This historic New York hotel is perhaps best known as the meeting place of Dorothy Parker and her acid-tongued circle of literati who held court in the Algonquin's dining room in the 1920s and '30s. Today, the hotel's understated charm and elegance remain intact (if refurbished and upgraded) for a new generation of media mavens and well-heeled lodgers.

Visitors to the Vincci Avalon hotel in New York are apt to feel like they've entered a private club, complete with a dark wood and marble lobby illuminated by graceful chandeliers. The hotel's well-appointed library and meeting rooms only add to the effect. Bedrooms are meticulously kept and lodgers are treated to Irish cotton linens, the hotel's signature body pillows and bathrooms constructed from imported Italian marble. Although boutique hotels abound in New York City, the thoughtful European sensibility of the Vincci Avalon hotel sets it apart from other lodging options.

The Beekman Tower Hotel has been a mainstay of the New York skyline for over 70 years, and this stately Art Deco landmark has been a hub of the executive class all the while. Its all-suite format features rooms with amazing views of New York's East River and glowing skyline, and some rooms have terraces to boot. The well-equipped fitness center comes complete with sauna, perfect for relaxing after a hard day shopping or in the boardroom. The Top of the Tower restaurant and bar offers panoramic views of the city, showering moonlight on lovers and lodgers.

The skyscraping Benjamin ranks among New York's most sophisticated and luxurious hotels. From its custom made bed and bedding (including its famous "pillow menu"), to its warming suites with calming mahogany and cream accents, the Benjamin offers a well-earned respite from the New York-minute pace of Midtown. Anticipating the needs of even the most ardent shopper and global tycoon, the Benjamin hotel contains the Woodstock Spa and Wellness Center, which offers a variety of holistic approaches to municipal ennui including stone massages, foot reflexology and wellness prescriptions for the worn-out traveler.

Chambers caters to the most worldly and discriminating traveler, offering even the most jaded jet setter incomparable luxury without the mossy "Old World Charm" that spreads through most New York hotels. Chambers is glossy, edgy and, above all, arty, with no less than five original pieces in each tres moderne guestroom. In addition to plush bedding, high ceilings, walnut floors, and Tibetan rugs, guests are treated to such rarities as 45-inch plasma TV screens, CD/DVD players and reservations at Town, the hotel's restaurant that regularly draws celebrities, titans of industry and the occasional downtown New Yorker who managed to secure entrance to the exclusive eatery.

New York City's City Club defies the label of a "boutique hotel" by providing guests with sophisticated lodging in line with the luxury of nearby Fifth Avenue. Rooms are very much bedrooms, with window seats suitable for pining and marble baths perfect for soaking away troubles (with Hermes bath products, naturally) while music plays on an in-room CD/DVD unit. The rooms are modern but far from impersonal with contemporary flair added by a creatively subtle interior design featuring quiet colors and modern accents. Downstairs, celebrity chef Daniel Boulud highly rated db Bistro Moderne greets with palate pleasing French comfort food.

The recently renovated Dylan hotel manifests all of the things the average New Yorker wishes he or she could be: hip, tall and minimalist, yet classic. Guestrooms are outfitted in soft shades of mauve with quiet lighting and sleek, spare furniture lines. The bedding comes with all-cotton Frette linens and deluxe mattresses held by ebony-stained wood frames. Marble bathrooms (some with Jacuzzi tubs) and high-end amenities complete the experience at this sought-after (yet surprisingly affordable) residence. Located in midtown Manhattan, the Dylan is within walking distance of Times Square, the NY Public Library and the United Nations.

Palatial doesn't even begin to describe this massive (1000-room) combination brownstone mansion and tower. Its no surprise that the über-wealthy Sultan of Brunei is behind this incredibly posh establishment with enough business amenities to operate a small corporation and enough space to host a loft party in your guest room. Downstairs, Le Cirque 2000 continues to draw the crème de la crème of New York society with its architecturally stunning food and colorful, buoyant dining room.

The Omni Berkshire offers upscale luxury with fabulous city views. It caters primarily to members of the business community, but with dressy 300-count linens, marble baths and a wide variety of suite options (including the 1000-sq.ft. Rodgers and Hammerstein Suite with private terrace) it easily accommodates less-than-corporate needs. Located amidst the hustle and bustle of New York's business Mecca, the Omni Berkshire is only minutes from Times Square, high-end 5th Ave. shopping and Midtown's corporate headquarters.

The Shoreham is a classy and creative boutique hotel filled with aspiring starlets who know that one needn't pay top dollar for top-drawer lodging. Rooms are edgy and expansive, with retro accoutrements and minimalist accents in stainless steel, glass and marble. Located amidst the hustle and bustle of New York's business center, the Shoreham Hotel is only minutes from Times Square, high-end 5th Ave. shopping and Midtown's corporate headquarters.

If the glorious Plaza is queen of New York hotel royalty, the Waldorf-Astoria is king. With 1700 rooms, the Waldorf-Astoria is nearly the largest hotel in New York (and at one time, was the largest in the world). Its lodging pedigree--it practically invented room service--cements its place in New York history and guestrooms are designed with Old World Elegance in mind, featuring high ceilings marble bathrooms and triple-sheeted edding. Located only blocks from Central Park, the Waldorf-Astoria is also only minutes from Times Square, boutique shopping and the Midtown business district.