Where to Stay in Manhattan, New York

Hell's Kitchen runs along 9th and 10th Avenues from 42nd to 57th Street, just west of Times Square. It is close to everything without Times Square prices. Walk 8 minutes east down 46th Street and you are in the heart of Broadway. The A/C/E subway lines at Port Authority and the 1/2/3 at 50th Street connect you to the entire city in under 30 minutes. Ninth Avenue has the best restaurant stretch in midtown, from Los Tacos No. 1 on 43rd Street to Thai spots on 49th. Rooms here average $50 to $100 cheaper than the same quality one block east.

Best for

First-time visitorstheater-goersbudget travelers who still want a central location

Walk times

Times Square 8 min
Hudson Yards 12 min
High Line 30th Street entrance 15 min

Skip if: You need quiet nights or are traveling with very young children who go to bed early

Local tip: Book hotels on 48th to 52nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenue for the quietest rooms, farthest from Times Square noise.

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$146per night

Midtown East

Grand Central access and Fifth Avenue shopping

Mid-range $160-$480/night

Midtown East covers the blocks between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue, from 42nd to 59th Street. Grand Central Terminal anchors the neighborhood, putting Metro-North and 7 subway lines within a 3-minute walk. Fifth Avenue is 2 blocks west for shopping from Rockefeller Center to Bergdorf Goodman at 58th Street. Bryant Park on 42nd Street has free summer concerts and a winter ice rink. Hotels here skew business class and fill Monday to Thursday. Weekend rates drop 25 to 40 percent. The Chrysler Building at 42nd and Lexington is the best-looking skyscraper in New York.

Best for

Business travelersweekend deal huntersanyone arriving by Metro-North or Long Island Rail Road

Walk times

Grand Central Terminal 3 min
Fifth Avenue at Rockefeller Center 10 min
MoMA 12 min

Skip if: You want nightlife walkable from your hotel or are on a tight weekday budget

Local tip: Check in on Friday or Saturday and rates drop dramatically. The same room that costs $350 on Monday often goes for $200 on Saturday night.

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$179per night

Upper West Side

Central Park access with a real neighborhood feel

Mid-range $140-$420/night

The Upper West Side stretches along Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue from 59th to 96th Street, running directly alongside Central Park. The American Museum of Natural History sits on 79th Street and Central Park West, 5 minutes from most hotels here. Zabar's on Broadway at 80th Street is the best deli in the city. The 1, 2, and 3 trains run the length of Broadway and reach midtown in 20 minutes. Columbus Circle at 59th puts Lincoln Center, the Time Warner Center food hall, and the park all within a short walk. Quieter than midtown and genuinely residential.

Best for

Families with kidsmuseum visitorstravelers who want a quieter residential base

Walk times

Central Park West entrance 2 min
American Museum of Natural History 5 min
Columbus Circle 10 min

Skip if: You need to be in the Financial District or Times Square regularly, or you want late-night nightlife

Local tip: Walk through Riverside Park along the Hudson River instead of Central Park for great views and almost no tourist crowds.

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$157per night

SoHo

Cast-iron architecture, boutique hotels, serious shopping

Luxury $200-$550/night

SoHo covers the blocks between Canal Street and Houston Street, west of Lafayette to 6th Avenue. The cast-iron buildings on Greene and Mercer Streets are some of the finest 19th-century architecture in the United States. Prince Street carries the heaviest foot traffic. Spring Street Station on the C and E lines gives direct access to midtown in 20 minutes. Hotels here are mostly boutique properties in converted loft buildings. The Crosby Street Hotel and The Mercer anchor the luxury end. Nolita starts on the other side of Broadway with quieter options on Elizabeth and Mott Streets at lower prices.

Best for

Design loversshopperscouples seeking boutique style over convenience

Walk times

Greenwich Village 10 min
Chinatown 8 min
Brooklyn Bridge 20 min

Skip if: You need frequent express subway access for work or you are on a budget

Local tip: Stay on Crosby or Mercer Street for the quietest rooms. Streets just off Broadway absorb most of the tourist foot traffic and weekend shopping crowds.

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$224per night