Profile

The 161-room brick-faced Helmsley Carlton is a short course in Upper East Side efficiency and grace. The quality is in the details, as evident in the private driveway populated by smartly dressed valets; the glam, chessboard lobby; and the highly competent staff. Tasteful apartment-style rooms are oversized and bright, as well as flawlessly clean and outfitted with comfortable, airy linens and sturdy mahogany furniture–including some posh dinner table sets—for a look that is at once classy and unimposing (read: not stuffy). A contemporary range of amenities, such as wireless Internet access and two-to-three phones per apartment, complement the old-style furnishings. The Helmsley Carlton is surprisingly pet-friendly and boasts a solid room-service menu. Outside, the southeast corner of Central Park is a short skip down the road, as is some of best shopping in the city. Extended stays are available. — Mike Sanfilippo

Straddling the Upper East Side and Midtown border, the hotel offers a very comfortable and posh New York experience.

Cons
There are no non-smoking floors; the rooms can get pricey.