Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza

Fresh from renovations in early 2017, this corporate hotel sports glitzy modern decor throughout -- to the point that it’s sometimes overbearing. Think gray-green and checkered marble flooring, LED-studded vaulted ceilings, and front desk islands. Beyond the revolving doors, the sheltered entrance offers an impressive approach, feeling almost like a railway station. Parts of the two towers house U.N. offices, and guest rooms start on the 28th floor; that means tight security, and the hotel claims to be New York's safest, but the on-site sniffer dog is disconcerting for some. The Ambassador Grill features more classic decor, while the bar is more comfortably modern, and the lofty 30th-floor Skyline Club’s wood-paneled walls feel much cozier. Business travelers are the vast majority of guests here, though some tourists are drawn to the views and quiet location.

Around 40 consulates are located within three blocks of the property, so security is among the city’s tightest, and a sniffer dog is permanently on-site (which some guests find disconcerting). The area is quiet and safe in the evenings, but there’s no nightlife. Five subway lines are four long blocks away at Grand Central.

• Two-minute walk to U.N. headquarters
• Nine-minute walk to Grand Central Station
• 20-minute walk to Rockefeller Center
• Nine minutes to Times Square by car (16 minutes by public transportation; 21-minute walk)
• Nine minutes to Empire State Building by car (17 minutes by public transportation; 24-minute walk)
• 11 minutes to Central Park (28 minutes by public transportation)
• 13 minutes to Pennsylvania Station by car (23 minutes by public transportation)
• 18 minutes to One World Trade Center by car (28 minutes by public transportation)
• 22 minutes to La Guardia Airport by car
• 39 minutes to John F. Kennedy Airport by car
• 49 minutes to Newark Liberty Airport by car

The spacious, sleek rooms were all renovated in early 2017 and, since they start on the 28th floor, have mesmerizing views of the city and East River. Neutral decor, more relaxed than the public areas, includes off-white walls and terra-cotta-shaded accents. Beds sport Sealy mattresses and gray headboards, and rooms feature desks and minimalist gray sofa beds. Pretty white curtains in wall recesses hide surprisingly small, old-fashioned windows, but the stunning views still steal the show. Higher-end rooms add huge separate lounges with wet bars and dining tables. Amenities include air-conditioning and heating, 40-inch smart TVs, phones, free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, safes, mini-fridges, and illy coffeemakers. Pricier rooms add microwaves and bathrobes. Accessible rooms are available.

Chic bathrooms feature cream-brown wall tiling, modern white vanities, and shower/tub combos with fixed and power showerheads. Pricier bathrooms have sumptuous-looking soaking tubs and separate walk-in power showers. Miniature toiletries by Gilchrist & Soames are provided in all bathrooms.

There’s a fully equipped 24-hour gym with great views, plus an indoor tennis court where the Williams sisters have been spotted, and in-room spa treatments are available. A coffee shop is open from early morning until evening. The pricey Ambassador Grill international restaurant serves three meals a day, though it's not open between mealtimes. The evening-only Ambassador Lounge offers drinks and bar food until late night; room service is available. The pricey American breakfast isn’t included in room rates. Guests who pay for access to the Skyline Club get continental breakfast (until lunchtime), all-day refreshments, and evening receptions. There’s a 24-hour business center, Wi-Fi is free throughout, eight meeting rooms can accommodate 550 people, and there’s a kids’ club and valet parking.