New Hotels to Know in New York City: Spring 2026

Discover the New York City hotel openings to keep on your radar in our springtime dispatch.

For the first time since the pandemic, Manhattan’s hotel development boom is beginning to plateau. Still, there are a few exciting openings to look forward to:

One of Aspen’s most coveted addresses, The Little Nell is synonymous with the resort town’s famously chic scene. In early 2027, the brand will bring its signature blend of intimacy and glamour to Manhattan, staking a claim on an equally prized bit of real estate: Rockefeller Center. The property will occupy several floors (formerly office space) in the Art Deco building that is home to the Today show studio, and it is expected to contain 130 rooms, as well as a main restaurant, fitness center and spa.

The group behind iconic London restaurant The Wolseley Piccadilly is now launching a collection of British boutique hotels. In early 2027, the first will land near Bryant Park in Midtown, taking over the 76-room, Thierry Despont-designed Chatwal Hotel, which occupies the original 1905 house for The Lambs Club—the first professional theater club in the U.S. and a member of the National Register of Historic Places. There will also be a Wolseley New York restaurant and cellar speakeasy, sure to be popular among locals, while other amenities will include a wellness center.

Indagare members will be thrilled to learn that the owners of the community-favorite Lowell Hotel have acquired a Midtown office building—509 Madison Avenue at 53rd Street—and are working to transform it into their second luxury property in the city.

Nobu is taking over the historic Hôtel Plaza Athénée on 64th Street, marking the brand’s first hotel in the city. A renovation will include the addition of 30 guest rooms (bringing the total to 145), many with both indoor and outdoor terraces, and a private townhouse, as well as a traditional Japanese onsen and wellness center. The new bar, lounge and rooftop are sure to be buzzy—and, of course, there will be Nobu omakase.

The Hotel Elysée on 54th between Park and Madison is expected to reopen this year after an expansion led by Daniel Goldner Architects. This follows the successful revival of its lobby bar and restaurant, Monkey Bar, in 2022, under the direction of the 4 Charles Prime Rib team. (Also of note: The property is the former haunt of Tennessee Williams; this can be taken figuratively and literally, if you choose, as the writer died here in 1983.)

Downtown, the Washington Square Hotel—which dates back to 1902—has been purchased by Sean MacPherson, the hotelier behind Hotel Chelsea and the Marlton, in partnership with longtime collaborator Ira Drukier (a co-owner of the Greenwich Hotel) and Henry Kallan (owner of the Library Hotel Collection). It’s been reported that the team plans to give the property a gentle refresh—avoiding any lengthy closures or renovations—with the addition of a new neighborhood-style restaurant.

Plus: Rumors continue to swirl that the iconic Gramercy Park Hotel is reopening soon, with a renovation masterminded by MCR/MORSE Development. The historic property closed in March 2020 at the outset of the pandemic, and I’m eagerly tracking its return.

Editor's Note: Due to the volume of openings, this report is focused on Manhattan. Subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye on our Stories page for the latest from the other boroughs.