Perfectly placed city hotels
Stay right at the heart of the action—at these superlative addresses, you’re just steps from the star attractions
We like to think of it as hitting the city-hotel jackpot: Not only do you secure the perfect room in a beautiful property, but you’re moments from all the experiences that make that destination so special. From a chic Chicago address that’s heaven for foodies, to a surprisingly serene Nashville stay that’s a gateway to the city’s music scene, these hotels have it all.
A hit with city slickers
The Ned Nomad, New York, NY
For the ultimate N.Y.C. experience, the Ned NoMad is hard to beat. With 167 rooms and suites, restaurants, a rooftop garden, not to mention multiple dining rooms and bars, it’d be tempting not to leave the hotel. But with its Broadway location, you’re just a few blocks from the Empire State Building, Madison Avenue, and the neck craning heights of Fifth Avenue’s skyscrapers. Stock up with a full Italian breakfast in-house at Cecconi’s, then head out early to explore the city at its best.
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A home run for sports fans
Bisha Hotel, Toronto, Canada
It’s understandable that the Bisha talks up its CN Tower views—from the 44th-floor rooftop pool they’re unbeatable—but that’s not the only Toronto landmark that lies in close proximity to the hotel. Guests are just minutes from the Rogers Centre, which hosts games by the Blue Jays baseball team and concerts by visiting music superstars. Families will be awed by Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada; couples in search of refined romance will find it at Roy Thompson Hall, home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; and eclectic King Street West is a dawn-to-dusk lifestyle district that offers everything from boxing classes to microbreweries to nightclubbing.
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The ultimate foodie hub
Nobu Hotel Chicago, IL
Having built his name on innovative Nikkei cuisine, it’s fitting that chef-hotelier Nobu’s swish Chicago property is set off a stretch of Randolph Street known locally as Restaurant Row—it’s one of the best places to dine out in the city. But the location isn’t just manna for foodies. The largest arena in the United States, the nearby United Center, is home to the Chicago Bulls, and the atmosphere is electric whenever they compete. What’s more, you’re a 10-minute drive from the exceptional works on show at the Art Institute of Chicago and the the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).
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A fashion-lover’s fantasy
The Carlyle, New York, NY
You’re minutes from much of the best of Manhattan at The Carlyle. It’s right by Central Park and is abuzz with megawatt celebrities during the famously outré Met Gala, hosted annually at the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art. Of course, shopping opportunities are superb—you’re surrounded by designer boutiques—and there are world-class cultural centers aplenty within walking distance, MoMA and the Guggenheim among them. But save some time to enjoy the only-in-New-York atmosphere of the hotel’s Bemelmans Bar, where an Emmy-winner pianist plays and murals whimsically depict an alternate Central Park reality where elephants ice skate and rabbits picnic.
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A surfer’s paradise
Santa Monica Proper, CA
A hotel that radiates the best of L.A.’s outdoorsy, clean-living sensibilities, this Santa Monica stalwart draws plenty of guests eager to enjoy the only rooftop pool deck on the Westside—those sunset views over the Pacific are stellar—but the team here are just as eager to introduce out-of-towners to the local community. Wilshire Boulevard’s many bars, restaurants and shops are in the immediate vicinity; surfboards are available for guests who want to take to the sea (it’s minutes away); complimentary bike rentals allow for sunny trips along the 22-mile-long Marvin Braude Bike Trail; or there’s the option of cruising through the city in the hotel’s Tesla Model 3s.
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A swoon-worthy stay
Fairmont San Francisco, CA
Tony Bennett first sang I Left my Heart in San Francisco in this storied beaux arts landmark, and decades later, Fairmont guests still routinely fall in love with the city. Sitting atop the upmarket Nob Hill district, its views surely help with that—they sweep across the bay, beyond Alcatraz Island and on to the Marin Headlands. This is also where each of San Francisco’s cable-car lines meet, so click-clacking to the likes of Fisherman’s Wharf is itself a fun experience. For walkers, all the flavors and colors of Chinatown—the largest in the United States—are just a short stroll away.
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A culture-vulture magnet
The Honeyrose Hotel, Montreal, Canada
Montreal’s cultural calendar moves at full throttle from the icy depths of midwinter to the sultry heights of summer, so you can expect its Honeyrose Hotel to be a hive of activity whenever you visit. Its star setting by Quartier des Spectacles helps—the celebrated cultural and entertainment district hosts more than 30 performance halls, 100-plus shows a month, and 40 or so festivals. Plus, for shopping and socializing, it’s just a block from the miles-long stretch of Sainte-Catherine Street, a boulevard populated by some of the most feted restaurants and boutiques in the city.
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An amazing all-rounder
The Elser Hotel Miami, FL
At The Elser, you’re bang in the middle of the best of Miami. Drive 15 minutes east for the art deco and decadence that is synonymous with South Beach; even closer to home, you’re encircled by world-class cultural attractions such as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and the Pérez Art Museum Miami. Then there are the fashion boutiques and restaurants of the Design District and the colorful murals that so impressively decorate Wynwood Walls. To gain an even greater appreciation for all that’s on offer, board the Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel for endless views that stretch from Biscayne Bay to the farthest reaches of the city.
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A market leader
Inn at the Market, Seattle, WA
You can’t stay closer to Pike Place Market than this. The only hotel within this nine-acre historical district, the Inn teems with energy, as you’d expect when you’re surrounded by independently owned shops and restaurants, artisans showcasing their wares, and scores of buskers who cover every conceivable musical genre. You could happily lose days in this good-natured melee, but it’s worth roaming a little further to discover other attractions like the Seattle Art Museum, whose collection includes exceptional Native American galleries, and the flamboyant 1920s Paramount Theatre, lit by 200-plus glittering chandeliers and ornate light fixtures.
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A must for music fans
1 Hotel Nashville, TN
This eco-minded property is surprisingly serene considering its right-in-the-thick-of-it location in a sociable city that seems to run on revelry and music. That heritage is perhaps best explored with a daytime visit to the nearby Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; a big-name concert at Bridgestone Arena; or during a night-time exploration of the famed honky-tonk bars that populate neon-lit Broadway, which host live performances 365 days a year. Plus you’re all set if you want to discover more of Tennessee, with the hotel’s electric Audi available for jaunts to the pastoral beauty of Bloomsbury Farm or the trails of Radnor Lake State Park.
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John O’Ceilliagh
Writer
John O’Ceallaigh is a luxury travel editor, and journalist with The Telegraph, National Geographic Traveler and many more. He is the founder of LUTE travel consultancy.
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