The Franklin is the best luxury boutique hotel north of 57th Street. And it's way north of 57th Street in spirit, firmly ensconced in the youthful residential area of the Upper East Side, where there's nary another hotel to be seen. Though quite small, rooms are well appointed with name brand knickknacks, including Bulgari toiletries, iHome stations, free wireless, and Frette linens. The lobby of this nine-story town house feels comfortable and lived-in, with newspapers laid out on comfortable couches and a free 24-hour cappuccino machine behind it. The generous complimentary breakfast uses a local bakery for all goods, and the hotel hosts a wine-and-artisanal-cheese reception on weekday evenings. You can meet (sweaty) locals with a comp pass to New York Sports Club. Pros: neighborhood-y location; free Wi-Fi. Cons: far from many NYC tourist sights except Museum Mile; small rooms.
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