You should look at the Roger Smith Hotel in midtown, on Lexington around 46th or so. A friend of mine likes to stay there on business. It is definitely not modern, and amazingly they have a king suite room available on your dates for only $430 a night (pretax).
https://www.rogersmith.com/

I think most hotels are going to have more modern decor nowadays in NY.

I have stayed at the Novotel inbetween TS and Columbus Circle and liked it a lot. It is also in your price range and the rooms are huge and a very convenient location for either theater or the subway, but the decor is modern.

I'm a huge fan of the Benjamin hotel, across from the Waldorf.
They have a pillow concierge too.

So we did go as a family to New York--in 2012, and EK is right. It is expensive for families. I got some great help from this board.

I opened up some of the bookmarks I saved just now, which was a fun diversion from the things I need to do. Of course some hotels were closed forever but a lot of the ones I saved were within your budget. Maybe I'm just cheap?

Of these, the Beekman and the Belleclaire are not modern.


The Affinia Chain:
The Shelburne $401/night
FiftyNYC and Gardens $418/night
(least modern of the 3 is probably Gardens)

Others:
The Duane Street (Tribeca) $405.
(I don't know much about this area but I loved this hotel before)


Hotel Belleclaire (UWS) $339 for the full size bed, $356 Queen prepaid.


Empire Hotel (UWS, next to Lincoln Center) $321refundable or $275 nonrefundable)

Beekman Hotel (lower Manhattan)--$504 (so beyond your budget with tax) but go look at the pictures. It just got remodeled, very classic. And the atrium especially is really pretty. (I know, I'm a sucker for good marketing.)

I should probably add that I expect that you will go find current reviews for the places I just posted. And people who live there can advise you on location.

Courtyard at 1717 Broadway showing king room $1,882.00 total with taxes AAA promo rate. This is a well located hotel with large modern rooms. We just stayed at the Residence Inn above it with corner park view room for $1,402.00 four nights (including a Saturday) with taxes, for your dates now shows $2,420.00. Great room/great view though. BTW, we really liked Taboon as well.

We liked the Hotel Beacon, upper west side, right near subway station, full market across the street. Next door to Beacon Theater.

http://beaconhotel.com

We had the 2 bdrm, 2 bath suite for 5 women. (It doesn't show up on-line, you have to call them).

But I don't think you specified you need that much space.

We also liked the Affinia Gardens when we reserved a suite for a 21st Birthday event.

I enjoy the Park Lane Hotel. My rooms have always been large and very nicely furnished. Ir is located on Central Park South just off of 5th ave, so a perfect walking location for the museums you mentioned. If weather is bad just zip uptown by taxi or bus. Depending on when you travel, you can often get good deals at the Park Lane.

On the west side, but just across Central Park from those museums is a NYC classic, the Excelsior. Rooms can be on the small side but I like them. I like to stay there for Lincoln Center trips which is quite walkable.

Well, I put my money where my mouth is. Our anniversary is coming up next month, one of the two we celebrate, and we decided on a theater and Metropolitan museum long weekend in NYC. We like Central Park South so made our reservation at the Park Lane.

Yea, I️ finally can post again.

basingstoke2.......Park Lane looks perfect.
Some things have come up and we probably won’t go but when we do it will be to the Park Lane.