25 Best Hotels in Albany and Central New York, New York

This inn, part of the 52-acre Beeches estate, is the best place to stay in town. Rooms, dressed in French-country style with floral patterns, have a king bed or one or two queen-size beds; bathrooms have marble trim. The suite has a sitting area and a whirlpool tub. The restaurants alone are worth the trip.

Judy Garland once sang from the mezzanine to fans in the lobby, and Mae West, Rita Hayworth, and Jimmy Durante all spent the night at this 14-story Renaissance revival–style hotel in the downtown business district. The two-story lobby of the grand 1912 building has a coffered ceiling, faux-marble pillars, large crystal chandeliers, a piano, and lovebirds that serenade you from their antique cage. Guest rooms, spacious and attractive, have swagged window treatments and traditional furnishings; many have Mohawk Valley views.

Inside the Morgan State House, a late-19th-century town house on Washington Park, rich cherry wainscoting complements high ceilings, hand-glazed walls, and fireplaces. Although the house is in the center of town, the views are of either the park or the inn's well-tended flower beds. Each room is different—yours might have a fireplace, a claw-foot tub, exposed brick walls, a skylight, or a reading area—but the overall look is refined. Studios are available three doors away at the Washington Park State House, a sibling property with an elevator. Breakfast is served in the town house.

This sunny bed-and-breakfast offers family-style hospitality, lovely furnishings, a common parlor, and card games on the weekends. The rooms are housed in a late-19th-century home, and attended to by the owner.

The Smith family greets you at this gorgeous Second Empire hotel in the heart of downtown. Rooms have country-cottage or Victorian furnishings; some have fireplaces or claw-foot tubs. Printed fabrics outfit beds and windows, and every room has a CD player. Shower stalls contain a tile with a quote about local history, characters, or landmarks painted on it. The wraparound porch is roomy and has antique wicker chairs.

The impressive lobby of one of the city's original late-19th-century hotels has slightly worn divans, elaborately stenciled walls and ceilings, and trompe-l'oeil details. The grand staircase leads to three floors of guest rooms and common spaces, including a second-story piazza overlooking Broadway. Bedroom styles—from Victorian and French country to Adirondacks and Arts and Crafts—are diverse. The bar, which spills off the lobby and into a courtyard, is a favorite evening gathering spot for drinks and desserts.

The ornate architectural details of this High Victorian Gothic stunner include dormer windows crowned with clamshell arches and a mansard roof of alternating bands of red and gray slate. The common spaces include porches, a living room, and a dining room that seats 20. Two long plush-velvet couches invite lingering in the library. Congress Park is across the street.

Otsego Lake is the focal point at this well-run motel, which has its own beach with docks, paddleboats, canoes, and gazebos—there's even a waterside swing set. The central building has large guest rooms, a sweeping porch, a lounge, and a room with pinball machines. There are also 11 freestanding cottages, the largest of which can accommodate 10 people, but these are much more expensive than the guest rooms.

The cheerful brick inn a block from the Hudson River is a good alternative to chain hotels. Standard rooms tend to be a bit run-of-the-mill and have either two double beds or a king. Suites, double the size of the standard rooms, have king-size beds, an adjoining sitting room, a refrigerator, and a whirlpool tub.

Brick courtyards, hand-painted wooden signs, Early American furniture, and staff in 18th-century attire give this large hotel the air of a colonial village with modern conveniences. Some rooms have king-size canopy beds; all have large bathrooms with phones. The complex includes a casual all-day eatery (many patrons favor the cheese blintzes for breakfast); a fine dinner-only restaurant; and a lounge with cushy upholstery seats.

Two graceful Victorian homes form this peaceful bed-and-breakfast. Most rooms have queen-size beds, and all are decorated in a period style of florals, lace, and wicker. Wireless Internet access is a bonus.

This lovely Georgian revival–style brick hotel sits amid the 2,200 acres of Saratoga Spa State Park. Tall windows look out onto front and rear gardens, and the interior is decorated in a gracious, traditional style. The Sunday brunch buffet of hot and cold entrées is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

A former fur trapper's trading post–turned–Dutch mansion provides a swish backdrop for a room and a meal on the Mohawk River. Standard rooms have two queen beds; junior suites have a king-size sleigh bed, a desk, and a seating area. The decor throughout is a harmonious blend of patterned fabrics and wallpapers in elegant palettes. Candlelit tables set with fine china and table linens fill the pre-colonial dining room, which has two decorative fireplaces and hand-hewn beams. A cavelike, stone-walled pub downstairs offers lighter fare.

Rooms at this single-level motel, on the grounds of Howe Caverns, have mountain and valley views. Choose between a queen, a king, or two double beds; family suites have four doubles. Interiors are basic, but some rooms have whirlpool tubs. The restaurant is open from July through Labor Day.

Rocking chairs are set all along the front porch, which runs the width of this inviting Second Empire building with its dormer windows. Guest rooms are uncluttered, making them seem even roomier than they are. Crisp clean walls, king- and queen-size beds, and wall-to-wall carpeting lend modernity. Pastel quilts in traditional patterns and period reproductions are nods to this inn's history and its place on the National Register of Historic Places.

At this 1848 inn, Victorian-inspired rooms with dark-wood furniture and tailored swags include such modern conveniences as high-speed Internet access. The four suites, in the Brunelle Cottage in the back, have heated floors. Your room key grants access to the fitness facilities at the YMCA.

An expansive front lawn rolls from Chestnut Street to the sheltered entry of this truly grand 1856 Italianate mansion. Common areas are large and sunny. Gleaming wood floors and attractive furnishings are found throughout. Beds and chairs are so plump you can't resist flopping onto them as soon as you enter your room. Many rooms have special showers or tubs; one has an 11-head shower. Full breakfasts are served in a formal dining room.

This hotel dramatically transformed the Parker Building, a narrow structure that was the city's tallest building when it was erected in 1906. An antique cage-style elevator takes you to contemporary rooms with dark-wood furniture and floral-fabric accents. Maroon velvet curtains and vintage movie posters in the lounge downstairs are a nod to the inn's neighbor, Proctor's Theatre; before and after shows, a chic crowd gathers for drinks, dinner, and snacks.

The more popular choice in town, the Herkimer Motel gets lots of compliments on cleanliness and service. Inexpensive though it is, it offers an outdoor pool and fitness room, and is conveniently located for further excursions into the area.

A cupola crowns this handsome three-story brick Italianate villa built in 1866. The B&B has two large porches, a parlor with a marble fireplace, and bathrooms with claw-foot tubs. One guest room is on the first floor; the others are on the second floor. Most rooms have a queen bed, and all have rose-print bed coverings and down comforters. The Wine and Roses room, where walls are the color of claret, has a queen and a double bed.

The intimate, neoclassical town home is near the state capitol, museums and other attractions, and restaurants. Rooms have either one king bed, one or two queens, or one or two doubles; some have working fireplaces. Guest-room furnishings include large flat-screen televisions. Breakfast is served in a parlorlike space with a fireplace and a European feel.

Before its latest incarnation, this three-story Federal-style building in the heart of the Stockade served as a bank and an exclusive men's club. The Victorian-style rooms, all on the top floor, have plush carpeting and reproduction antique poster beds; six have gas fireplaces. The first two floors hold a swanky restaurant, which has upholstered armchairs, high ceilings, and chandeliers; a billiards room; and meeting rooms.

This 1802 Federal-style hotel is one of Cooperstown's oldest brick structures. It was first used as a general store before being transformed, in 1848, into a hotel. A restaurant with an old-fashioned tap room adjoins the hotel, which is near the Baseball Hall of Fame and other village sights.

A sweeping front porch graces this turreted and gabled Queen Anne Victorian inn, one in a row of equally impressive homes. Benches built into the wood paneling flank the foyer sitting area, and the dining room, dressed in purple, is a Victorian fantasy. A piano figures prominently in the living room. None of the guest rooms are cramped, and those on the second floor are particularly large. Pastels are coupled with busy florals in some rooms, and in others deep greens and blues set off paisleys or plaids. Hardwood floors gleam throughout.

The 1835 Greek Revival sits on a half acre near the village's main sights. Behind the inn are the carriage house, pool, and shaded yard. Public areas are enlivened by Oriental rugs. Guest rooms feel more casual, thanks to pastel color schemes, country quilts, and flowers here and there. Rooms can be combined to accommodate groups of up to six.