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By Root 1854 0

is the best luxury boutique hotel north of 57th Street. And it’s way north of 57th Street in spirit, in the residential area of the Upper East Side, where there’s hardly another hotel to be seen. Though quite small, rooms are well appointed with name-brand knickknacks, including Bulgari toiletries, iHome stations, free wireless, and Frette linens. The lobby of this nine-story town house feels comfortable and lived-in, with newspapers laid out on comfortable couches and a free 24-hour cappuccino machine behind it. The generous complimentary breakfast uses a local bakery for all goods, and the hotel hosts a wine-and-cheese reception on weekday evenings. You can meet (sweaty) locals using a comp pass to New York Sports Club. Pros: neighborhood-y location; free Wi-Fi. Cons: far from many N.Y.C. tourist sights except Museum Mile; small rooms. TripAdvisor: “great beds,” “lovely boutique hotel,” “wonderful breakfast.” | 164 E. 87th St., between Lexington and 3rd Aves., Upper East Side | 10128 | 212/369–1000 or 877/847–4444 | www.franklinhotel.com | 50 rooms | In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: room service, bar, laundry service, Internet terminal, Wi-Fi hotspot, some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | CP | Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.

Hôtel Plaza Athénée.

$$$$ | It’s easy to be seduced by this luxurious hotel, positioned unobtrusively by Central Park on the Upper East Side, and it’s even more of a draw now that the rooms have undergone a renovation that includes refined decor in muted tones and enlarged bathrooms—some tricked out in marble with soaking tubs. There are also two massive 2,000-square-foot presidential suites and a glam spa with four treatment rooms that opened in May 2010. Service is stellar, with a personal sit-down check-in to the side of the lobby, and extravagant room service. The hotel may seem stuffy to younger visitors. To others, touches like the lobby tapestries depicting forest scenes will be a welcome old-school luxury. The Bar Seine is a dark and secretive hideaway, one of the best bars in the city, and surely the only one with a floor made of leather. Arabelle is a much-touted, if not particularly well-loved restaurant in need of a menu face-lift or celeb-chef infusion. Pros: discerning service; exotic bar. Cons: nonstandarized rooms hit-or-miss. TripAdvisor: “cozy, intimate,” “terrific people-watching,” “fantastic choice.” | 37 E. 64th St., at Madison Ave., Upper East Side | 10021 | 212/734–9100 or 800/447–8800 | www.plaza-athenee.com | 115 rooms, 35 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), refrigerator, Internet. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, laundry service, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: 6 to 68th St./Hunter College.

Hotel Wales.

$$ | The hotel underwent a spiffy renovation of its public spas and standard rooms at the end of 2009. A complimentary European-style breakfast is served in the parlor, and on a nice day you can head up to the rooftop terrace to have it there. Standard guest rooms are small, but they do have fine oak woodwork, and all come with CD players. Most of the suites face Madison Avenue. The lovely Sarabeth’s Restaurant, a local favorite for brunch, is in the hotel, as is Paola’s, known for one of the best pesto pastas in town. Pros: on-site fitness facilities; great neighborhood feel, roof garden. Cons: the best rooms, with views of Central Park, haven’t been renovated. TripAdvisor: “wonderful rooftop terrace,” “tastefully decorated rooms,” “noisy air conditioning unit.” | 1295 Madison Ave., between E. 92nd and E. 93rd Sts., Upper East Side | 10128 | 212/876–6000 or 877/847–4444 | www.waleshotel.com | 46 rooms, 42 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), refrigerator (some), DVD (some), Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, laundry service, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | CP | Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.

The Lowell.

$$$ | This old-money refuge was built as an upscale apartment hotel in the 1920s, and still delivers genteel sophistication and pampering service in an unbeatable location.