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The honest take
Both are five-star and excellent, but they're different bets. The Carlyle is cheaper at $1,254 a night with a 9.2 guest rating from 154 reviews, on East 76th Street near Central Park and the Met. Mandarin Oriental is $1,474, rated 9.1 from 442 reviews, up in the Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle, and it has the pool, spa sauna, parking and pet allowance the Carlyle doesn't list. If you want the room to be the event, book the Mandarin; if you want the building and the neighbourhood to be the event, book the Carlyle.
The look and the feel
The Carlyle
The Carlyle opened in 1930, an Art Deco tower on Madison Avenue done up by Dorothy Draper in its heyday, all bold black-and-white marble, brass and lacquer in the public rooms, with the murals of Ludwig Bemelmans still on the walls of the bar that bears his name. The lobby feels clubby and dim rather than grand-hotel bright, more town house than tower, and the crowd matches it: old money, editors, the odd head of state staying quietly. Café Carlyle still does cabaret, the elevators have operators, and the rooms above tend toward chintz and toile rather than anything minimalist.
Right for people who want history, a famous bar, and the feeling of staying somewhere that was already legendary before they arrived.
Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental New York sits in the Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle, so the building itself is glass-curtain contemporary rather than historic, and the pitch is the floor-to-ceiling window and the 35th-floor lobby looking straight down Central Park and across the Hudson. Rooms are large, pale, minimal, hotel-modern with a 55-inch television and a restocked minibar rather than any particular period detail. The 75-foot indoor pool and the spa with its sauna are the real draw, along with the address directly over Columbus Circle and the shops of the Shops at Columbus Circle below.
Right for people who want a big soaking pool, a spa day, a driver's car park, and views that make the room itself feel like the attraction.
At the lower price the Carlyle gives up the pool, the spa's sauna set-up, on-site parking, and pet allowance that the Mandarin Oriental lists.
The Carlyle is the more beautiful place to actually sit in, because Bemelmans' murals and Draper's Deco marble are irreplaceable atmosphere, where the Mandarin's glass and view are handsome but generic to its type.
The numbers
The Carlyle
Mandarin Oriental
Price, same night
$1,308
$1,833
Guest rating
9.2/10
9.1/10
Reviews
154
442
Stars
★★★★★
★★★★★
Facilities on our list
3
7
Distance apart
1.8 km
What one has that the other doesn't
Only The Carlyle has
Nothing on our list that Mandarin Oriental lacks.
Only Mandarin Oriental has
Pool
Pet
Parking
Bar
What guests actually say
The Carlyle
kind and attentive staff
above and beyond service
central Upper East Side location
room not matching category booked
unfriendly front desk staff
long wait past check-in time
“Every morning at breakfast they would even make a special bag of the daily papers and pastries to bring to him at the hospital without my even asking.”
Mandarin Oriental
stunning views of Central Park
excellent breakfast and pastries
attentive and impeccable service
rooms need renovation
unhelpful concierge service
“This is a review for the breakfast only.”
Mandarin Oriental guests come away happier overall, praising consistently excellent service, food and views, whereas Carlyle guests report a mix of warm gestures alongside notable check-in and room-quality issues.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
The Carlyle
Superior RoomRoom Only · free cancellation$1,416
SuperiorRoom Only · free cancellation$1,478
Deluxe 1 King BedRoom Only · free cancellation$1,696
“Kind and attentive staff during the visit, cold room, scabies following visit”
I came here for two nights with my daughter and stayed in a room on the 12th floor with two twin beds. The room would not warm up due to the cold temperatures outside. The staff was very responsive and sent up a very kind technician immediately to make sure the heat was working correctly. They told us that due to the building being so old, there wasn't more they could do besides provide space heaters, which helped s
10/10
“Wonderful hotel”
I have stayed multiple times at the Carlyle for pleasure, but this stay was different as I needed to be near the hospital where my husband was having surgery. The entire staff was kind, patient, and extraordinarily accommodating. Every morning at breakfast they would even make a special bag of the daily papers and pastries to bring to him at the hospital without my even asking. This is just a small example of how the
8/10
“Good but not great”
There are “hotel people” and Air BnB people. We are definitely hotel people, especially iconic hotels like the Carlyle, which is Rosewood branded. We have been fortunate to stay at top hotels around the world, like The Imperial Hotel in Vienna, the Peninsula in Paris and Bangkok, and Four Seasons around the globe, among many others.
Our initial impression of the Carlyle was unfortunately not great, due to the lady
Need some rennovations in double rooms. Awsome views
The night cleaning shift in rooms had to be requested again and again
10/10
“AAA+ rated French Chef Nordine Lahssini”
Chef Nordine Lahssini and team has supervised/ designed /cooked / created best , super tasty , healthy food with best culinary presentation to make us feel greatest with his experience from Europe , and Middle East with support Service at MO Lounge by Daniel Villanueva and team with best wine from Italian sommelier Thomas at speakeasy bar and Unique DJ music from Jack & Daniel
10/10
“One the best breakfast in Manhattan”
This is a review for the breakfast only.
Service is first class, coffee is very good and the pastries are outstanding. The view, well, one of the best in the City.
Luxurious Spa Experience Indulge in a relaxing time at the full-service spa, offering a range of treatments to pamper yourself. Gourmet Dining Options Savor delightful culinary experiences at the hotel's 2 restaurants and coffee shop/cafe, followed by a drink at the stylish bar/lounge. Convenient Location & Nearby Attractions Experience the convenience of…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Mandarin Oriental
Luxurious Accommodations with Stunning Views Located in Columbus Circle’s Deutsche Bank Center, this hotel offers rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing panoramic views of Central Park, the Manhattan skyline, and the Hudson River. Each room features a 55-inch flat-screen TV, a mini-bar restocked daily, and complimentary treats. Relaxation…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
The Carlyle
Elevator
Fitness facilities
Gift shops or newsstand
Shopping on site
Bicycle rentals nearby
Fireplace in lobby
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Health club
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Multilingual staff
Free newspapers in lobby
Porter/bellhop
Express check-out
Limo or town car service available
Full-service spa
Internet access in public areas - high speed
Mandarin Oriental
Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Business center
Heating
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Laundry
Where they are
35 E 76th St, New York, New York, 1002180 Columbus Circle
Rates are live for 2026-10-10, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons
