Editorial score of 9.0 of 10, the composite average of the three factors above (Rooms, Service, Location). Method at our methodology page. Affiliate disclosure: booking links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you, and never change our verdict.
Why stay at the Baccarat Hotel New York?
You stay here for a hotel that treats design as the main event. The Baccarat opened in 2015 as the crystal house's first hotel, and it is less a lodging than a sustained piece of editorial design: Baccarat crystal appears not as an accent but as architecture, in chandeliers, sconces and table pieces, so the light in every room is a function of the glass it passes through. Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku conceived the interiors as a Parisian pied-a-terre at Manhattan scale, contemporary and grey-toned rather than gilded, which is the precise opposite of the fussy European decoration across the road. Even the smallest of the 114 rooms exceeds about 400 square feet, generous for Midtown, with Calacatta marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs and Sferra linens.
The amenities back up the styling. The 55-foot marble indoor pool below ground is a real facility rather than a marketing checkbox and rare for a Manhattan hotel of this size, and Spa de la Mer, the first stateside spa from the La Mer skincare line, draws guests from across the city. The Grand Salon and Bar Baccarat function as genuine New York rooms, pulling in Midtown's cultural and financial crowd on their own account. The position, on West 53rd directly opposite MoMA, three blocks from Central Park and steps from Fifth Avenue, is close to ideal for a business traveler who wants a gallery between meetings. Know that the styling runs cool and severe, that soundproofing and service can be uneven, and that the public rooms are priced accordingly, and the Baccarat delivers one of the most distinctive luxury stays in Midtown.
Who is it for? The Baccarat suits a design-driven traveler who wants a hotel that looks and feels like an event, a couple marking an occasion who will use the pool and the spa, and a business guest who values a large, quiet room and a serious wellness floor within walking distance of MoMA and Fifth Avenue. It is a weaker fit for anyone who prizes warm, traditional service above styling, or who is sensitive to noise, since soundproofing is the most common complaint. Rates sit at the top of the Midtown market and the public rooms are priced to match, so it rewards guests who will actually use what makes it special, the crystal-lit suites, the marble pool and the Spa de la Mer, rather than those simply paying for the address.
The design pedigree is not incidental. Baccarat has made crystal since 1764, and the hotel was conceived as a physical expression of the house rather than a licensing deal with a name attached. That is why the crystal reads as structural, in the chandeliers that anchor each public room and the pieces that catch the light in the guest rooms, and why the Grand Salon feels like a stage set rather than a lobby lounge. Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku's interiors keep the whole thing contemporary and cool rather than nostalgic, which is what separates the Baccarat from the gilded European style found across Midtown.
What are the best rooms to request?
Ask for a higher-floor suite on the quieter side of the building and prioritize space, because room size is one of the Baccarat's strengths. The categories run from Classic rooms through Deluxe, Premier and the Junior, Grand and Duplex suites, and even the entry rooms are large by Midtown standards, finished in grey tones with Calacatta marble bathrooms, deep tubs and crystal detailing. The suites open up the living space and the light, and the Duplex suites are the showpieces. Wherever you land, the design language is consistent: clean lines, muted color and Baccarat crystal doing the work that gilt does elsewhere.
The honest caveats are worth planning around. Guests consistently praise the design and the pool, but the recurring complaints are practical: soundproofing can run thin, so noise from a neighboring room or the street sometimes carries, and service can be inconsistent between the door and checkout. The Grand Salon is also expensive even by five-star Midtown standards, so treat afternoon tea and drinks there as an occasion rather than a default. Request a high floor away from the elevator core and the avenue, set expectations for cool rather than cozy, and the room delivers the crystal-lit luxury the hotel is built around.
Book a morning swim in the marble pool before the day starts; at 6am it is close to private. Reserve Spa de la Mer ahead, and if you want the Grand Salon experience without the full dinner bill, go for afternoon tea and take in the MoMA view across the street.
What are the restaurants and bars like?
Dining at the Baccarat runs through the Grand Salon, the hotel's silver-leaf and crystal all-day room, which serves breakfast, lunch, a well-known afternoon tea and dinner beneath its chandeliers, with a view straight across to MoMA. It is a see-and-be-seen room that draws Midtown's cultural and financial crowd independently of the hotel's guests, and it holds its own against serious neighborhood competition. Adjoining it, Bar Baccarat is the cocktail room, all crystal and low light, and one of the more theatrical hotel bars in Midtown. Both rooms are polished and expensive; the tea and cocktails are an experience in themselves, but the bill lands where the setting suggests, so go in expecting a special-occasion price.
Does the Baccarat have a spa and pool?
Yes, and the wellness offer is one of the reasons to book. Below ground sits a 55-foot marble indoor pool, long enough for real swimming and unusual for a downtown-scale luxury hotel, alongside Spa de la Mer, the first stateside outpost of the La Mer skincare line. The spa treats with the marine-based range and pulls in guests from across the city, and there is a serious fitness center on the same level. Because the hotel is small, the pool and spa feel genuinely private, especially early, which is exactly what a business traveler wants at the start of a Midtown day.
Signature amenities
Opposite MoMA in Midtown
Midtown, directly opposite the Museum of Modern Art
What's nearby
- Museum of Modern Art
Directly opposite1 min walk - Fifth Avenue shopping
Flagship stores3 min walk - St. Patrick's Cathedral
Fifth Avenue landmark4 min walk - Rockefeller Center
Plaza & shops5 min walk - Central Park
Southern edge6 min walk
The crystal, the rooms, the pool
Facade
Guest room
Marble pool
Grand SalonHow does the Baccarat compare with Midtown's other five-star hotels?
Against the field, the Baccarat is the design-forward, pool-and-spa choice, and the decision comes down to the mood you want. The St. Regis New York, a few blocks east on Fifth Avenue, is the traditional butler-service grande dame, all old-world formality and power-lunch weight. The Peninsula New York brings a Fifth Avenue address, a rooftop bar and a large spa in a Beaux-Arts building. Park Hyatt New York, on 57th Street, is the quiet modern choice with a beautiful pool and understated service. The Baccarat's own trade-off is that it prioritizes styling: the crystal-lit rooms and marble pool are exceptional, but soundproofing, service consistency and public-room pricing can trail the more classic houses.
| Hotel | Style | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat Hotel | Crystal design luxury | Design, pool, spa | Cool styling; uneven service |
| The St. Regis New York | Fifth Avenue grande dame | Butler service, tradition | Formal, classic decor |
| The Peninsula New York | Beaux-Arts Fifth Avenue | Rooftop bar, large spa | Busy address, higher rates |
| Park Hyatt New York | Quiet modern luxury | Pool, calm, service | Less of a scene |
Frequently asked questions
When did the Baccarat Hotel New York open?
The Baccarat Hotel and Residences opened in 2015 at 28 West 53rd Street, opposite the Museum of Modern Art. It was the crystal house's first hotel, with interiors by Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku and Baccarat crystal used throughout the public rooms and the guest rooms.
How many rooms does the Baccarat Hotel have?
There are 114 rooms and suites, and even the smallest exceeds about 400 square feet, generous by Manhattan standards. Rooms are contemporary in grey tones with Calacatta marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs and Sferra linens.
Does the Baccarat Hotel have a pool and spa?
Yes. Below ground there is a 55-foot marble indoor pool, unusual for a Manhattan hotel of this size, alongside Spa de la Mer, the first stateside spa from the La Mer skincare line, and a fitness center.
What are the restaurants and bars at the Baccarat Hotel?
The Grand Salon is the all-day restaurant and lounge, a silver-and-crystal room with a MoMA view that serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Bar Baccarat is the adjoining cocktail bar, and both draw a Midtown crowd beyond the hotel's own guests.
Where is the Baccarat Hotel located?
At 28 West 53rd Street in Midtown, directly opposite the Museum of Modern Art, three blocks from Central Park and within walking distance of Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and the main Midtown business addresses.
Other luxury stays in New York
Fifth AvenueThe St. Regis New York
Fifth AvenueThe Peninsula New York
Midtown