The grand hotels of New York: the back story

About The grand hotels of New York: the back story

By the ULTIMATE New York Editorial Team

New York’s grand hotels grew up with the city’s fortunes, from the Gilded Age mansions of Fifth Avenue to the Art Deco towers of Park Avenue, and several are protected landmarks today.

Fifth Avenue’s grand dames

The Plaza stands at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, a landmarked hotel whose Palm Court and Champagne Bar welcome visitors as well as guests. A few blocks south, the St. Regis on East 55th Street is home to the King Cole Bar, and the Peninsula, the Aman in the historic Crown Building and the Pierre on East 61st Street complete one of the great hotel streets of the world.

Park Avenue and the Waldorf

The Waldorf Astoria at 301 Park Avenue closed in 2017 for a long restoration and has reopened with Lex Yard, Peacock Alley and a Guerlain spa. The Four Seasons Hotel New York on East 57th Street reopened in November 2024 after closing in 2020.

Afternoon tea in the Palm Court or a cocktail under Bemelmans’ murals is still the easiest way into New York’s grand-hotel world.

Uptown hideaways

On the Upper East Side, the Carlyle has welcomed guests since 1930 and is home to Bemelmans Bar and Café Carlyle. The Mark, the Lowell and the Surrey are a few blocks away, close to Madison Avenue’s boutiques and Museum Mile.

Downtown’s new wave

Downtown, the Beekman occupies an 1881 building with a nine-storey Victorian atrium, and Tribeca, SoHo and the Financial District have some of the city’s most stylish small hotels.

Our advice: even if you stay elsewhere, book afternoon tea or a drink at one of the grand hotels, and ask the concierge for theatre and restaurant help.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of New York: the back story before you go.