The Michelangelo is one of the city's finest hotels, a little gem located in the heart of Manhattan's business, theater and nightlife district. Quintessentially Old World in the style of an Italian villa, it provides a showcase for beautiful antique furniture, polished marble and exquisite fresh flower arrangements. The hotel's lobby alone -- with its rich Venetian- and Florentine-style fabrics, lighting fixtures inspired by Roman cathedral torcheres, and woodwork based on original Renaissance period designs -- looks like it should be ensconced in the middle of a grand museum.

The 179 guest rooms are simply among New York's finest. Averaging 475 square feet and elegantly appointed, they feature marble foyers, sitting areas with comfortably plush furniture and king-size beds. More marble graces the bathrooms, which also have commodious 55-gallon soaking tubs -- the deepest and widest in the city -- and are stocked with an array of imported toiletries.

Ranging in style from art deco to country French to neoclassical, all rooms are graced with fine polished woods and rich draperies. But there's more here than luxury; practicalities include mini-bars, Bose Wave stereo CD players, flat-screen HDTVs, multiline phone systems and voice mail, and high-speed Internet access in every room.

The Michelangelo also adopts an Old World approach when it comes to ensuring that every guest experience is exceptional. The graciously efficient, multilingual staff sets the tone; the elegant surroundings provide the setting.

The main lobby presents the inviting morning ritual of an authentic (and complimentary) Italian "Buon Di" Caffe, featuring a selection of finely brewed coffees and teas. Just off the lobby, a cozy guest lounge -- furnished with sofas in muted gold Zoffany chenille damask and highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows adorned with a three-layered treatment incorporating Italian-milled silk curtains in shades of persimmon and bronze -- practically begs one to while away the morning engaged in long, lingering conversation.

The cuisine is as splendid as the decor. At Insieme, the Italian word for "together," chef Marco Canora and sommelier Paul Grieco combine their respective talents to create a memorable dining experience. There are two superb menus: one classic Italian, the other contemporary. That means classicists can feast on the likes of tacconi pasta with rabbit ragout (based on a Canora family recipe), while more adventurous diners might opt for sea urchin risotto or a fritto misto (calves' liver, sweetbreads and veal tongue) with asparagus.

The best of the Big Apple is just outside the double brass front doors. The hotel's midtown location is within convenient walking distance of major corporate headquarters, Broadway theaters, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the Museum of Modern Art. Factor in a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary limousines to Wall Street and -- last but not least -- chocolates on your pillow, and it's little wonder Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List honored The Michelangelo as one of the world's best hotels.