Algonquin

Location. The Algonquin Hotel stands on historic West 44th Street in the center of New York, N.Y. This Midtown Manhattan hotel is within four blocks of shopping, dining and entertainment on Broadway, Times Square and Fifth Avenue.
Hotel Features. Since opening in 1902, the Algonquin Hotel has had major renovations, although the appeal and ambience of its history are beautifully preserved. The famed Round Table literary group from the 1920s often met in the hotel's main dining room and founded the New Yorker magazine, comprised of American literary writers and icons including Harpo Marx, Dorothy Parker and George S. Kaufman. The style of the "Roaring" 1920s echoes in the lobby, which boasts antique desks, sofas and chairs bathed in deep jewel tones, creating the perfect spot for reading, writing and conversation. The intimate Oak Room Cabaret offers continental cuisine and cabaret performances on certain nights, and Blue Bar, home of the $10,000 Martini, serves casual fare and cocktails. The fitness center offers cardiovascular equipment, free weights, towels, fresh fruit and water.

Guestrooms. The Algonquin Hotel's 174 guestrooms feature flat-screen televisions and wireless Internet access for a fee. Quotes from different writers are framed on each door. Suites are named after members of the Algonquin Times. Suites boast DVD players and flat-screen televisions in the bedrooms. Bathrooms offer telephones, bathrobes and walk-in closets.

Expert Tip. In the 1930s, the owner of the Algonquin, Frank Case, took in a disheveled cat in search of a full belly and started a hotel tradition. The current resident cat, Matilda, oversees the hotel guests as they enter and leave the hotel from her small red cat bed in the entryway.