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brings some Asian style to a rather staid corner of New York. Its cavernous lobby sizzles with energy from the 35th floor of the Time Warner Center. From two wonderful lounges and the restaurant Asiate you can soak in dramatic views above Columbus Circle and Central Park. On the higher floors silk throws abound on plush beds, and the marble-clad bathrooms prove the Mandarin’s commitment to excess. That said, the regular rooms feel small when they’re contrasted with the monumental frame created by floor-to-ceiling glass, and the view it presents. Suites are really what set this hotel apart, by creating enough stage space to make the hotel’s Asian-influenced decor really dazzle. The swimming pool is one of the city’s best in a hotel, with panoramic Hudson River views, and the elaborate spa is also impressive. A caveat: breakfast at Asiate (around $50) is an expensive proposition, so consider a pastry at Bouchon in the Time Warner Center instead. Pros: fantastic pool views; all the resources of the Time Warner Center; expansive suites. Cons: Trump hotel blocks portion of park views; expensive; mall-like surroundings. TripAdvisor: “incredible views,” “immaculate rooms,” “top notch spa facilities.” | 80 Columbus Circle, at 60th St., Midtown West | 10023 | 212/805–8800 | www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork | 202 rooms, 46 suites | In-room: a/c, refrigerator, DVD, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, pool, gym, spa, laundry service | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: A, B, C, D, 1 to 59th St./Columbus Circle.

The Mansfield.

$$ | They sweat the small stuff at the Mansfield; Wi-Fi is free, bathroom products are from Aveda, and even the key cards are snazzily embossed with scenes of old-timey New York. Built in 1904 as lodging for distinguished bachelors, the small, clubby property has an Edwardian sensibility that shows in the working fireplace in the lounge, the lobby’s coffered ceiling, and a marble-and-cast-iron staircase. Small and clubby extends to the “petite” rooms—110 square feet, with microscopic bathrooms. The intimate M Bar, lined with books and leather banquettes, is one of the nicer hotel bars in town. Pros: complimentary Wi-Fi; business center; 24-hour gym; great bar. Cons: tiny bathrooms; air conditioners are window units. TripAdvisor: “spotlessly clean rooms,” “very close to Bryant Park,” “loved M bar.” | 12 W. 44th St., between 5th and 6th Aves., Midtown West | 10036 | 212/944–6050 or 800/255–5167 | www.mansfieldhotel.com | 124 rooms, 25 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, laundry service, Internet terminal, gym, Wi-Fi hotspot, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: B, D, F, M to 42nd St.

The Michelangelo.

$$$–$$$$ | Italophiles will feel that they’ve been transported to the good life in the boot at this deluxe hotel, where the long, wide lobby lounge is clad with multihue marble and Veronese-style oil paintings. Upstairs, rooms are relatively spacious, averaging 475 square feet. You can choose contemporary, neoclassical, Art Deco, or French country styles—all have marble foyers and marble bathrooms equipped with bidets and oversize 55-gallon tubs. (The different styles are mainly manifested in bedspreads and different colored furniture.) Complimentary cappuccino, pastries, and other Italian treats are served each morning in the baroque lobby lounge. The hotel is a few blocks from Rockefeller Center and 5th Avenue shopping. Insieme, an exemplary modern Italian restaurant, is on the ground floor. Pros: good location; fantastic restaurant; spacious rooms. Cons: noisy air-conditioning units; some rooms have limited views; small closets. TripAdvisor: “can’t beat the location,” “extremely helpful concierge,” “top notch service.” | 152 W. 51st St., at 7th Ave., Midtown West | 10019 | 212/765–1900 or 800/237–0990 | www.michelangelohotel.com | 123 rooms, 56 suites | In-room: a/c, Internet. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, laundry service, Internet terminal, parking (paid) | AE, D, DC, MC, V | CP | Subway: B, D, E to 7th Ave.; 1 to