When planning a trip with the children to the Big Apple, picking the right hotel to cater to everyone's needs is a must. Whether it's the proper room configuration, ensuring the hotel has baby gear like cribs and highchairs on hand, or keeping your little ones happy with extra perks and amenities, several luxury hotels take supreme care of children – as they do their parents. From the Park Hyatt New York in Midtown to the Four Seasons New York Downtown, these are our favourite family-friendly hotels in New York City.
Park Hyatt New York
Best for: an indoor saltwater pool perfect for every season.
This sleek five-star hotel is ideally located a block from Central Park, near many family-friendly activities. But the hotel itself is also perfect for children and their parents, thanks to a wide variety of suites (there are 92 to choose from) and connecting room configurations (which are shown under a specific category on the website, making it easy to select). All rooms feature modern Yabu Pushelberg furnishings, spacious marble bathrooms with deep tubs for bath time, and floor-to-ceiling views that the little ones will love staring from to count the taxis below.
Park Hyatt New York153 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
Whichever room you choose, add on the Teepee Sleepover amenity, which includes an adorable teepee set-up with a cushy pillow, a plush toy, a welcome treat, and a child-size robe and slippers. Don't be surprised if your kid wants to sleep in the teepee instead of their bed! Cribs and Johnson's bath products are available on request, and the restaurant also has high chairs. The large indoor pool and hot tub are prime spots for kids on rainy days or after a long day of touring around the city.
Oh, and even the family dog gets the royal treatment here, with a bed, bowls, treats, and a separate dog in-room dining menu.
The Plaza New York
Best for: a mother-daughter trip topped off with afternoon tea.
A New York icon, The Plaza remains a family favourite. The fun starts at check-in with the hotel's new children's check-in programme, where each kid receives their very own Plaza Passport, adorned with adorable illustrations by Tanu Vasu, setting the stage for a magical experience. The hotel has a wide array of suites and adjoining rooms available. We like the junior suite, which comes with a pull-out couch, cribs, and rollaway beds on request.
The Plaza New York768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
And, of course, the Eloise suite is a favourite of little ones. Older kids will love the Home Alone 2: Alone in New York package, which includes a limo ride around the city, a large cheese pizza, and a massive ice cream sundae. The hotel can assist with babysitting and stroller rentals, and for a memorable experience, you should book a special children's 'Eloise' afternoon tea in the Palm Court.
The Whitby Hotel
Best for: an in-house cinema showing screenings of your favourite films.
One of the most whimsical hotels in the city, The Whitby occupies prime real estate near Central Park. Designed by the inimitable Kit Kemp, this is the land of bright colours and fanciful patterns, and kids will enjoy the stylish décor as much as their parents. The hotel's family package includes daily breakfast, milk and cookies at turndown, RIKRAK (Kemp's adorable product line) welcome gift for parents, children's bath robes and slippers, and children's books.
The Whitby18 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019
We love the Whitby Penthouse, which occupies the entire top floor and has two bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, a large living room, guest powder rooms, and a kitchen. Best of all, it has two furnished terraces with panoramic city views.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
Best for: kid-friendly menus made for mini foodies.
The NoMad neighbourhood has emerged as a hotel hub in recent years thanks to its central location, and our preferred luxury property in the area for families is the new Ritz-Carlton. We're obsessed with the Ritz Kids programme, which encourages children to interact with their surroundings. It starts with the cute Ritz Kids Check-In, where the youngest family members can choose their preferences and receive a special welcome amenity. There's also a Ritz Kids Menu available at Chef José Andres' restaurant Zaytinya, exceptional in-room dining, and a custom menu at the Club Lounge.
25 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001
Kid-friendly amenities include a Leo the Lion activity book, water bottle, plush toy, colouring book tote, and children's robe. Cribs and nursing items are available upon request. Regarding accommodation, we recommend one of the 31 suites that can be adjoined for families. Parents can book a babysitter through the concierge, make an appointment at the excellent spa, then head upstairs to Nubluz, the hip rooftop bar, for a drink.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Best for: a rooftop pool where little ones can cool down all summer long.
The DUMBO neighbourhood of Brooklyn is an excellent location for those who have done Manhattan already. It's close to the waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park and has many amazing playgrounds. It is within easy access to Brooklyn's cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden Prospect Park, and the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Plus, on a nice day, you can walk over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and land in Manhattan's Chinatown or, dine at some of Brooklyn's best restaurants.
The hotel itself has some great family-friendly programming, including family movie screenings, events like Bubbles & Bubbles (a music class for children with champagne offered to 21+ guests), and the Sustainable Sleepover Package, which includes a children's tent, a star projector, milk and cookies, and an in-room movie with popcorn.
60 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
There are also kids' menus at The Osprey and for in-room dining, cribs, highchairs, babysitters upon request, and kid-friendly welcome amenities. Family room options include suites with pull-out couches and a website section showing connecting rooms. In warm weather, head up to the lifeguard-helmed rooftop pool and take in the incredible city views as you swim.
The Peninsula New York
Best for: newly renovated rooms and suites with flawless finishes.
This five-star favourite in Midtown has eight suite categories, each with spacious living rooms with pull-out couches, separate bedrooms, marble bathrooms with deep tubs, and connecting rooms that can be added for a spacious two-bedroom set-up. Some have fireplaces, terraces, dining rooms, and Central Park views; all suites have access to a complimentary chauffeur-driven Mini Cooper for up to three hours a day.
Welcome amenities for children include books and bubble bath supplies, and you can request toys, board games, and children's DVDs, along with baby gear like a crib, bottle warmer, and steriliser. Select the Camp Peninsula package to find a tent, s'mores, child-size robe and fuzzy bear slippers, and a personalised welcome note waiting in the room. Kids can also enjoy a fun scavenger hunt around the hotel.
700 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
The rest of the property features child-friendly amenities such as custom room service menus and a heated rooftop pool – replete with floats and noodles – along with sweeping views and breakfast served poolside, making it a great start to the day. Finally, the Peninsula Academy program has several family-friendly activities and excursions, including private tours of the Met and MoMA, baking classes with the founder of Maman Bakery (an NYC favourite), and a Brooklyn pizza tour (minimum age of 10).
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown
Best for: a central location with bikes and picnic baskets for exploring.
If you want to be downtown, look no further than Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, between Tribeca and the Financial District. Like at all Four Seasons properties, children are well cared for here, with all types of baby gear provided – diaper genie, babyproofing before arrival, a soft teddy bear, and, of course, cribs – alongside thoughtful amenities for toddlers and older kids too, like child-size robes and slippers, bubble bath, picture books, plush sloths, and a cute children's map of the city for the older ones.
27 Barclay St, New York, NY 10007
The in-room dining menu has a robust kids' section, there's a beautiful heated indoor pool, and the hotel has plenty of child-friendly itineraries at its fingertips (as do Quintessentially's lifestyle managers). As for rooms, we suggest the 900-square-foot Oculus Suite, a one-bedroom (a second room can be added) with two bathrooms, a living room with a pull-out couch, and a dining area featuring prime views of Santiago Calatrava's stunning Oculus building.
