With so many hotels to choose from in this big city, why not go for the best green hotels in New York City that focus on sustainability? There are a number of eco-friendly hotels in New York that focus on proper waste management, reduction of water and energy consumption, protection of the environment, and minimising their carbon footprint in general. All while providing comfort and luxury to their guests.
Before you go, brush up on your NYC knowledge. And don’t forget to grab our free step-by-step pdf guide for sustainable travel.
There are a lot of hotels around the world that claim to be sustainable, but it’s important to cut through the greenwashing noise. I’ve gone through a long list of options and narrowed it down to four green hotels in New York City that are transparent in their sustainability efforts.
This elegant, award-winning, pet-friendly, 4* hotel is part of the Iberostar hotel group, and is located right in the middle of Manhattan. The hotel is a few blocks away from Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and other amenities around. The hotel also offers a fitness centre and meeting rooms.
70 Park Avenue Hotel is an ideal green accommodation if you plan on discovering Manhattan on foot, as major landmarks are within walking distance. However, the subway is also close by, allowing you to explore the rest of New York easily.
But despite its central position in the middle of the city, the hotel’s location in the Murray Hill neighbourhood provides a chill, calm vibe, away from the chaotic NYC noise.
The hotel group has a global commitment called Wave of Change, which focuses on circular economy, responsible tourism, and ocean conservation.
Check out 70 Park Avenue Hotel here.
This pet-friendly 5* hotel is in Brooklyn right on the waterfront and East River, facing Manhattan. It’s a sophisticated, modern hotel with a sleek design and lots of greenery, which makes guests feel serene and renewed.
You just can’t beat that view. From the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, you can see the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge. You can work out on the terrace upstairs by the rooftop pool with a view of downtown Manhattan, or do some yoga using one of the hotel’s yoga mats.
The hotel also offers a wellness spa, a state-of-the-art gym with training services, yoga, complimentary workout classes, meeting rooms, a rooftop pool (open only during the warmer months), a rooftop restaurant and bar, movie nights, a hair salon, and fun evenings hosted by local musicians. You can also rent out the space for a photoshoot or film shoot.
The hotel is part of the 1 Hotels group, which focuses on sustainability on all fronts: environmental, social, and economical tourism.
Just a few steps away from the iconic Central Park, the 1 Hotel Central Park is a 5* pet-friendly hotel, and its greenery both inside and outside the hotel is rejuvenating.
Their open-space, dynamic kitchen Jams is operated by Jonathan Waxman, the “best chef in New York”, and there’s a daily market stand where you can get fresh fruits.
There’s also a wellness spa, a modern gym (the Field House) with classes, and spaces for meetings and events.
Similar to the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge mentioned above, 1 Central Park is part of the 1 Hotels group, known for their sustainability policies. The 1 Central Park shares various eco features with its sister hotel in Brooklyn.
Stay at 1 Hotel Central Park.
The Benjamin Hotel is an upscale, 4* hotel in Midtown East, within walking distance from Rockefeller Centre and Grand Central Station. The hotel was specifically designed to create an atmosphere of relaxation but with elegance. There are all types of accommodations available at the Benjamin Hotel: from hotel rooms to luxury suites with kitchenettes and outdoor terraces.
The hotel was featured on CBS for their Rest and Renew program by sleep medicine expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins. The program provides the optimal peaceful sleep experience with the help of specific tools and solutions such as meditation apps, a variety of pillows, sleep masks, noise machine, ear plugs, etc.
You can also have complimentary access to the latest books for some bedside reading, in the form of audio books, e-books, physical books, etc. There’s a 24hr fitness centre, a laundry service, and the hotel is pet friendly.
The hotel has an Environmentally Friendly program to minimise their carbon footprint and be socially responsible. This includes:
Check the rates at the Benjamin Hotel.
There are many so-called green hotels in New York, but after checking them out and filtering through, it was easy to see which ones really are sustainable. The top 4 mentioned above stood out, and I definitely would recommend staying there for a more eco-experience in New York.
