It’s been two decades since Alan Faena introduced his namesake brand to the world—first in Buenos Aires, then in Miami Beach. His latest iteration, Faena New York, is a love letter to the city, boasting bold colors, patterns, and artwork that “offers a touch of magic that honors and contributes to the vibrant legacy of New York,” he says. The 120-room hotel—home to immersive dining, a theater, an open-air plaza, and more—has been a breath of fresh air to a city known for pushing design boundaries.

Argentine artist Diego Gravinese’s large-scale mural—boasting surreal imagery of leopards and celestial forms—surrounds a central gold spiral staircase at Faena New York

It acts as a counterpoint to properties like Now Now NoHo, a refined take on hostel culture. The seventh property by Dovetail + Co, the budget-friendly option on the Bowery marries Japanese capsule hotels with the romance of European train cars, thanks to local firm Islyn Studio. The design feels familiar yet new, with spaces that lean into the unexpected. “There’s a significant lack of design-forward hostels in New York,” says Dovetail founder and CEO Phil Hospod. “Now Now NoHo is really the first of its kind in the city.”

he tech-enabled lobby in the petite Now Now NoHo

For the second year in a row, STR analytics forecast New York as the leader of new-build openings across the U.S. The city has also led occupancy nationwide for the past three years, even as room supply and demand struggle to meet 2019 metrics.

Lodging Econometrics tallies 29 projects with 5,689 guestrooms under construction in the Big Apple. The Livingston, Hyatt’s first hotel in Brooklyn, recently opened its doors, while an additional 20-plus hotels are slated to debut before the end of the year.

Here, we dive into a handful of new standouts that capture the electricity of the city.

Hotel Park Ave

A scarlet-hued banquette adds a pop of color to Hotel Park Ave’s spacious Nomad penthouse

A former Mondrian hotel in NoMad has been transformed by Lore Group into a stylish new destination all its own. Following a two-phase refresh, the sleek Hotel Park Ave exudes a bold new look across a reimagined lobby, F&B spaces, and guestrooms. “The design narrative became one of contrast: the vibrancy of NoMad outside and an understated sense of intimacy and calm inside,” says Lore Group creative director Jacu Strauss. “Each space is designed to feel connected to the city but not consumed by it.”

The polished lobby is anchored by a colorful 12-foot-tall timber sculpture by London-based artist Jan Hendzel reminiscent of stacked pebbles. Color also radiates across the subterranean bar Seed Library, where a warm but stripped back sensibility inspires a convivial atmosphere. “The inspiration was a 1970s living room,” Strauss adds. “It’s nostalgia mixed with organic textures and materials that feel lived-in and honest.”

Vibrant artwork and bespoke pieces define accommodations as well. Of the nine suites, the two-bedroom Nomad penthouse is the standout, boasting a bespoke sofa, library, study, wet bar, and a six-person dining table across 1,275 square feet. “New York has an abundance of truly inspiring hotels, but many can feel out of reach or overly exclusive. We created a space that counters that—a design-forward hotel with a rich narrative that remains accessible,” says Strauss. “I want it to feel like a metropolitan haven: a city escape that is grounding, yet still in dialogue with the world outside.”

The Twenty Two New York

A reception desk made of paneled mahogany wood and topped with marble welcomes guests to the Twenty Two New York

Function and comfort are also reconsidered across high-end stays like the Twenty Two New York in Union Square. The UK brand’s stateside debut showcases a subtle approach to luxury across nine floors of the landmarked Margaret Louisa Home, where a medley of artful, cinematic interiors evoke mystery and adventure. “We’ve created a space where design, culture, and community coexist, and where like-minded individuals from around the world can naturally converge,” says the Twenty Two cofounder and principal Navid Mirtorabi. “Our hotels embody an atmosphere of elegance and exclusivity, yet remain warm and welcoming.”

A contemporary interpretation of the American vernacular by London-based Child Studio fuses Shaker, Mission, and Craftsman elements inside the Manhattan hideaway. Natural hues and classic linens bedeck the 78 guestrooms, which includes 17 suites and a sprawling penthouse boasting a vaulted roof and skyline views. The property is also home to an earth-toned members club and the ground-floor Café Zaffri, a Post Company project where handsome millwork accents lush fabric. “Our ambition is to make luxury feel human,” Mirtorabi adds. “It’s about service delivered with sincerity, and spaces designed for comfort as much as elegance.”

M Social Downtown

The lobby in M Social Downtown channels a “Head in the Clouds” theme with a custom mural found in the elevator bays and wave-like acoustic ceiling panels informed by the aquifers found beneath the city

At the threshold of Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus in the Financial District, M Social frames the expressive revival of Lower Manhattan. Beyond a lineup of ground floor eateries, the centerpiece of M Social awaits in a third-floor living room where city views form the backdrop of elegant interiors by local firm Mazzarini & Co. “This is a moment in time that reflects the history of this neighborhood and New York,” says principal Dan Mazzarini. “It’s this expression of lots of different stories about the Financial District combined.”

The Spanish-inspired Beast & Butterflies Downtown restaurant at M Social takes cues from matadors with a vibrant red and yellow palette

The design reinforces the streetscape with printed ceramic tiles underfoot as well as rugs adorned with custom patterns inspired by city sidewalks and even manhole covers. Textured vinyl and backlit polycarbonate walls emulate the gleam of local skyscrapers. An undulating wave masks exposed ceilings, establishing a transportive rhythm inspired by the aquifers rushing just below the city. “We looked to create this kinetic feeling,” Mazzarini adds.

Conceived with Wall Street clientele in mind, the copper-toned palette punctuates custom check-in desks wrapped in an ombré finish upon bull-shaped feet. Informal seating enclaves accommodate work and lounging against expansive windows as well as diorama-style artwork and custom cloud wall graphics by artist Michael Hildbrand that invite daydreaming.

Kimpton Era Midtown

The rooftop bar crowns the Kimpton Era Midtown with striking views of the city’s skyline, shown in a rendering

Joining the Busta Studio-crafted Kimpton Ashbel, the Kimpton Era Midtown is slated to debut in March within a 33-story new-build in the heart of Manhattan. Classicism, comfort, and art will compose an elegant but edgy contemporary experience across 529 guestrooms and inspired social areas brought to life by SLCE Architects and INC Architecture & Design. Don’t be surprised, however, if interiors evoke the high seas. “Every detail of the Kimpton Era is engineered elegance with a room that feels more like a stateroom on an ocean liner,” says INC founding partner and managing director Adam Rolston, “compact, crafted, and refined to the luxury of just enough.”

Four bespoke destination restaurant and bar concepts from Apicii will draw locals and travelers alike, including a taqueria, brasserie, coffee shop and cocktail lounge, and an elevated izakaya set against views of Rockefeller Center and Radio City. “Dining rooms unfold like the salons of a great ocean liner in a new expression of New York luxury,” adds INC senior associate and project manager Louisa Revitte. “The Kimpton Era is more than a hotel. It is a self-contained voyage.”

Photos by Afrik Armando, Gentl and Hyers, Matt Kisiday, Nikolas Koenig, James McDonald, and Garrett Rowland, and rendering courtesy of Kimpton

This article originally appeared in HD’s February/March 2026 issue.