T+L’s Hotel Review of The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City

At Travel + Leisure’s second annual World’s Best Summitthis past summer, Tracee Ellis Ross told the audience that she “loves a hotel with a good bar, so you can go down by yourself in your pretty little clothes.” The well-traveled actor likes to go out on the town without ever leaving her hotel.

When I stay at The Fifth Avenue Hotelso do I. On a recent stay, my beautifully wallpapered suite was five stories above The Portrait Bar. Often voted among the best in the worldit was dreamed up by hotel designer Martin Brudnizki, who usually trades in hand-painted florals and maximalist lighting. The Portrait Bar, however, has neither: it’s dark and moody, with more than 50 (you guessed it) portraits and red velvet couches, one of which I melted into while perusing the seasonal Long Island Railroad–inspired cocktail menu. On my first night, I tried OBI’s Long Island iced tea aged into a Manhattan. Then, I texted my butler and asked for a 9:30 p.m. standing reservation for the next two nights. It just seemed prudent.

And sure enough, both evenings that followed, I grabbed a nightcap at The Portrait Bar, then braved the arduous commute home: an elevator ride up to my Mansion Suite. There, I would collapse unceremoniously into the rosé-colored couch in my living room, under a chandelier of brightly colored glass fruit ornaments. Sitting on the coffee table awaiting my arrival: a glass cabinet stocked with petit fours. It seems to me that any city hotel worth its stock should have a fantastic bar and, in the guest rooms, multicolored glass chandeliers under which you can eat miniature desserts.

There’s plenty more to love about The Fifth Avenue Hotel, which T+L readers voted the best hotel in New York City in the 2025 World’s Best Awards. One frequent visitor called it the “best hotel in New York by miles,” while another called out the “outstanding staff and service.” A third guest said, of their weeklong stay, “Everything was on point from the moment I walked in the door. They think of everything.”

Here, my full review of the best hotel in New York City, as voted by T+L’s discerning readers.

The Rooms

The Fifth Avenue Hotel’s 153 rooms are spread over two buildings: a landmarked mansion, dating back to the late 1800s, with past lives as a private residence and the Second National Bank of the U.S., and a new 24-story tower rising behind it. The tower’s top floor is dedicated to two suites with terraces, one of which boasts a coveted view of the Empire State Building. Down a few levels are new suite offerings such as the soon-to-open Mansion Penthouse on the seventh floor and the 850-square-foot Topiary Suite, a one-bedroom, two-bathroom retreat with a 750-square-foot outdoor terrace garden and an attractive bird cage-inspired gazebo.

Like the rest of the hotel, the rooms are designed by Martin Brudnizki, who also worked on Fouquet’s New York hotel. The maximalist rooms are clad in mint green and floral wallpaper with custom-designed furniture and lighting by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, and deep blue bed frames and headboards cradling sumptuous Duxiana mattresses.

In my 526-square-foot Mansion Suite, the showstopper was the green room divider, separating the boudoir from the living room, which was complete with a lounge chair dolled up in a very Missoni-like zigzag pattern underneath that colorful Murano glass chandelier.

Food and Drink

When The Fifth Avenue Hotel opened in October 2023Sarah Jessica Parker stood on the Café Carmellini terrace, overlooking the restaurant’s blue velvet banquettes, three-tiered chandeliers, and trees with petrified wood trunks and silk petal leaves, and poured Champagne over a 20-foot peetering tower of glasses. While I still remember the restaurant for the stir that opening party caused on Instagram, Café Carmellini is a substantively delicious eatery rather than just a very pretty one with well-placed greenery and attractive lighting.

The Italian restaurant, by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, serves a fairly simple, precisely executed menu, from French omelettes in the morning to a seasonal risotto that changes each evening. My risotto had burrata and fresh asparagus and followed a summery appetizer tart with pea tendrils, creme fraiche, and a minty pistou.

Activities and Experiences

The Fifth Avenue Hotel doesn’t just place guests near some of Manhattan’s world-class cultural institutions; it aims to be part of the city’s creative landscape. The hotel’s Art of Discovery experience (rates starting at $375) takes guests on an artful journey through its 700-piece global art collection, displayed throughout the building. Then, guests are whisked away (in a private car, of course) to the Whitney Museum of American Art for a personalized tour.

On offer for the creative set: the Baudelaire Experience, which offers exclusive access to the entire 24th floor with views over Fifth Avenue below. To spark inspiration, the hotel will arrange wine tastings, pre-dinner caviar and Champagne, and stock your sumptuous suite with a curated selection of books.

The hotel’s year-round calendar of events also includes art prize announcements, live music performances, and conversations with artists.

The Spa

Although the hotel doesn’t have a spa, it has partnered with Japanese skin care brand Clé de Peau Beauté for a seasonal fall pop-up beauty suite where guests can book facials and treatments. The menu consists of five options, including the 80-minute Face Time at The Fifth, the hotel’s signature treatment using the brand’s plumping Key Radiance Care Serum Gel Mask.

For those who like to stay on top of their workout routine while traveling, The Fifth also features an on-site Fitness Suite with modern equipment. However, if you prefer group classes, guests also receive complimentary access to local fitness studios, such as Humming Puppy Yoga (a 10-minute walk from the hotel), SoulCycle, located around the corner, and Barry’s Bootcamp.

Family-friendly Offerings

For those traveling with children, the hotel offers connecting rooms with either a king-size bed or two twin beds. Young guests will probably also want to check out the on-site Family Toy Trunk and cookie tower.

Four-legged family members are also welcome, with perks like plush beds, gourmet treats, and food and water bowls.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The Fifth Avenue Hotel offers a number of ADA-compliant guest rooms and suites. These include: The Studio Suite ADA, The Mansion Suite ADA, The City King ADA, The Nomad King ADA, The Fifth Avenue Suite ADA, and The Mansion Suite Double ADA, with features like beds with ADA lifters, roll-under sinks, lowered hooks, light switches, and peepholes. The hotel’s public areas are also wheelchair accessible.

The hotel has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at reducing water waste and carbon emissions. The Fifth uses energy-efficient lighting as well as heating and cooling. Additionally, it has eliminated single-use plastics from its guest rooms and other on-site facilities. Guests driving electric vehicles can charge them on-site.

Location

The hotel sits on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 28th Street in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood. Its central location puts guests within a quick walk or subway ride (the 28th Street station, servicing the N, Q, R, and W trains, is steps away) from landmarks like the Flatiron Building, Madison Square Garden, Empire State Building, The High Line, and many of the city’s best museums and parks. Madison Avenue, a mecca for upscale designer boutiques and art galleries, is a five-minute walk.

NoMad is also home to many Michelin-starred restaurants, including chef Daniel Humm’s Eleven Madison Park; Atomix, which serves a 10-course, Korean-inspired degustation; and Cote steakhouse.

Book Now

The Fifth Avenue Hotel is part of the Leading Hotels of the World’s Leaders Club loyalty program, so members enjoy perks like room upgrades, exclusive rates, early check-in and late check-out (based on availability), and accrue points for each stay.

Nightly rates at The Fifth Avenue Hotel start from $995.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.