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The grande dame of New York hotels, this 19- story, French Renaissance building opened in 1907 as a residence for the wealthy and is now a National Historic Landmark. The hotel is closed for renovations and is due to reopen in 2007.

Bold red, bright yellow, or blue? Each of the 200 rooms in this new hotel is awash in color, courtesy of hot designer Adam Tihany. Take the glass and chrome elevator to the peaceful second-floor bar.

TriBeCa’s first hotel is a hit. All the neighborhood gathers at the Church Lounge, the dramatic lobby/bar with 70 translucent columns of light. Rooms are a calm counterpoint with an array of high-tech toys.

High ceilings and tall windows mean fabulous city and Central Park views, and the amenities are equally bountiful – jacuzzis, personal business cards, room service from Jean Georges (see Jean Georges), or a chef to cook for you.

The W Hotel group has a winning formula, turning an ordinary hotel into a hip sanctuary. It features a big, open lobby, plenty of light and clever use of contemporary furnishings in a limited space.

Designer David Rockwell has turned a Beaux Arts building into a contemporary show-stopper, complete with floating staircase. Trademark W features include a lobby with books and chess sets, and rooms with pillow-top beds.

An Art Deco landmark with a magnificent lobby, the 1,407-room Waldorf offers a variety of rooms, some grand and some disappointing.

William Randolph Hearst built the hotel in 1927, with large rooms and ample closets, and celebrities have been coming ever since. The lobby is small; rooms have traditional furnishings and mahogany armoires.

A haven in the heart of Greenwich Village. Rooms are tiny, hallways painfully narrow, but the decor pleasant, continental breakfast is included, and you can say you stayed where Bob Dylan and Joan Baez once hung out.

Reserve well ahead if you hope to snag one of the large, comfortable rooms here – among the city’s best buys. Furnishings are a bit threadbare, but this only adds to the home-like atmosphere.