New York City best places to stay: Six of the top new hotels

ACE HOTEL BROOKLYN

Heard of Boerum Hill? I hadn't, but it's where Ace Hotel made its Brooklyn debut in July last year, unveiling a swish new 287-room property. And it's a gem of a locale: one block from the subway and a 10-minute stroll from Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Rooms are unusually spacious with panoramic urban vistas and retro touches, including turntables and Smeg fridges. The lobby is the place to hang with a cosy fireplace and a verdant indoor courtyard, while inhouse eatery As You Are serves excellent seasonal fare. Rooms from $US299. See acehotel.com/brooklyn

HARD ROCK HOTEL NEW YORK

Music fans will get a kick out of the celebrity knick-knacks scattered throughout this impressive new property near Times Square, which include a pair of Lady Gaga's boots and handwritten lyrics by John Lennon. All 446 rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, life-size rock star imagery (Springsteen graced my door) and the option to borrow a Fender guitar. There's an upscale steakhouse, a lobby bar with live music and an intimate rooftop lounge with two outdoor terraces. Play your cards right and you might score an invite to Venue, the hotel's VIP entertainment space (Halsey played there during my stay). Rooms from $US545. See hardrockhotels.com/new-york

HENN NA HOTEL

Looking for a little slice of Tokyo in the heart of Manhattan? Japanese hotel brand Henn Na opened its first New York property in October last year in the less-touristed Garment District. The 92-room hotel is one block from Penn Station and three blocks from Hudson Yards. Japanese touches abound, from minimalist rooms with steamer closets and high-tech Toto Washlet toilets, to a two-metre-high animatronic T-Rex in the foyer. The hotel's in-house restaurant, Gosuke Akimitsu, is a destination in its own right, notable for its authentic omakase menu by veteran Japanese chef Isami Nagai. Rates from $US215. See hennnahotelny.com

CIVILIAN HOTEL

Taking its design inspiration from the nearby theatre district, Civilian Hotel's decor features costumes, show props and adorable scale models of Broadway sets. Choose between a Cosy or Spacious room and then customise your stay by adding extras like breakfast, gym access and late checkout. Despite their diminutive dimensions, rooms are elegantly decorated with bold colours, vintage photographs and four-poster beds with fancy Serta mattresses. The second-floor bar is a gorgeous space with a secluded terrace and it'll soon be joined by a ground-floor eatery and a rooftop lounge. Rooms from $US289. See www.civilianhotel.com