This Upper West Side hotel was converted from a residential building, and many of its rooms are still leased as long-term apartments. All of the Beacon's spacious rooms are simply furnished and decorated in a floral motif, and one- and two-bedroom suites come with one king or two double beds in each room as well as a pull-out couch, making this a good option for larger families who want to be near neighborhood institutions like the American Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Center. Fully equipped kitchenettes in all the rooms include microwaves and coffeemakers, and well-known grocers Fairway and Zabar's are just blocks away, so in-room cooking is relatively easy. Otherwise, the hotel restaurant is open 24 hours.

Hotel Beacon Amenities:

• 258 rooms. Wireless Internet access. Restaurant. Business center.