In its early days, 1905-built Gotham Hotel was overshadowed by the Plaza to its north and the St. Regis across the street. It failed largely due to its inability to get a liquor license, but the Italian Renaissance architecture remains. Fast forward to 1988, when it was bought up by the Hong Kong-based Peninsula group; to 1999, when it reopened after a gut renovation; and then to the present, when the property boasts 185 guest rooms, 54 suites, and a pretty sterling reputation. Oh, and a bespoke BMW is the house car.

Condo drama aside, the landmarked Plaza remains iconic in the NYC hotel world. The hotel, designed by the Dakota's Henry Janeway Hardenbegh, opened in October 1907 after a $12 million, two-year construction process. At the time, rooms cost $2.50/night. (Today, they cost just a bit more.) Movie appearances include North by Northwest, The Great Gatsby, and Home Alone II—and, of course, the hotel has a long-standing association with Eloise.

The Ace Hotel is one of the newish crop of hotels that sprang up in its neighborhood, whether that neighborhood is WhoDi, NoMad, or the Canal Street of Midtown. It's also one of the more affordable hotels on this list, with a lobby beloved by the city's startup kids.

The Palace Hotel—yes, the one from Gossip Girl, and it's had cameos on 30 Rock and Law & Order, too—just completed a renovation of all 900 of its rooms. The hotel actually began as a private residence, designed by McKim, Mead & White for Henry Villard and built in 1882. That original residence now contains the hotel's Villard Ballroom.

The NoMad has a completely different feel from the nearby Ace—the NoMad's aesthetic leans more toward the European, with Paris-inspired interiors by Jacques Garcia featuring clawfoot bathtubs and reclaimed maple floors. The individual rooms range from standard to apartment-esque—the Suite Royale is an 1,800-square-foot space with a private terrace.

The Mercer is the sister hotel to the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, so, naturally, it's pricey and popular with celebrities. (The lobby is always a place to spot power players.) William Schickel designed the 1890 building—a Romanesque Revival landmark—as offices for the Astor family; before it became a hotel, it housed artists' lofts. The 75 hotel rooms and suites were designed by Christian Liaigre, and the hotel is part of the Andre Balazs empire.

The hotel, an Art Deco landmark, was designed by Schultze and Weaver and takes up the full block between 49th and 50th streets and Park and Lexington avenues. Fun fact: the hotel was the first to ever offer room service. It also contains some of the city's most expensive rentals within Waldorf Towers, a separate division of the hotel located on its upper floors, and a secret subway platform underneath the hotel where dignitaries could access the building without being seen. The hotel recently sold to Anbang Insurance Group Co. for a whopping $1.95 billion, and the new owner is planning a "major renovation."

A hospitality pioneer in its neighborhood, the 352-room Soho Grand's past-meets-present design is meant to intertwine the historic grandeur of the 1870s with the more mod stylings of the 1970s. It's also pet-friendly, with sculptures of canines throughout, and earlier this year the hotel debuted a dedicated dog run overhung by twinkle lights, "complete with fire hydrant water stations, bespoke benches, and design by gardener-to-the-stars Rebecca Cole."

Here's another neighborhood gamechanger. A poster child for the evolution of the Bowery, the hotel combines a few common New York City design elements like "industrial styled windows" and loft-inspired layouts with a well-known event space for up to 600. Guests might end up downstairs from a film premiere or photo shoot.

Hotel guests' peep shows have generated some headlines, but The Standard also has things to offer to the non-nudity-inclined. The building straddles the High Line, for one thing, and contains an ice rink and rooftop bar. There's always fun public art.

The Crosby Street Hotel, the first U.S. outpost from UK-based Firmdale Hotels, is priced at a level that befits its frequent famous guests—Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, and Julianna Margulies are just a few of the recent celebrity guests . One reason those guests come to the Crosby: the 99-seat movie theater downstairs, which often hosts screenings. The hotel opened four years ago, and it's popularity has not wavered. Just last month, a hospitality expert called the Crosby "a lightning rod" for travelers.

An incredible roster of famous people have swept through the Gramercy Park Hotel, which opened in 1925. Humphrey Bogart got married on the rooftop terrace! The Rolling Stones and U2 are among the many musicians who've stayed there. These days, with art collector Aby Rosen at the helm, the hotel's look is artsy and includes pieces by Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, and Andy Warhol. Julian Schnabel redesigned the hotel (which also has Gramercy Park views, as the name suggests) several years ago. Off the lobby is Danny Meyer restaurant Maialino.

From the facade to the door hinges, husband-and-wife design team Stephen Alesch and Robin Standefer of Roman and Williams created every aspect of the 240-room Viceroy hotel on 57th Street, which is the newest hotel on this list. The 30-story hotel celebrated its one-year anniversary in October, and its luxe, high-design easily puts it among the best new hotels in the city. The aesthetic combines Roman and Williams' signature rich and rugged style with custom made Art Deco-esque furniture to create a space reminiscent of old New York. The lobby has a library, and all rooms are stocked with books about New York City. Small details like an elevated mini-bar, built into the wall unit that holds the bed, and porthole windows in some showers set the hotel apart.

Pod 39 is a newer addition to the hotel scene, having opened two years ago, but it made the cut thanks to its status as a vanguard of the efficiency/mirco-living trend and for delivering impeccable rooms at affordable prices. As the name implies, the hotel features smaller rooms, but don't let that dissuade you. The spaces are thoughtfully designed for maximum functionality, and the hotel offers all the high-tech bells and whistles that young travelers crave, like an extensive media center and wireless audio streaming. The lovely rooftop bar is popular with travelers and locals, and it houses an outpost of Salvation Taco, a taqueria by renowned chef April Bloomfield.