What it is

The closest you'll get to living in New York without actually renting an apartment.

What it isn't

A large, bustling hotel replete with amenities—there's no spa, for instance.

What we think

As residential as Manhattan hotels get, the 72-room Lowell is at once elegant and homey. Elegant as in crisp service, an excellent 24-hour concierge, afternoon tea and traditional furnishings (four-poster beds, Persian rugs). Homey as in generously sized rooms that feel like apartments, with books and objets on the shelves and (in most) kitchens, furnished terraces and wood-burning fireplaces. Suites are even more commodious, with up to three bedrooms and expansive dining and seating areas. The location, on a quiet, tree-lined block on the Upper East Side, enhances the sense of intimacy. There's no spa, but the fitness center is well equipped and drenched in sunlight. A pretty French-Med restaurant, Majorelle, spills into the garden (though we still mourn for the Post House, the ground-floor steak restaurant that closed in 2013).

You're here because

You're bringing the family or just want room to spread out and feel at home. The hotel's residential character is also ideal for extended stays.

The Moment

You rolled your eyes at the idea of a "fireplace butler," but as soon as he ignited the flames and the room filled with the invigorating aroma of eucalyptus (his suggested addition), your skepticism melted away.

Restaurants & Bars

Pembroke Room - Seasonal American cuisine, Afternoon Tea

Pembroke Room

Location

A residential block on the Upper East Side, a quick walk to Central Park.