plants grace the deck.
