The Plaza Hotel on New York City's Fifth Avenue is closing from January 2027 - so, where else can visitors to the Big Apple stay?
Published: 10:53 EDT, 5 November 2026 | Updated: 10:55 EDT, 5 November 2026
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more
You might recognise its gilded lobby and extravagant suites from Home Alone 2, The Great Gatsby and Sleepless in Seattle – but one of New York's most iconic hotels is set to close its doors as it undergoes a major revamp.
The Plaza Hotel on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, which has hosted famous guests including Marilyn Monroe, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra, will shut from January 2027 for a four-year refurbishment.
Having stood for 119 years, it's a staple of the New York hotel world. In its absence, holidaymakers visiting the Big Apple will be looking elsewhere for a starry stay.
That leaves an opportunity for alternative hotels in NYC to step in, from luxurious and historic properties to quirky, fun and affordable options for Britons looking to book a stay with a twist.
Here, we've rounded up some of the best stays to help you find a slice of paradise in the concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
The Plaza Hotel in New York City will close for at least four years for an upgrade
The lobby famously featured in Home Alone 2, with future president Donald Trump making a cameo
Instead, why not opt for an equally glamorous stay at the Waldorf Astoria?
If you're looking for a stay on par with The Plaza in terms of opulence and old-school charm, the Waldorf Astoria is one of your best bets.
It was recently ranked as one of the best new hotels in the US and Canada by Conde Nast, having reopened after its own refurbishment.
The glamorous lounge is the place for a drink, and you can expect a real sense of luxury in spaces such as the Grand Ballroom.
On the budget end of the scale, try Pod 51's capsule rooms
Pod 51 is one of the more contemporary hotels on the list, and sells itself on surprising details and modern flair.
Minimalist and extremely budget-friendly for NYC, it was the brand's very first pod hotel – where guests can stay in capsules.
One guest said: 'We've stayed in the "full pod" room twice and would come back. The rooms are tiny but are great value. It's great for solo travellers.'
HI New York City Hostel offers a no-frills New York holiday
'HI New York City hostel is the kind of hostel travelers dream about,' its website professes. 'Whether you’re traveling solo or in a group, we’ll have you mixing and mingling with people from different places and cultures before you even walk out our doors.'
This budget-friendly stay on Manhattan's Upper West Side, close to Central Park, offers welcome parties, comedy nights and city walking tours.
Staff are knowledgeable, and keen to point you in the direction of top attractions – and the best pizza in the city.
Finding a decent New York hotel for under £150 a night is quite the challenge – and that's where The Lucerne steps in.
The Beaux-Arts building does not compromise on quality, even at this price. Expect luxury amenities, a fitness centre and an on-site brasserie.
With an Upper West Side address, you're right by museums, Midtown Manhattan attractions, and other destinations
Eclectic art is everywhere you look inside The Carlton Arms
Nestled in New York's upscale Gramercy neighborhood, The Carlton Arms is seemingly ordinary from the outside – once you step inside, it's a different story.
The rooms are constantly being reimagined by artists who pay for their stay by transforming the interiors with collage, bubble wrap, glass mosaics, paper strips hanging from the ceiling, or even a giant gold mummy cemented into the wall.
The building on East 25th Street has played host to a pulsing underground scene of artists, vagabonds and junkies for more than 100 years – and now is a perfect place to choose for a bohemian stay.
Nine Orchard is a stellar choice for an opulent, high-class stay in the city
The century-old Jarmulowsky Bank on the Lower East Side has been converted into an opulent hotel with 113 rooms.
It has been restored with real consideration for its historic origins, using 1912 blueprint drawings and archival photographs for the design.
Says Nine Orchard's website: 'From the painstakingly replicated original clocks and 60-foot domed rooftop tempietto to the historically-accurate millwork and the cornice moldings found throughout Nine Orchard’s 12 floors, the neighborhood landmark’s outstanding character and design details can now, once again, be appreciated and admired by visitors.'
Joining the list is the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport
Airport hotels are normally associated with drab interiors and dismal locations – but not so for TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport.
The airport terminal has been reimagined to house a 512-room hotel, with runway views and a rooftop infinity pool.
It also has a museum exhibit on aviation, a Twister room with a wall-to-wall version of the game, a cocktail lounge and plenty of space in which to relax.
Seeking a blowout trip? Try the St. Regis New York
Soak up the grandeur of times gone by, in the refined surroundings of the St. Regis New York.
The hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Manhattan at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, was originally founded by business magnate John Jacob Astor over a century ago and continues to be revered as one of the finest addresses in the world.
There are a number of lavish suites at the property but the pièce de résistance is the 3,430 square foot presidential suite.