Great — here are New York City hotels known for having the liveliest, most social atmospheres (lobby hangouts, busy bars/rooftops, live‑music rooms, or regular events). Short blurb + why they’re social and where they are.

• Ace Hotel (NoMad) — giant “living‑room” lobby with bar/coffee crowd that draws locals and travelers; easy place to meet people or work during the day, DJ/vibe at night. Best for: casual, creative crowd and people‑watching. (cntraveler.com)

• The Standard, High Line (Meatpacking) — home to Le Bain (rooftop club/bar), Biergarten and Top of the Standard: a full nightlife roster with views and DJs. Best for: rooftop sunsets, dancing and late‑night crowds. (standardhotels.com)

• The William Vale (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) — Westlight rooftop (22nd floor) with panoramic skyline views and a buzzy rooftop bar/food program; very popular with locals and hotel guests. Best for: elevated rooftop scene in Brooklyn. (thewilliamvale.com)

• Wythe Hotel (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) — converted factory with a packed rooftop bar/terrace and a strong local night crowd. Best for: Williamsburg nightlife + skyline views. (bonappetit.com)

• The Roxy Hotel (TriBeCa) — lively ground‑floor bar, late‑night scene and Django (subterranean jazz club) with nightly live music; great for music lovers. Best for: live jazz and club nights inside the hotel. (roxyhotelnyc.com)

• PUBLIC (Lower East Side) — Ian Schrager property with club/arts programming, a busy lobby bar and rooftop; designed to be a social hub with frequent events. Best for: design‑forward nightlife and events. (telegraph.co.uk)

• The Ludlow (Lower East Side) — moody lobby bar, rooftop patio and popular restaurant (Dirty French); draws a fashion‑forward LES crowd. Best for: intimate nights out and LES energy. (mrandmrssmith.com)

• The Bowery Hotel (Bowery/Lower Manhattan) — old‑world, leather‑sofa lobby and tucked‑away bar; a classic “see‑and‑be‑seen” celebrity/creative crowd. Best for: upscale, cozy lobby vibes and celebrity spotting. (oyster.com)

• Hotel Chelsea (Chelsea) — storied, artist‑centric history and (since its recent reopening) renewed lobby/bar and event programming that still attracts creative crowds. Best for: historic bohemian vibe and cultural events. (ny1.com)

Quick practical tips

• Cover/dress/entry: popular hotel bars and rooftops often enforce dress codes, guest lists or cover charges on busy nights — check the hotel/bar’s site or Resy before you go. (Rooftops commonly require reservations for tables.) (lebainnewyork.com)
• Best nights: Thurs–Sat evenings are busiest; rooftop season peaks late spring–early fall.
• Noise/sleep: if you want a social hotel but quiet nights, request a high floor/room away from the bar.
• Locals vs tourists: some hotels’ bars are full of locals (Wythe, William Vale, Westlight), others draw tourists and brand fans (Ace, Standard, Public).

If you want, I can narrow this to: budget vs luxury; a single neighborhood (Midtown, LES, Williamsburg, Chelsea); or give links and the best nights/door policies for 3–4 choices.