9 of the Best Pools in New York City

Your guide to making a splash in the Big Apple.

Although it certainly pulls a crowd as a winter wonderland, New York City can clock some challenging temperatures at the other end of the thermometer, too. When there’s no time for the Hamptons, respite can be found at one of the numerous chic hotel pools throughout the city. Sure, many of them are for the exclusive use of hotel guests, but would booking a room at one of these hot spots be so bad?

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

Views, glorious views. This sustainability-minded hotel enjoys prime position next to the famous and picturesque Brooklyn Bridge, and the rooftop pool puts the incredible views in the spotlight.

As well as the bridge, the plunge pool offers sweeping views of the Downtown skyline, with the Statue of Liberty kicking off the glorious panorama. The pool is for guests only, but Harriet’s Rooftop Bar, just next door and with the same vista, is open to the public. Reservations are recommended.

Address: 60 Furman Street, Brooklyn

The Dominick

SoHo is one of New York City’s most sought-after destinations, and there are worse ways to soak up that Downtown atmosphere than with a poolside cocktail at The Dominick.

The outdoor pool, which puts guests in the thick of the Manhattan skyline, is adjacent to Terrace on 7, the latest addition to The Dominick’s food and beverage offering, at least for now (watch this space). The indoor-outdoor restaurant and lounge is a stylish space serving fresh Japanese fare and fantastic cocktails.

Address: 246 Spring St, New York

The Dominick pool — Enjoy a poolside cocktail at The Dominick

The William Vale

Located in hipster-friendly Williamsburg, The William Vale boasts the longest outdoor pool in greater New York City. Better yet, the 465-square-metre poolside terrace, complete with plush cabanas, has slick resort written all over it and the menu, featuring light fare and summer-friendly cocktails, is brought to you by award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini. Day passes and memberships are available, but the best way to guarantee a day bed is to check into one of the hotel’s 183 rooms.

Address: 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn

The William Vale pool New York City — The William Vale boasts the longest outdoor pool in greater New York City

SoHo House

Sex and the City fans will know the name, and not even PR maven Samantha Jones could score a lounge or four at this exclusive rooftop pool. In reality, membership is just as prized.

To join, you need the endorsement of two current members and a willingness to part with a hefty annual fee, but there is a way around these hurdles for travellers. Check yourself in to one of the 44 fully equipped rooms and you will soon find the SoHo House pool isn’t the only feature worth diving into.

Address: 29-35 9th Ave, New York

Soho house pool — SoHo house is a destination all by itself

Baccarat Hotel

Off the roof and two levels below ground, the pool at the exquisite Baccarat Hotel provides a calm and restorative oasis in the beating heart of Midtown. Paris-based firm Gilles & Boissier is responsible for the opulent hotel design and the pool has been given the same luxurious treatment, with black-and-white marble floors and cabanas inspired by the French Riviera.

Address: 28 W 53rd St, New York

Baccarat Hotel NYC — Find Baccarat Hotel pool in the heart of midtown

Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC

Open year-round, the 15th-storey heated pool at Gansevoort Meatpacking is the perfect spot to take in one of New York City’s most glamorous neighbourhoods. Art Deco-style tiles and sleek outdoor furniture help create a sophisticated retreat, available only to guests of the 186-room hotel. Adjacent Gansevoort Rooftop, a stylish bar with indoor and outdoor spaces and views to boot, is open to the public.

Address: 18 9th Ave, New York

GansevoortPool — Take in the NYC skyline poolside at The Gansevoort

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The Williamsburg Hotel

More breathtaking views of Manhattan’s famous silhouette can be enjoyed from the rooftop at The Williamsburg Hotel. Sitting pretty on Williamsburg’s thriving Wythe Avenue, the hotel epitomises style and the 12-metre pool is no exception. It is located at the foot of the hotel’s famous Water Tower Bar, an Instagram hit, and also features a bar of its own and plenty of seating. Pool access is for guests only until midday, when the public is invited join in for a $25 entry fee, subject to availability.

Address: 96 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn

Williamsburg Hotel Pool — Perched above the city streets, the Williamsburg’s rooftop oasis boasts breathtaking views, an outdoor pool, bar & café.

The Peninsula New York

A landmark hotel on iconic Fifth Avenue, The Peninsula New York is a five-star stay with a pool to match. Floor-to-ceiling teak columns surround the serene 13.7-metre pool, located on the top (23^rd) floor of the grand Midtown hotel. The pool is part of the hotel’s three-storey spa, giving you the perfect excuse to add a treatment to your day.

Address: 700 5th Ave, New York

Peninsula pool NYC — A landmark hotel (and pool) on Fifth avenue

Dream Downtown

Love to feel the sand between your toes? The Beach at Dream Downtown has you covered. Spanning 465 square metres, The Beach features a spectacular glass-bottomed pool with views to the hotel lobby, as well as a full-service bar, pool deck, private cabanas and chaise lounges.

A ‘beach’ has been created with sand imported from The Hamptons for that truly perfect underfoot feel. Day passes are available to the public, but weekends are the exclusive domain of hotel guests.

Address: 355 W 16th St, New York

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.