"A cornerstone of the city’s five-star hotel scene, Mandarin Oriental’s New York City outpost is known for its elite service, a fantastic spa, and impressive vistas—the 75-foot lap pool overlooks the Hudson, the high-end MO Lounge boasts the Manhattan skyline as its backdrop, and the best rooms have bird’s eye views of Central Park. The rooms feel equal parts timeless in their definition of luxury—think heaping, decadent curtains for privacy, dark wooden desks, rich shades of the brand’s go-to purple—and contemporary, with modern artworks hung on the walls, shimmering structural light fixtures, and reflective metal details accenting every room. And the Mandarin Oriental’s spa is a destination in its own right. They offer standards like detox wraps and aroma stone massages, plus beauty treatments like hydradermabrasion and sculpting facials." - John Wogan, Nicole Schnitzler, CNT Editors, Sandra Ramani