She’s on to something. Scoping out hotellobbies is a highly underrated way to discover new parts of a city and reward yourself with pockets of peace and quiet amid the hustle. A hotel lobby crawl also provides a glimpse into some of a town’s most glamorous and famous hotels.

New York City is the ideal place for a lobby crawl. The Big Apple has an assortment oflobbies that range from très upscale to decidedly funky. Just as New York has a restaurant, shop, and museum to meet anyone’s interests, there’sa lobby for every taste.

Our recommended crawl starts in midtown, heads downtown, and then winds back uptown to Central Park. To get in the mood, begin at an artdeco wonder, the Waldorf=Astoria. Step through the Park Avenue entrance during the morning, grab a beverage in the lower lobby, and find a cozy spot to breathe in the old-world charm.

Look anywhere in this one-square-block hotel and you’re in for a treat. Glance down at the magnifi cent floor that depicts the Wheel of Life with a 148,000-piece mosaic by the French artist Louis Rigal, or take in the 13 allegorical oil murals that surround you. Straight ahead past the dramatic flower arrangement and into the main lobby is an exquisite 9-foot-tall clock that bears the likenesses of seven U.S. presidents, as well as Queen Victoria. Nestle into the upper lobby near Cole Porter’s piano for a prime location to map out your day.

Next, head down the block to the welcoming lobby at Intercontinental The Barclay. With its Tiffany-style glass ceiling, this art deco lobby is cheerful even on the darkest of days. Have break-fast at the Barclay Bar & Grill, where its raisedlocation gives you an excellent vantage point for people watching. Or settle into the small alcove in the back for a grand view of the lobby.

Then it’s off to a classic venue with a storied flair. The Algonquin Hotel is home to the venerable Algonquin Round Table, where Dorothy Parker once quipped and The New Yorker magazine was born. This city landmark has a relaxed, stylish lobby — with intimate seating for two as well as room enough for 10 — a perfect setting for enjoying a coffee or a cosmo. Angle for one of the leather sofas in the lobby’s rear to check out the hotel guests and the star resident, Matilda the cat, who prowls freely.

For a complete change in style, head downtown to the Grand Bar & Lounge of the Soho Grand Hotel on West Broadway, one of the trendiest spots in town. Inside this industrial-chic building, a glass-bottle staircase intricately detailed in cast iron rises to a second-floor lobby. This airy lounge with plush sofas and oversized windows is a choice spot to sip a mochachino and take in the sights.

If you’re feeling a bit peckish, indulge yourself with a spot of afternoon tea in the first-floor lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park. You can choose from an array of tea sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream, and delectable mini-pastries. These accompany a fine selection of teas. Dally long enough until the bar on the 16th floor opens at 4 p.m., and zip up to take in an astonishing view of the Statue of Liberty and the New York Harbor.

Mosey back uptown to Times Square. Another trendy spot is the Living Room, on the 7th floor at W Times Square. Imagery dominates this unconventional lobby design. Soft cushioned benches surround pillars flooded with flashing lights. It’s a perfect place to meet a friend for a drink — its menu features more than 20 brands of tequila — or to just sit and enjoy the unfettered energy typical of a Midtown locale.

For a birds-eye view of the Square, drift into the sprawling 8th-floor lobby of the Marriott Marquis Times Square. In the middle of the floor are a cluster of couches that invite you to stretch out and unwind. The open space includes bars, restaurants, and shops. As you’ll notice, most visitors are enamored by watching the glass elevators race up and down in an atrium that soars to the 49th floor.

The next spot on our crawl is the Hudson Hotel. Be sure you bring the address — the Philippe Starck-designed metallic and neon building doesn’t advertise itself, and there’s no street number or name on the building’s exterior. Enjoy the chartreuse-lit escalator ride to the ivy-covered lobby. Although the lobby is small and dark, you’ll want to wander a bit — it’s flanked on one side by the Hudson Bar that features a hand-painted ceiling and a glass floor lit from below. On the opposite side is the intimate and elegant Hudson Cafeteria, where the food has a true flair.

As a fitting final stop for a late-night drink and snack, head to the Mandarin Oriental, the highest lobby of the crawl. The dramatic walls of windows in this 35th-floor setting of classic elegance offer stunning views of Central Park and the city’s skyline.