Empire Hotel

Profile

The pre-war building has been called the Empire for decades—before and after the Radisson gutted and sold it to a group of private investors who reopened it in 2007. And while bigger than a typical boutique property, the 420-room hotel nonetheless subscribes to a boutique philosophy. The keyword is design: The lobby and mezzanine levels are a dusky, jazz-club-like mix of prints and textures; the rooms reflect mid-century modernism with simple shapes enlivened by plush fabrics and abstract art; even bathrooms are small but spa-grade with teak showers. There are more than a couple of room types, but the standouts at the high end are the corner one-bedroom suites, which offer plenty of space (a large seating area and work/dining table in the main room; a king bed in the bedroom), and panoramic views of Lincoln Center. The standard rooms are no less luxurious, with the exact same finishes and textures, although the smallest of them (located throughout the hotel), are very small indeed. Even by New York standards. — Stephen Milioti

Elegantly rendered design and an ideal location across from Lincoln Center if you’re heading there for the night.

Cons
Smallest rooms are quite small … even for NYC.