Inside 13 of New York City's Best Hotel Penthouses

Ah, the penthouse suite. It's for celebrities, rockstars, Russian billionaires, and anyone willing to fork over $40,000 per night to sleep among calfskin leather walls and custom Fendi beds. New York, naturally, has dozens of luxurious options, but not all of these fall under the coveted "penthouse" label?or if they do, they aren't for rent. So in this list of 13 luxurious suites, you'll find only those that are actually penthouses and are actually available to rent per night?so no mindboggling Plaza spreads or for-sale penthouses at condo-hotels.

[Photos courtesy Four Seasons]

? 1) Four Seasons: The title of the most extravagant penthouse in New York City easily goes to the Ty Warner Penthouse at the I.M. Pei-designed Four Seasons. The 4,300-square-foot suite is the product of a $50 million renovation. To say this place defines "luxury" would not be a stretch. It sits on the 52nd floor, some 800 feet above the street and offers 360-degrees views of the city. A fiber optic glass-shard chandelier hangs from the cathedral ceiling in the living room, which has hand-hammered bronze baseboards, lacquered walls with mother-of-pearly inlay, a baby grand piano, and 18th century Japanese silk pillows. Master bath sinks are carved from blocks of crystal. Calfskin lines the walls of the dressing room. French artisans applied "straw marquetry" to the bedroom walls. The furniture is made from hand-stamped Venetian velvet and Thai silk with 22-karat gold threads. Let's not forget the four glass terraces, iMac computer, private elevator entrance, and three plasma-screen TVs "offering every channel available in the world." There's a spa room, a zen room, and a breakfast room. Oh and guests here don't have to do anything for themselves; there's a 24-hour personal butler, art concierge, personal trainer, and Rolls-Royce chauffeur. The cost? $40,000 per night.

[Photos courtesy Greenwich Hotel]

? 2) Greenwich Hotel: Robert De Niro went through several rounds with the LPC before the commission finally approved the penthouse plans for his downtown hotel, and the extra effort was certainly worth it. The Greenwich Hotel's most sumptuous space is the North Moore Penthouse, a 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom suite that starts renting at $6,500 per night. The suite has its own sauna and steam room, two working fireplaces (both of which are way prettier than your restored-townhouse fireplace), a 30-foot wall of windows, and a kitchen stocked with your requested groceries. Moroccan tiles line the bathrooms, floors are rare reclaimed chestnut beams, and all of the artwork is by Robert De Niro, Sr.

[Photos courtesy Soho Grand]

? 3) Soho Grand: In the Soho Grand's plushest penthouse, Loft South, the exterior space is nearly as large as the interior. The two-bedroom offers 1,600-square-feet of living spaces, plus a landscaped 1,200-square-foot terrace. Designer William Sofield (the creative mind behind condo-conversion 135 East 79th Street) outfitted the suite with custom furniture, ebonized hardwood floors, silk drapery, and "fine Italian leathers." There's a full service wet bar, 27-inch iMac, an iPad, and plasma TVs. You won't find paltry travel size soaps in the bathroom, but rater full-sized bath products from Kiehl's.

[Photos courtesy the Morgans Hotel Group]

? 4) The Royalton: In Midtown, the Royalton rents three different penthouses, the largest and lushest of wich is the 1,700-square-foot Penthouse A. The suite lives up to the hotel's glamorous reputation with luxe leather furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, a wood-burning fireplace with a custom slate mantle, and a private balcony. Bathrooms have five-foot Roman tubs, marble-lined rain showers, and MALIN+GOETZ toiletries. Price per night ranges from $1,500 to $5,000.

[Photos courtesy W Times Square]

? 5) W Times Square: The 57th floor penthouse at the W Times Square, aka the Extreme WOW Suite, just underwent a complete overhaul to the tune of $1 million. The new design, in the words of the hotel, "reflects a deconstructed interpretation of the iconic Times Square New Year's Eve ball, albeit one 'smashed' to pieces." You'll find the 'pieces' as a giant mirrored LED light fixture hanging from the ceiling that can change colors from "amber hues by morning and a pulsating strobe-like effect in blue and purple by night." With tinted glass walls, a glass-enclosed shower, a circular bed, hanging purple chairs, and two different bars, the 1,200-square-foot "techno-glam" suite definitely caters to voyeuristic party-animals, but it doesn't skimp on comfort. You'll find 350-count sheets, an oversized sofa (albeit a silver leather sofa), a pillow-top mattress, and plasma TVs in the bathrooms. Rates start at $4,500 per night.

[Photos courtesy the NoMad Hotel]

? 6) The NoMad: The main attraction in the NoMad's Suite Royale penthouse is the private landscaped 700-square-foot rooftop terrace. French architect Jacques Garcia designed the hotel, and inside the suite's 1,100-square-foot living space, guests enjoy a living room, dining room, and king-sized bedroom with Sferra linens and an embossed leather headboard. The six-fixture bathroom features a clawfoot tub and a walk-in shower. Rates start at $1,800 per night.

[Photos courtesy the Morgans Hotel Group]

? 7) The Hudson: Philippe Starck is the design mastermind behind the Hudson, and his creative genius is highlighted in the hotel's 1,500-square-foot penthouse. Inside and outside blend together with an ivy-covered solarium that holds the living and dining rooms, where a Murano glass chandelier glitters in the sunlight. The solarium leads to a large landscaped terrace, and a wood-burning fireplace adds ambiance. For the entertaining-types, the dining room can fit eight guests, while the terrace table holds six

[Photos courtesy the London NYC]

? 8) The London NYC: In its previous life, the London NYC was a 54-story residential building, but in 2006, it was reborn as a luxury hotel. Irish designer David Collins kept the general layout of the rooms, the biggest being the 2,500-square-foot duplex penthouse. A marble gas fireplace, wraparound leather sofa, eight-seat dining room, and luscious bathrooms with mosaic tiling, heated floors, and dual showerheads make this suite one of Midtown's best.

[Photos courtesy James Hotels]

? 9) The James: It has a beautiful lobby and enviable rooftop pool, so it's no surprise that the penthouse at the James is ultra luxurious. Imagined by Dutch deigner Piet Boon, the 1,300-square-foot suite features original Boon pieces, like the Kekke Chaise Lounge and Heit Swivel Chair, plus a five-fixture white marble bathroom, and a king-sized bed dressed with Fili d'Oro linens. Starting rate per night is $5,000.

[Photos courtesy the Carlton]

? 10) The Carlton: The penthouse level of the Carlton is split into two 1,050-square-foot suites, each thematically designed. The star of the Corner Pocket penthouse is the restored 1950s Brunswick Centennial billiards table and solid mahogany bar. A 24-light crystal tiered hanging chandelier classes things up, while leather Ralph Lauren chairs and a custom wraparound sofa offer plenty of comfort. Then you have the New Yorker suite, inspired by covers of the magazine of the same name. Eclectically furnished, it has a 12-foot Chesterfield sofa, upholstered Porter Chairs, and "a 1960s Italian Art Deco console table in black lacquer with twisted blown Murano glass pipes." Both have king sized beds and sunken Jacuzzi tubs. Rates for both start at $1,250 per night.

[Photo courtesy The Mercer Hotel]

? 11) The Mercer Hotel: As one of the city's most essential hotels, it's only natural that the celeb-favored Mercer has both a beautiful lobby and swanky penthouse. Supple leather furniture, dark hardwood floors, and French doors onto a Juliet balcony make the living and dining rooms lovely, but the oversized marble bathrooms are the real attraction. They have walk-in showers with body sprays, tubs that could double as swimming pools, and custom Swedish bath products.

[Photos courtesy Tribeca Grand]

? 12) Tribeca Grand: At 900-square-feet, the penthouse at the Tribeca Grand is at the smaller end of suites on this list, yet it's still larger than many New York apartments?and of course more lavish. Like that of the Soho Grand, it was designed by William Sofield, and it has a private rooftop terrace. Keihl's bath products and super-soft Frette robes add to the already over-the-top master bath.

[Photos courtesy Trump Soho]

? 13) Trump Soho: In true Trump style, the Trump Soho has not one penthouse, but eight, all occupying the 46-story building's top floors. Guests can choose from a variety of duplexes and two-bedrooms, ranging in size from 1,050-square-feet to more than 2,000-square-feet. Custom Fendi Casa furniture, marble five-fixture bathrooms, and Bellino Italian linens are just a few of the suites' deluxe features.
· Hotels Week 2013 [Curbed]

Trump Soho

246 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013