Profile

A welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of lower Midtown, the Affinia Manhattan (formerly known as the Southgate Tower) is a hidden gem with sumptuous design. Built in 1929, the 28-floor hotel is filled with dramatic, eye-catching details. In the lobby, eight gold-plated elevators line a wall bedecked with candelabra sconces. The lobby lounge is filled with velvet couches beneath an opulent chandelier and a ceiling of white and gold ceramic molds. There’s also a classic ballroom and a contemporary restaurant/bar, Niles New York City. Throughout the hotel, the Affinia "signature scent" wafts through the air—sweet, fresh, and floral, it’s released through the ventilation ducts. The 526 rooms (studios and 1-2 bedroom suites) are casual, comfortable, and spacious with classic mahogany desks and dressers, and amenities like web TV, dataport hookups, a Playstation console, and 2-line cordless phones. Cushy armchairs, king-size beds accented with red silk-quilted pillows, leather ottomans, and potpourri dishes add touches of home. The acrylic-counter kitchens are basic, but fully equipped. Additional perks include a fitness room, a small computer area, and, for the coif-conscious, Mr. Robert's Barber Shop. — Melia Patria

At over 75 years old, the hotel retains a sense of old-fashioned glamour; casual and spacious accommodations.

Cons
Despite the ritzy design, this is not an over-the-top, luxury hotel; in-room bathrooms and kitchens are far from delux.