Where to Stay in New York City According to a Local

When I moved to New York City over a decade ago, I knew I had found my home.

If you had told me back then that one day I’d give up my favorite rent-controlled apartment on the Upper East Side to set out as a digital nomad just as the entire world shut down because of a mysterious illness, I’d have said you were absolutely crazy.

Turns out the beauty of life is that you never know what’s going to happen next, so here I’m three years after leaving my home to travel full time, constantly searching for deals on hotels anytime I want to go home to the city.

After years of alternating between hotels and crashing with one of my best friends in Brooklyn when my income was low, I’ve become a bit of an expert on finding the best deals in the city for any budget.

Plus, as an ex-local, who’s spent over a decade running around the city, I have the best perspective on each neighborhood.

Below is everything you need to know about where to stay in New York City.

Tips for Planning Where to Stay in New York City

Decide on a Budget

One of the biggest factors when planning where to stay in NYC is your budget.

Sit down and figure out how much you want to spend per night, or how much extra you’re willing to spend to be in a better neighborhood.

I normally reason that I’m willing to spend a bit more on a hotel if I know I’ll be spending a good amount of time in the room or if it’s going to save me time and money transiting back and forth.

Plan Ahead

Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a last-minute planner. I guess I just love being open to the possibility of anything could happen and don’t want to commit myself too far ahead of time.

I will admit that personality traits haven’t always been helpful when planning travel in certain parts of the world, but it actually benefits me when I go to NYC.

When I go to New York these days, I play it risky and book my accommodation after landing.

I’m sure some people probably got anxiety reading that, but after three years of back and forth, I’m here to tell you it works, especially if you compare websites.

Hotels drop way down in price day of, especially if check in has already begun.

While I wouldn’t urge just anyone to wait that long to book a hotel, it’s beneficial to wait until closer to your departure day to book. 

According to a 2021 NerdWallet study, hotels are cheaper when you book within 15 days of your stay.

Get Familiar With the Neighborhoods

New York City has lots of neighborhoods to choose from, so pull up a map of the city and eyeball where things are in relation to where you’re thinking of staying. 

Most booking sites will let you see the hotel location on a map, making this an easy check before booking something. 

Since I love walking as much as possible, I normally see where it is in relation to the major places I know I’ll be hitting up during my trip.

I know most people who haven’t been to NYC can only tell so much from a map, so I’ve listed out all the pros and cons of each neighborhood below to help you pick the right one for you.

Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan

Midtown is one of the most popular places for tourists to want to stay, thanks to Times Square. 

It also makes it easy if you’re seeing Broadway shows, and want to do touristy things like checking out Rockefeller Center, Central Park, 5th Avenue, and Herald Square, since these are all easily walkable.

Since this is such a popular area for tourists, it’s always loud and hectic. This means if you’re a light sleeper, someone who is anxious in crowds, or wanting to have a more local NYC experience, you’ll likely want to avoid staying in this area.

Every time I go back to NYC I almost always end up staying in midtown, not because I love it, but because a lot of these hotels end up with last minute price drops that make them the cheapest option.

Best Midtown Manhattan Hotels

• Hyatt Grand Central
• Refinery Hotel
• The Peninsula
• The St. Regis
• The Kitano
• Lotte New York Palace
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Baccarat Hotel
• The Plaza

Upper West Side

The Upper West Side was the very first neighborhood I lived in when I moved to New York at 18 to attend acting school, so I’ve got really wonderful memories in this area.

If you’re looking for a quieter neighborhood close to the chaos of midtown, the Upper West Side is the perfect option.

It’s very family friendly, is home to a ton of great restaurants, Central Park, Lincoln Center, and The Museum of Natural History. 

My only complaint with this neighborhood when I was living there was that there’s very little nightlife and only a couple of places stay open late.

So if you’re young and looking for a hip neighborhood to go out partying at night, look elsewhere.

Best Upper West Side Hotels

• The Empire Hotel
• Hotel Beacon
• Arthouse Hotel
• Hotel Lucerne
• Courtyard by Marriott

Upper East Side

After living in this neighborhood for over a decade, the UES will forever be my favorite place to stay in New York City.

I seriously long for the day I can call this area home again. It’s got the perfect balance of calm family friendly vibes, but balances them with a really fun local nightlife scene. 

The Upper East Side has tons of amazing restaurants and bars, Museum Mile, Central Park, and tons of fabulous shopping, including Bloomingdale’s flagship store.

In fact, the only thing that really annoys me about this neighborhood is the fact it’s really difficult to find an affordable hotel. 

Also, if it’s your first trip to the city and you’re not planning on doing lots of museums, staying in this neighborhood can make you feel far away from the major attractions.

Best Upper East Side Hotels

• The Lombardy
• The Mark
• The Pierre
• The Carlyle
• The Gardens Sonesta

The Village

I know I said the Upper East Side is my all-time favorite neighborhood, but the Village is a very close second.

In fact, if the rentals weren’t so overpriced in this area, I’d have totally moved here during my time in the city.

To keep things easy, I’ve basically grouped Greenwich Village and the West Village into one giant category, since most non-locals wouldn’t be able to tell much of a difference.

These areas have great nightlife, shopping, and incredible bars and restaurants. 

The West Village, which is a bit more upscale and calm during the day, while still providing tons of opportunities for crazy nights out.

Families shouldn’t be totally put off, especially if you’re considering the West Village. There are some lovely quieter streets, and this is an area many people who have money choose to buy in when starting their families (Sarah Jessica Parker used to live here with her family).

Best Greenwich Village Hotels

• The Walker Hotel
• The Marlton
• Hyatt Union Square
• Moxy East Village
• The Standard

Lower East Side

If you’re looking to stay in an area of NYC where there’s tons of nightlife, look no further than the East Village.

This definitely isn’t a spot for families or older people who want peace and quiet at night. The LES is a popping neighborhood into the wee hours of the morning.

There’s a bunch of lounges, clubs, bars, and cool restaurants to hop between on nights out. 

I’ve had so many amazing nights out in this neighborhood.

In fact, this is the area my friends and I used to go dancing in every Saturday night. I’ve got hundreds of fond memories running around the LES after midnight, and seriously cannot wait to make more one night soon.

Don’t worry, you’ll also find some killer brunch options to help you with that hangover in the morning.

If you want to do sightseeing, just expect to be hopping on the train or hailing a cab, since there’s not really any touristy spots within walking distance, short of Katz’s Deli.

Best Hotels on the Lower East Side

• The Moxy
• Hotel Indigo
• The Ludlow
• CitizenM

SoHo

SoHo is one of my favorite places to spend a lazy day brunching and shopping with friends. 

This area has some of the cutest designer boutiques, plus two storefronts for 260 Sample Sale, which always has incredible deals happening.

There are also lots of great art galleries to stroll through and high end spas to hit up.

You’ll also find adorable cafes and restaurants that are perfect for a chill afternoon, or a trendy drink to start a night out on the town.

The downside is that this area isn’t near any major tourist attractions, so you’ll need to hop in a cab or onto a train.

Since this is a pretty trendy area, expect some noise at night, especially on the weekends, though nothing compared to the noise of Times Square.

Best Hotels in SoHo

• Arlo Soho
• SIXTY SOHO
• The Mercer
• NOMO Soho
• SoHo Grand
• Courtyard by Marriott

The Financial District

After three years of getting hotels anytime, I’m back in NYC, I’ve noticed that midtown and the Financial District always have the best deals.

The Financial District was never an area that was super appealing to me, especially since I mainly spend my time in the city catching up with friends, seeing shows, or working in Central Park, but it quickly grew on me when I gave it a chance last year. 

Staying downtown means you’ll be near One World Trade, Lady Liberty, Wall Street, and South Street Seaport, making it a simple choice for tourists.

The only thing I don’t love about the area is that there’s not much in terms of nightlife or restaurants, though there are some fabulous ones inside South Street Seaport.

Best Hotels in FiDi

• Courtyard by Marriott
• Moxy Downtown
• The Beekman
• Artezen Hotel
• The Four Seasons
• The Wall Street Hotel
• Mint House

TriBeCa

Wondering where TriBeCa is?

The abbreviation comes from its location, which is the triangle below Canal Street.

This area of lower Manhattan has great restaurants and bars to enjoy, though not really anything for tourists to check off their NYC bucket list, except for visiting nearby Chinatown.

The Best Hotels in TriBeCa

• The Walker Hotel
• The Frederick
• Smyth Tribeca
• The Greenwich Hotel
• Sheraton Tribeca
• The Roxy Hotel
• Hilton Garden Inn

Chelsea/Meatpacking District

One of my favorite things about staying in Chelsea is that it isn’t too far away from the West Village, and a quick subway ride away from Broadway.

With luxury, boutique, and budget hotel options, this area has something for everyone.

It’s a subway ride away from most major tourist attractions, but makes up for it with the High Line, Chelsea Market, The Whitney, Chelsea Piers, and tons of cool art galleries.

Best Hotels in Chelsea/Meatpacking

• The Moxy
• The Standard
• MADE Hotel
• Kimpton Hotel
• The Moore Hotel
• Gansevoort Meatpacking

Best Places to Stay in Brooklyn

Williamsburg

If you’re looking for upscale hipster vibes, look no further than across the bridge in Williamsburg.

This neighborhood has rooftop bars with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline, tons of trendy bars and restaurants, lots of cool vintage shopping, and tons of independent shops, including Catbird, which is my all-time favorite little jewelry shop. 

The only downside about this neighborhood is that it’s a good subway ride to midtown.

Best Williamsburg Hotels

• The Hoxton
• Wythe Hotel
• The Williamsburg Hotel
• The William Vale

DUMBO

With incredible views of the city, DUMBO is a dreamy area of Brooklyn to base your stay out of.

You’ll be easily able to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, ride Jane’s Carousel, and hang at Time Out Market.

Not to mention their waterfront park is seriously gorgeous to picnic in during the summer.

The only downside is that you’ll have longer transit times if you want to go anywhere in Manhattan.

Best DUMBO Hotels

• 1 HotelBrooklyn Bridge
• The Tillary

Greenpoint

Not too far from Williamsburg, you’ll find the latest trendy neighborhood in Brooklyn, Greenpoint.

This area has tons of trendy restaurants, bars, and cafes, plus a great waterfront with stunning views of the city skyline.

If you don’t mind a bit of a longer commute to most touristy hot spots, this neighborhood is a fabulous choice.

Best Greenpoint Hotels

• Henry Norman Hotel
• The Box House
• Franklin Guesthouse

Best Places to Stay in New Jersey

Hoboken

With beautiful brownstones and a thriving restaurant scene, Hoboken is a convenient area just a train ride away from NYC.

The major drawback is that once you’re in the city, you’re basically out for the day, because nobody wants to be riding the PATH train back and forth multiple times a day.

Best Hotels in Hoboken

• W Hoboken

Jersey City

More and more of my friends are making the move to Jersey City and loving it.

They say there’s great nightlife, lots of delicious restaurants and bars, plus amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.

Like with Hoboken, the downside is having to take the PATH train back and forth to the city.

Best Jersey City Hotels

• Hyatt Regency Jersey City
• Canopy by Hilton New Jersey
• The Westin New Jersey

Best Places to Stay in Queens

Astoria

Astoria has one of the best foodie scenes in NYC, so staying in this area is a no-brainer if you want to eat well on a budget.

It’s the hub of Queens and offers lots of cafes, shops, bars, and parks, all of which have a real neighborhood feel to them.

This is one area where you’ll really feel like a local. 

Depending on where you’re catching the train, your ride to Manhattan will likely be about ten minutes.

Best Hotels in Astoria

• Fairfield Inn

Long Island City

LIC is a quick 15 minute train ride away from Manhattan and offers lots of budget friendly hotels.

The area itself has lots to offer including a beautiful waterfront park with great views of Manhattan Skyline, plus lots of cute boutiques, and delicious restaurants. 

Overall, Long Island City is a great choice for your stay in New York City if you’re looking for a budget option in an area that’s not too hectic.

Best Hotels in Long Island City

• The Collective Paper Factory
• Ravel Hotel
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Boro Hotel

FAQs About Where to Stay in NYC

What area should a tourist stay in NYC?

It depends on what you’re hoping to do while visiting New York. If you’re dying to do all the major touristy stuff, midtown is a great place to base yourself out of since there’s a lot around, and tons of train lines available.

If you’re wanting a calmer area check out either the Upper East Side or Upper West Side, or downtown in the Financial District.

For a trendy boutique experience, book a cute place in the Village, TriBeCa, SoHo, LES, or Williamsburg.

Where should first time visitors stay in NYC?

I always tell first time tourists to stay in midtown because let’s face it everyone is obsessed with spending time in Times Square on their first visit to the city.

If you’re a light sleeper, or get anxious in crowds, skip staying directly in Times Square and opt for a hotel in midtown east near a subway line.

Is it better to stay in midtown or Times Square?

Times Square is in midtown, so basically if you choose to stay in there, you’re staying in midtown, Manhattan.

There’s also Hell’s Kitchen, which is to west of Times Square, and midtown east, which is obviously to the east. All of these areas have their perks, like midtown east is near Grand Central Station, and Hell’s Kitchen is near the theater district.

I like staying near 5th avenue in midtown, near Bryant Park, which generally has good pricing, great access to major subway lines, and is a few blocks outside of the chaos of Times Square, while still being close enough to walk to a Broadway show.

Checking Out

I hope this post helps you pick the perfect place to stay in New York City.

Writing it has certainly made me eager to get back to the city later this year to see friends and catch up on all the Broadway shows I’ve missed.

If you’ve been to the city before, let me know in the comments below which neighborhood is your favorite place to stay in NYC.