When it comes to family vacation spots, New York City is at the top of the list. From Times Square and the Empire State Building to Broadway and the Central Park Zoo, the Big Apple is a wonderland for visitors of all ages. And while New York may be the City That Never Sleeps, the hotel where you choose to stay the night is among the most important decisions you can make on your NYC vacation. Fortunately, in a city that’s so big, so busy, and so packed with tourist attractions, there’s no shortage of great family hotels in New York City to choose from.
As a seasoned family traveler and longtime New York resident who’s visited all of the best family hotels in NYC, I can tell you that location matters—a lot. It will impact almost every aspect of your visit. From the hectic heart of Midtown to residential Washington Heights, here are my picks for the top family hotels in every New York neighborhood, giving you the option to stay in the center of the action or to live more like a local, whichever your family prefers.
FIND A DEAL: 10 Best Hotel Booking Sites for Cheap Prices
1. The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites
215 East 64th Street, Upper East Side, New York
The Upper East Side is one of Manhattan’s most exclusive residential neighborhoods, and when you stay at The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites you can live like a local family at one of the best family hotels in New York City. Located on a tree-lined street, the hotel’s apartment-style suites have full kitchens, a separate bedroom, and a sleeper sofa in the living room. Pack-and-play cribs are available, as is additional baby gear such as strollers, bottle sterilizers, and sound machines.
WHERE TO EAT: 10 Family-Friendly Restaurants in NYC Close to All the Tourist Attractions
What’s nearby: The Gardens Sonesta ES Suites is a short walk to the Central Park Zoo and the cultural riches NYC’s Museum Mile, a 22-block stretch on 5th Avenue that’s home to some of the city’s most popular museums.
2. Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan
320 West 36th Street, Hudson Yards, New York
Hudson Yards is Manhattan’s newest neighborhood. Nestled in among shiny skyscrapers, Crowne Plaza HY36 is a sleek New York family hotel with spacious rooms that come with a separate bedroom, a living room with a pull-out couch, and a mini fridge. If you’re traveling with a baby or toddler, ask for a crib or bassinet, which are available upon request. When hunger strikes, adjoining restaurant Burgerology answers the call with over-the-top milkshakes, burgers, and tacos, plus a dedicated kid’s menu.
MAKE MEMORIES: 50 Family Vacation Ideas for the Best Trip Ever
What’s nearby: Among the most family-friendly hotels in NYC, Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan is a stone’s throw from Edge, the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also an easy walk to the Circle Line sightseeing boat.
3. Radio Hotel
2420 Amsterdam Avenue, Washington Heights, New York
If you’re willing to stray a little from the tourist path for one of the best family hotels in New York City, the fabulous Radio Hotel will be your reward. Located in Upper Manhattan’s residential Washington Heights neighborhood, this boutique NYC hotel reflects the neighborhood’s Dominican heritage with brightly colored masks, fun feather accents, and vibrant murals.
KIDS WELCOME: 17 Best Family Resorts and Hotels in the U.S.
Guest rooms with bunk beds are just right for kids. When you’re ready to sightsee, the A train can bring you to Midtown in approximately 20 minutes. And the onsite restaurant, Jalao NYC, is a second location of the popular Santo Domingo restaurant of the same name, with great food, entertainment, and the all-important high chair for little ones.
What’s nearby: Radio Hotel is not far from the colorful unicorn tapestries that decorated the walls of the Met Cloisters. Of note to baseball fans, this hotel is about a mile from Yankee Stadium.
4. Park Hyatt New York
153 West 57th Street, Midtown, New York
A luxury hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Park Hyatt‘s family-friendly rooms and suites have natural stone flooring and soaking tubs made of marble. Some also have views of Central Park. Connecting rooms provide space for families to spread out. Kids can enjoy mini-bathrobes, slippers, and bath toys, plus an in-room teepee for an extra charge. Cribs are complimentary.
WINTER WONDERS: 10 Kid-Friendly Things to Do in New York City During the Holidays
What’s nearby: Centrally located, Park Hyatt is just two blocks from NYC’s Central Park and across the street from Carnegie Hall.
5. Aloft Harlem
2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Harlem, New York
Located in the heart of Harlem, Aloft Harlem is one of the best hotels for families who want to explore a dynamic Manhattan neighborhood that has long been the center of NYC’s Black community. Rooms present clean lines and high-tech amenities. Public spaces are inviting and include a 24-hour grab-and-go cafe. Hop on the 2 or 3 subway line and you’ll be in Times Square in 20 minutes.
NO HIDDEN FEES: 19 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S. for Families
What’s nearby: From this family-friendly New York hotel it’s an easy stroll to the historic Apollo Theater, with its famous Amateur Night that has launched the careers of artists from Ella Fitzgerald to Machine Gun Kelly.
6. The Rockaway Hotel
108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York
When the weather gets hot, New Yorkers flock to Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk in Queens to jump the Atlantic waves—and the family-friendly Rockaway Hotel is steps from the sand. A popular staycation hotel choice for local families as well as one of the best family hotels in New York City for visitors, The Rockaway Hotel rocks a coastal vibe with blond wood furnishings and pops of sea blue and sunny yellow. A swimming pool, rooftop deck, board games, and seasonal programming for kids enrich the experience.
ON THE WATER: 16 Best Lake Resorts and Hotels in the U.S. for Families
What’s nearby: Manhattan’s urban charms are accessible in an hour via subway or scenic ferry, so you can enjoy a late afternoon ocean swim after a day of sightseeing. Borrow the hotel’s beach cruisers to pedal Rockaway’s wooden boardwalk.
7. The Chatwal New York City
130 West 44 Street, Theater District, New York
Located in a landmark building built in 1905, The Chatwal puts you right in the heart of Broadway’s Theater District. It’s a swanky (but very kid-friendly) family hotel with butler service and a concierge. Each of its 76 rooms and suites are suitable for children, with in-room amenities such as a record player with classic Broadway albums and a puppet theatre that allows kids to unleash their dramatic flair. The hotel partners with premium stroller brand Uppababy, offering tiny guests a quality stroller for cruising around the city.
BIG FAMILIES: 13 Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families of 5+
What’s nearby: What isn’t nearby? It’s one of the top family hotels in New York City if you’ve got tickets to a Broadway show, want to explore Times Square, or simply catch a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus.
8. Hotel Beacon
2130 Broadway, Upper West Side, New York
Located in New York’s Upper West Side and sandwiched between Central Park and Riverside Park, Hotel Beacon has multi-bedroom suites with kitchenettes that feel homey. It’s perfectly situated for a kid-friendly family vacation with plenty of walkable attractions just outside the door.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY: 11 Cheap Family Vacations That Are Super Fun
What’s nearby: It’s a quick walk to the American Museum of Natural History and other cultural attractions from Hotel Beacon. For an authentic taste of NYC fast food, go three blocks south to no-frills Gray’s Papaya and order the “Recession Special,” two snappy hot dogs served with tropical fruit juice.
9. InterContinental New York Times Square
300 West 44 Street, Times Square, New York
In the heart of Times Square, the InterContinental New York Times Square wows guests of all ages with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the cityscape. Suites have pull out sofas; rollaway beds are available upon request. The helpful concierge can recommend kid-friendly attractions in the area and beyond, and a large fitness center makes it possible for parents to stick to an exercise routine.
PARADISE AWAITS: 10 Best All-Inclusive Beach Resorts in the World
What’s nearby: When you’re staying in Times Square, everything’s nearby. Notably, however, this kid-friendly NYC hotel offers a package that includes admission to the famous wax museum Madame Tussauds just a few blocks away.
10. The Hoxton Williamsburg
97 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
A boutique hotel in a transformed factory in Williamsburg, one of Brooklyn’s hippest neighborhoods, The Hoxton‘s industrial-chic aesthetic might not seem kid-friendly at first glance. But this family-friendly NYC hotel fully embraces tiny travelers with its Tiny Hox program, providing essentials to make an overnight stay with kids a breeze. Perks include cribs with an organic mattress, bottle-warmers, diaper wipes, and a tote bag filled with coloring books.
SPRING BREAKS: The Best Places to Take the Kids on Vacation in May: New York, Hawaii, and More
What’s nearby: Let the kids run around the playground at Brooklyn’s Domino Park. If you’re traveling with a fashion-forward tween or teen, hit the vintage clothing stores. And you can all ride the subway or ferry to Manhattan in a jiffy.
