New York City Great Values

Branching from west coast roots (the Ace Hotel chain has outposts in Portland, Seattle, and Palm Springs), New York’s new nerdy-hip hotel opened in May 2009. Formerly the Breslin Hotel, the Ace has painstakingly restored the building’s 1904 floor tiling (previously covered in concrete), fine moldings, and the lobby’s towering round pillars. Conveniently located just off Broadway in Midtown, the Ace features a handsome library, a funky array of taxidermy (the badgers won’t bite), and coffee tables and chandeliers fashioned from defunct telescope lenses – all of which play into its oddball, eclectic style. The lobby bar (soon to be joined by a restaurant and coffee shop) serves locally-inspired cocktails like the Flatiron (rum, ginger beer, lemon juice, whiskey, bitters, and basil), and showcases a wall of graffiti stickers that conjures up the days when street art ruled the subways. The Ace’s 262 rooms all feature one large piece of commissioned art and cutesy touches like clothing hangers that read ‘you look good in that.’ Some units even flaunt acoustic guitars, record players, and vintage SMEG fridges stocked with beverages like Vitamin Water and Jack Daniels. Rooms range from inexpensive, albeit small, bunk-bed units to high-priced, king-size lofts with open floor space and windows that reveal the hidden, high-up architectural details of Midtown Manhattan.

Designed by architect James Remnick (St. Patrick’s Cathedral) in high Beaux Arts style and first opened in 1904, the Mansfield Hotel was, in its heyday, home to some of the city’s wealthiest jazz age socialites (Max von Gerlach, inspiration for The Great Gatsby, lived here). The Midtown space was recently reimagined by Andi Pepper and Stephen Jacobs, resulting in a mix of refurbished original details and of-the-moment conveniences and amenities. Get a taste for the hotel’s members-only feel in the mahogany Club Room, or grab a cocktail at the old-school M Bar. Might as well make it a Manhattan.

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez once lived here. Its 160 smallish rooms are comfortable, but the real appeal is the Euro vibe and proximity to music clubs and Washington Square Park.

This well located, 135-room boutique hotel offers luxury amenities and a trendy atmosphere at a modest price. With jazzy touches like zebra-print pillows and upholstered day chairs, and fancy extras like Frette linens, down comforters, and iPod docking stations, you’d think they’d have sprung for double-paned windows. They haven’t, so the rooms facing Park Avenue South are assaulted with the drone of Manhattan traffic, but for the price and location, and amongst the fashionable set who stay there, it’s worth the sacrifice.

Like its sister, 60 Thompson, the self-referential 6 Columbus provides cushy beds to sleep in and posh public spaces in which to be seen. The wood-paneled cocktail bar, rooftop bar, and Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill are equally as exciting as the free in-room WiFi, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, Fresh bath products, and 400-thread-count sheets. Interior designer Steve Sclaroff infused the hotel and its 88 rooms and suites with ’60s modernist-inspired décor, neutral colors marked with bold accents, and photographs by fashion photographer Guy Bourdin. If that doesn’t sell you, the proximity to Central Park, the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, and Lincoln Center will.

Called “The Met,” this star New York museum’s two-million+ collection spans from 75,000 B.C. through the 20th century. It also regularly hosts special exhibitions.

New York's premier discount department store for designer clothes and products touts discounts of up to 70-percent off. Note: weekends are especially mobbed.

Whether you’re short on time or short on cash, this 24-hour basement joint is a hidden gem...more

Rising chef David Chang has taken traditional Japanese ramen by way of his Korean heritage,...more

Given the enduring (and deserved) popularity of this snug West Village wine bar, dropping by...more