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is all about the brand names, especially in the suites. You’ll see Sub-Zero fridges, Poggenpohl cabinets, and kitchenettes with Gaggenau stove tops and Miele dishwashers. All guest rooms and suites have flat-screen TVs, including one in the bathroom, and the posh beds come with Frette linens and hypoallergenic pillows. The result is a quiet, calm room, and only the subpar views intrude. The Asian fusion Riingo restaurant also provides room service. Pros: all suites have kitchens; good service; on-site fitness facilities. Cons: cramped lobby; small bathrooms; expensive Wi-Fi. TripAdvisor: “comfortable beds,” “very good gym,” “Frederic Fekkai toiletries.” | 205 E. 45th St., between 2nd and 3rd Aves., Midtown East | 10017 | 212/867–5100 | www.thealexhotel.com | 73 rooms, 130 suites | In-room: a/c, kitchen (some), DVD, Internet. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, laundry service, Internet terminal, Wi-Fi hotspot, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, MC, V | Subway: 4, 5, 6, 7, S to 42nd St./Grand Central.

The Benjamin.

$$$ | New York bills itself as the City That Never Sleeps, but of course a good night’s rest is essential for visitors who plan to tackle a lot during the day. The Benjamin promotes itself as just the ticket to fight sleeping problems, with a 12-pillow menu to choose from (they include buckwheat, water, and Swedish memory varieties), white-noise machines, and 400-thread-count sheets. While you’re awake, you can take advantage of the kitchenettes in some of the rooms, a handy location near Grand Central Terminal, and high-quality service from a friendly staff. The views—of a neighboring hotel—are a bit blah, however, and the bathrooms could stand to have more style. In late 2010, restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian opened The National restaurant inside the hotel, offering approachable modern bistro cuisine in an airy setting. Pros: sleep-friendly; gracious staff; kitchenettes in big rooms. Cons: paid Internet and Wi-Fi; boring views; dull neighborhood after dark. TripAdvisor: “top notch service,” “nicely furnished rooms,” “excellent Midtown location.” | 125 E. 50th St., at Lexington Ave., Midtown East | 10022 | 212/715–2500 | www.thebenjamin.com | 200 rooms | In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), refrigerator, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, spa, laundry service, Internet terminal, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: 6 to 51st St./Lexington Ave.; E, M to Lexington–3rd Aves./53rd St.

The Dylan.

$$$ | This hotel made a big splash when it opened at the start of the decade, but there haven’t been many changes since then, and it’s starting to show. Business travelers like the location a block from Grand Central, and the Benjamin, the grand steak house within. The 1903 Beaux-Arts building includes ornate plasterwork on the facade and a stunning marble staircase spiraling up its three floors. The 11-foot ceilings (the lower the floor, the higher the ceilings) give the modern guest rooms a touch of grandeur, and the beakers that serve as glasses in the bathrooms are a clever nod to the building’s past as home of the Chemists’ Club. Note that some rooms remain small and dark, even after reconstruction. Pros: central location; free Internet; new room furnishings. Cons: inattentive service; small fitness center; pricey for limited amenities. TripAdvisor: “nice amenities,” “fantastic location,” “excellent choice.” | 52 E. 41st St., between Park and Madison Aves., Midtown East | 10017 | 212/338–0500 | www.dylanhotel.com | 107 rooms, 5 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, Wi-Fi hotspot | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: 4, 5, 6, 7, S to 42nd St./Grand Central.

Four Seasons Hotel.

$$$$ | It’s the Four Seasons, and for better or worse, it remains the blueprint for what a Manhattan luxury hotel should be. Sure, that also means it’s outrageously expensive, but you get a fair amount of bang for your buck: stellar service that goes to the ends of the earth for guests, an imposing lobby done in marble and blond wood,