The Best Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City

With its gilded entrance on Fifth Avenue, the Peninsula is considered by many to be New York’s ultimate Grande Dame. The hotel is glamorous through and through, from its intimate rooftop lounge to its indulgent spa featuring an Asian tea lounge.

The Peninsula sets itself apart from other luxury mainstays thanks to its noted family offerings—and we’re talking about more than just babysitting services and pint-sized bathrobes, though guests certainly can enjoy those amenities. The Camp Peninsula package, for instance, includes a hotel scavenger hunt, in-room tent set-up, and personalized gifts like s’mores. Peninsula Academy offers highly curated experiences for both children and adults, such as a Broadway show with cast member meet-and-greet, and off-hours tours of the nearby Museum of Modern Art.

• Fitness classes
• Glass-enclosed rooftop pool
• Terrace restaurant with bird’s-eye city views

The glitzy Plaza Hotel is unmistakable thanks to its flag-flanked, black-and-gold entrance across from Central Park. There is no shortage of opulence here, from the stained-glass atrium to the chandelier-topped Champagne bar. Still, a serene Guerlain Spa, urban food hall, and $450 million renovation give the Plaza a much-needed dose of modernity. A few Eloise-themed appeals—inspired by the character from a series of children's books—include an afternoon tea experience, special room service menu, and fully adorned suite, and provide a truly whimsical family vacation. Families have their choice of sophisticated suites, including three-bedroom accommodations with full dining rooms and outdoor terraces. Jewel-toned couches and antiques are complemented by plush bedding, large wood-paneled closets, and ample living space with rooms starting at 475 square feet. The Eloise Suite is a true feast for the eyes, adorned by fashion designer Betsey Johnson with pink-on-pink furniture, wallpaper, and artwork.

• Family-friendly packages, including the Home Alone experience, with a limousine ride around the city
• Warren-Tricomi Salon
• Fitness center with Technogym equipment

From Manhattan, hop on the subway or take the ferry all the way east and you’ll reach the Rockaway Peninsula—colloquially known as the Rockaways—where sandy beaches and a scenic boardwalk attract day-trippers by the hundreds. In 2020, the Rockaway Hotel opened as one of the location’s first luxury mainstays and has become an instant classic thanks to its retro-chic decor, heated pool, and unbeatable skyline views. In addition to standard room types, guests can stay in beachy suites and bungalows, which boast blonde wood furnishings, local artwork and Hill House Home linens, along with family-friendly amenities like double bunk beds, kitchenettes, and walk-out-terraces. Guests can enjoy the beach only a block away, explore the nearby neighborhood on hotel bicycles, take a wellness class, and savor cocktails and snacks on the 6,000-square-foot rooftop beside the outdoor pool.

• Coffee shop
• The (Winter) Pool House with sauna, lounge, and heated pool

Located a few blocks south of Times Square, TRYP by Wyndham is a budget-friendly home base for families looking to explore the Big Apple. However, the hotel’s tapas snack bar, rooftop terrace, and amenity-filled accommodations make it much more than just a crash pad. Echoing the hotel’s colorful design scheme, rooms are outfitted with artistic touches like printed accent walls, art-deco light fixtures, and headboards embossed with New York City’s grid map. Families should opt for the Samsung Experience rooms, which offer bunk beds and space accommodating up to eight guests, fitness rooms with stationary bikes, and home theaters with 60" TVs, surround sound, and popcorn makers. Other conveniences include a 24-hour gym and a paid buffet breakfast served at the exposed-brick tapas bar, which offers kid-friendly fare for lunch and dinner.

• Rooftop with great Manhattan views
• Premium Family rooms feature a living room, refrigerator, and two bathrooms

With its tree-lined streets and easy subway access into Manhattan, downtown Brooklyn is one of the city’s most family-friendly neighborhoods. The NU hotel makes the most of its location and leans into a Brooklyn vibe in every way. Loft-style rooms are designed with dreamy abstract murals painted by local artists. Retro-style orange bikes are available for exploring, and the lobby marketplace serves locally sourced snacks and libations.

Families will appreciate the space in the NU hotel’s accommodations, including a suite with bunk beds and a blackboard with chalk. Creature comforts include 100% Egyptian cotton linens, Keurig coffee makers, and L’Occitane bath products. While there is no restaurant, a continental breakfast is served daily and the cost is included in the amenities fee.

• Fitness center with Peloton bikes
• Sidewalk patio

The Gansevoort is within walking distance of several of downtown’s coolest attractions, including the High line, which provides families with a scenic walking route uptown (and green space in Manhattan: a novelty). After days exploring, guests cool off in style in the beautiful rooftop pool, which is heated year-round and provides 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline. The Gansevoort’s appeals continue in the guest rooms, which boast mod-style couches, leather accents, and plenty of space to accommodate sofas and cribs for little ones. Older children will be well entertained by the rooms’ high-tech gadgets, like LCD flat-screen TVs, Marshall boomboxes, and Google Nest Hubs, with video games and movies galore. Parents, on the other hand, can take advantage of the MIRROR workout systems in each room.

• Pets are welcomed with a monogrammed mat, toy, bowls, Fiji water, and a pet bed
• Peloton bikes and boxing equipment at the fitness center
• Coffee + Cocktail lobby lounge

It seems they have thought of everything at the Muse, a modern hotel that sets itself apart thanks to its retro-chic rooms and plentiful conveniences. Guests are welcomed by the contemporary-cool lobby, filled with black and white accents, leather furniture, and Pop Art, where nightly happy hours and celebrations like National Book Lovers’ Day are held. At check-in, children receive a customized gift. There’s even a Schoolcation package and Chief Virtual Learning Officers available for remote working and learning. The hotel makes exploration easy, thanks to its complimentary cruiser bikes and handy map with educational and kid-friendly sites nearby. Guests stay in large, colorful rooms, many of which can be reserved as corner clusters for families. Rooms are well-stocked with a yoga mat, Jambox speakers, honor bars, and Atelier Bloem bath amenities. Adult appeals include in-room massages, a 24-hour fitness center, and Muse Bar, serving cocktails and light bites.

• Babysitting services
• Concierge