Named after owner Henry Kallan's favorite animal (and because of its tall, slender design), the 75-room Hotel Giraffe is an Art Moderne that will appeal to fans of NoMad architecture, the trendy neighborhood restaurants, and fans of "Sex and the City: The Movie" (in which the hotel was prominently featured). Rooms have understated contemporary decor, and the hotel offers homey extras such as a daily wine and cheese hour and free continental breakfast. There's no gym, but free passes are offered for one nearby. First-time visitors to New York who are determined to hit the sightseeing checklist will probably want to stay somewhere more uptown, however.

Opened in 2013, the upscale Hyatt Union Square New York offers stylish accommodations and solid amenities a block from Union Square (and its seven subway lines). Rooms are bright and charming, with fun details and textiles; several feature terraces. The three on-site restaurants -- with a fourth on the rooftop terrace coming soontag:revisit 7/15/2013 -- serve three solid meals a day in comfortable but stylish settings. Overall, it is one of the best bets in the area.

Located in a residential neighborhood more popular among locals than tourists, the Marcel has 136 guest rooms, snazzily outfitted in cool gray, earthy yellow, and playful zebra print. Nice extras in-room extras include blackout drapes, C.O. Bigelow bath products, and down comforters and pillows. Though it lacks a gym and charges extra for Wi-Fi, the trendy rooms, discounted New York Sports Club passes, and beautiful outdoor terrace tend to compensate. Those who require an on-site fitness center could try the nearby Carlton.

The William offers an upscale boutique stay in an excellent location near Grand Central Terminal and Bryant Park. Plush common spaces, like the hotel's lobby and Prohibition-style speakeasy (a Midtown outpost of the popular Raines Law Room), harken back to another era, while the equally atmospheric pub feels like stepping into a British drinking hole, complete with shepherd's pie and fish and chips on the menu. The 33 guest rooms, in contrast, are modern, awash in bright shades and decked out with mod cons like Apple TVs and Nespresso machines, plus most have contemporary kitchens. Bathrooms are stocked with L'Occitane toiletries and have rainfall showers, but some can be small and lack storage space. The Gramercy Park Hotel is a nearby alternative with a celeb scene and rooftop bar -- but rates are higher. 

Offering stylish rooms on a quiet stretch of Madison Avenue in Murray Hill, The Roger is a sophisticated, four-pearl boutique hotel within a 10-minute walk of several subway lines and major landmarks like the Empire State Building and Herald Square. Renovations in 2012 introduced chic interiors by renowned designers Anna Busta and Annette Jaffe, starting at the posh two-story lobby lounge and extending through to the 194 modern guest rooms, which feature flat-screen TVs, city-centric art, and C.O. Bigelow toiletries. Some rooms offer terraces and stunning Empire State Building views. The Parlour Bistro and Lounge serves upscale comfort food incorporating items from iconic NYC eateries. A facilities fee covers Wi-Fi, lobby drinks, and fitness center use. There’s no pool or spa. The nearby Redbury New York offers a livelier atmosphere, but no on-site gym.

The Gramercy Park Hotel currently sets the bar for New York cool -- hence the celebrities in the lounge and the paparazzi on the sidewalk. It offers ultra-luxe but small rooms done up in high Boho-chic style, a gorgeous gym, an acclaimed Italian trattoria, and a great rooftop bar. True, even guests sometimes feel excluded from the glamour-fest in the bar. But the place is utterly unique.

With an intimate, boutique feel and all the luxe amenities of a larger hotel, The Marmara Park Avenue offers a four-and-a-half-pearl stay in New York City's Midtown. The 128 rooms, with their sophisticated designs and modern amenities like iPad Airs and wet bars or kitchens cater to upscale couples and business travelers. Many units are outfitted with a balcony, an ever elusive feature among hotels in the Big Apple. While the hotel only has a bar lounge with a limited menu and no full restaurant, it still does well in other areas like a top-notch spa, indoor pool, modern gym, and meeting rooms. For those who want a livelier stay, check out The Sanctuary Hotel which has a free breakfast (unlike The Marmara), two restaurants including one on the roof, and a location near Times Square. 

Located in residential Murray Hill, the upper-middle-range Shelburne Hotel & Suites by Affina is an easy walk to a number of Midtown tourist sites and there are an abundance of reasonably priced restaurants and bars nearby. The hotel has its own rooftop bar and inventive burger grill. The 323 rooms and suites are spacious with spa-inspired bathrooms, colorful custom furniture, and fun touches like pillow menus, plus an array of experience and grocery packs to customize your stay (kids aren’t overlooked). Some suites have kitchens, and others have wraparound terraces with iconic skyline views. Bike use and daily wine hours give the Shelburne a perks advantage -- but "freebies" are actually covered in a hotel facilities fee. Those seeking a chain hotel close to Times Square could try the Grand Hyatt New York. 

This refined 317-room hotel, since early 2012 a Marriott's exclusive Autograph Collection, is in Murray Hill, a quiet but less popular location. It features modern rooms with excellent beds, 42-inch plasma TVs, iPod docking stations, and free Wi-Fi; a brasserie helmed by a Michelin-starred chef; and an on-site fitness center. It's a fair pick for the price, but also compare rates at the nearby Affinia Dumont. THIS HOTEL REOPENEDAS THE JAMES NEW YORK - NOMAD IN JUNE 2017. WE WILL UPDATE OUR PHOTOS AND REVIEW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Thorough attention to detail and old-world charm set this quaint boutique hotel apart. Its 12 rooms have been individually decorated with period antiques and fireplaces, and feature modern amenities, such as flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. The property lacks most of the amenities of larger hotels, including a fitness center and a full restaurant -- but it does offer an elegant tea salon, a central location a block from Union Square, and an intimate feel that's hard to come by in New York.

Hip hotelier Ian Schrager's first property, the 114-room Morgans, opened in 1984 as a discreet hangout for the regulars of his infamous Studio 54 and is often considered the original "boutique" hotel. Nowadays, excellent service, a convenient Midtown location, and free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and all-day coffee at least partly excuse the lackluster scene and few hotel features (there is no full restaurant or spa, and the bar doesn't serve food and is closed on the weekends). The price is high for a place with relatively little character. For an east-side boutique with more of a pulse, try Gramercy Park Hotel.