Chris - I'm a fan of The Crosby Street Hotel

The Bowery Hotel

and the The Mercer.

My favorite restaurant at the moment is Kyo Ya.

Close by, and a great spot to grab amazing cocktails, is Dear Irving.

Of course, get your caffeine fix at the upstairs Blue Bottle Coffee(the Siphon Bar is open from11:00 - 3:00)

image from twitter.comand then head over to Brooklyn to the newest Blue Bottle Coffeeon Dean Street.

image from instagram.com

I highly recommend trying the The NoMad Hotel, right around the corner from Ace Hotel New York.

Ace can get extremely loud, which sometimes bugs me, as does the requirement to look like a lumberjack-cum-brogrammer.

NoMad is a little snootier in vibe, but the rooms are great (ensure a larger room), and my favorite aspect is the food.

Eleven Madison Park Restaurant is always booked for weeks out. It's one of the most famous restaurants in NYC. Unbeknownst to many, Daniel Humm (exec chef from 11 Madison) does all the food at NoMad.

I highly recommend brunch or lunch -- less crowded than dinner -- and getting the duck or slow-cooked egg.

Definitely worth a test drive.

Smooches,

Tim

The cool kids are still staying at Ace Hotel New York as far as I could tell when I was there a few weeks ago.

Since budget doesn't seem to be holding you back, I would get down to Soho and stay at the Crosby Street Hotel. Great design, nice vibe (honor bar in the lobby), central to all things soho, and the room was so quiet I slept like a baby (unlike many NYC trips).One other option I would try, and will on my next trip there, is The NoMad Hotel. Daniel Humm is associated with Nomad, and after eating at his Eleven Madison Park Restaurant on my last trip and being wowed,

I want to check out Nomad. If you stay there, let me know how it was.

Crosby Street Hotel has good Soho location and nice vibe. It's elegant without being stuff or pretentious. Location is in Soho, but Crosby St isn't crazy busy. And walking distance to PUBLIC, Balthazar Restaurant, and Prune.

Also, if I may shamelessly self-promote, forward your confirmation email to checkin@checkmate.io to use our mobile check-in service before you arrive to get a better room, avoid a wait at the front desk, etc.

I concur with Tim's recommendation of The NoMad Hotel above (restaurant does the best roast chicken in the world, has to be sampled). For serious comfort (and if budget is not an issue) I recommend the Crosby Street Hotel down in Soho. Companion hotel to the hotel I always stay in in London, the Haymarket Hotel - great rooms, great bar and restaurant, outdoor terraces, nice loft vibe: http://www.firmdalehotels.com/new-york/crosby-street-hotel

My go-tos are the Crosby Street Hotel, Bowery Hotel, Greenwich Hotel or Trump SoHo Hotel. They're chic and cool without being overly trendy.

Lot of good recommendations already, but I'll add a couple of items:

• the Greenwich Hotel is a great spot, more mellow and laid back than some of the hipster joints mentioned in other reviews, but old school cool, New York. Great Italian restaurant, Locanda Verde on ground floor. Interesting fact, the hotel is owned by Robert DeNiro.
  
  
  
  
• The The Standard New York has incredible views over the Hudson to Statue of Liberty, etc., and a great bar on the top floor. Bonus points for having the High Line Park run right through the bottom of the hotel.
  
  
  
  
• In addition to being a cool hotel, the room service at the The NoMad Hotel is insanely good.
  
  
• I've never stayed at The James Hotel New York, however, I have drank at the rooftop pool bar and that is a nice spot.

I would try Hudson Hotel. It's a little off the beaten path but it's cool without being too self-conscious and has a very classic yet of-the-moment vibe. It has a very Tom Ford-y kind of feel to it. image from artflakes.com
If someone told me I could stay anywhere in New York and not have to worry about the money, I wouldn't be able to resist staying at least a night at The Mark Hotel. It's a very old school, classic New York vibe--don't expect a lot of hipsters wearing pork pie hats in the lobby, but it has a very fresh feel both literally and figuratively. Beautiful, beautiful rooms and a lot of really fun little amenities (like bikes and Laduree macarons in your room). It's the kind of place you can see a Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracey movie taking place.

Hey Chris, Check out The James Hotel New York. It's right at the nexus of SoHo and Tribeca. It's a great spot with a Rooftop bar and pool. Also 60 Thompson-A Thompson Hotel or the Thompson LES (a little more E Village/LES but in your wheelhouse style wise).

Update: I just remembered: The McKittrick Hotel for your Chelsea/UMPD (Upper MeatPacking District) activities. Plus the Heath there is an incredible night.

And Bowery Hotel is my hands down favorite hotel in the city.

Tribeca Grand Hotel is surprisingly interesting. Not full of "cool" kids, but thank god, right? Downtown LES very cool but more the Lower East Side. Hôtel Americano VERY cool but more Chelsea-esque. Crosby Street Hotel (Soho) and new Mondrian SoHo are to die for. Even if cost is no object, start with Hotel Tonight at 9AM the day of your stay for amazing deals at many of the places listed above.

High Line Hotel at 10th and 18th is very hip, very creative restoration. Neighborhood around the Highline is wonderful for exploring these days. And finally, Maritime Hotel at 9th and 16th never disappoints. And this is not to mention the amazing places you could get on AirBNB at these prices, but that's another story.

Have a good one!

I really like The Standard - East Village - beautiful views of lower Manhattan and a charming little cafe for breakfast before heading out for the day.

My favorite is eating at Bohemian. A modern Japanese restaurant (not focused on sushi), that feels more like you're eating at a chef's living room and less like you're having another sushi / roll outing at Nobu. Getting the "secret" number is a bit tough if you're not used to this sort of thing, but a little digging and it shouldn't be too hard to get.

Obviously, in Brooklyn, more precisely Williamsburg. I like to look for AirBNB listings in this area, the apartments are often surprising or creative, like those lofts in old Industrial buildings. Plus, if you find a way to get on a rooftop, you'll envoy this incredible view of the Island of Manhattan.

My two cents ;)

On the Island, I recently tried the Howard Johnson Soho hotel, in Chinatown. Nice place, the view on the Manhattan Bridge is crazy if you ask for a room up there, nice staff...

Hi there! I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and If you haven't yet explored here, i would highly recommend doing so. I would definitely stay at the Wythe Hotel. You'll be in the heart of Williamsburg, and have amazing city views. The restaurant Reynard in the hotel has incredible food, and one of the best burgers in the city.

Still can't beat the Ace Hotel New York.image from remodelista.comimage from mymodernmet.comimage from newyorklace.blogspot.comFerriss is a tad grumpy on it because of the occasional noisy / crowded lobby, but it's still a great mix of casual + cultural. Adjacent restaurants are the bomb.

Dream Downtown They have a good vibe with a nice lobby bar. They have a rooftop lounge that becomes a nightclub..pretty good scene on a Tuesday/wed night, steps from the Maritime Hotel, and new Bungalow 8, now named simply No. 8 is right next door.

Depending on what time of year you're visiting. In the summer, the Meatpacking District is cool because the restaurants and clubs/bars are all near by. If you're into that, The Dream Downtown has a crazy pool party every saturday and sunday. If you want more low key cool, then 60 Thompson is in a nice hood.

Williamsburg would have been the answer a year ago. Although it is getting a bit crowded these days. I'd still look for a place in Brooklyn. I like Brooklyn Heights myself. It's only one stop into Brooklyn from Manhattan, and the rates will be substantially cheaper. Go with AirBnB.

Gansevoort Hotels (Gansevoort Park in midtown and Hotel Gansevoort in Meatpacking district). Both has lovely rooftop places with pools. You'll enjoy either of them. I personally enjoy the Meatpacking district - the place that never ever sleeps as, in fact, the whole city... Try Dream Downtown close by as well.

Try The Standard New York hotel (website) in the Meatpacking district. It's pretty hip, has a rooftop bar and a nice restaurant on the first floor, both of them are very frequented. and also near the new TAO Downtown.