Waldorf Astoria New York
RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY VERIFIED
Conrad Hilton once called Waldorf Astoria New York "The Greatest of Them All." After an eight-year, $2 billion renovation, the historic hotel has returned to reclaim its status.
Originally built in 1893 by the Astor family, the hotel relocated to its current site in 1931. The hotel was a hospitality innovator, introducing in-room telephones, female chefs, room service and iconic dishes like the Waldorf salad. And throughout the 20th century, a rotating cast of celebrities — Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe were residents, and Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy started their honeymoon there — helped shape the hotel’s enduring mythology.
Impressively, the Waldorf Astoria is not burdened by its history. Instead, it emerged from renovations in 2025 to continue defining luxury. The careful restoration of public spaces, including the original Peacock Alley bar, is complemented by redesigned guest rooms by Pierre-Yves Rochon, three restaurants and a Guerlain spa. The result is a hotel that lives up to legend.
- Entering the expanded Peacock Alley feels like stepping into New York City’s golden age. The restored clock, originally commissioned by Queen Victoria, commands attention at the center of the room, and is surrounded by endlessly elegant, plush armchairs and banquettes. Jeff Bell, the mixologist behind New York’s famed Please Don’t Tell, created a cocktail menu well suited for this moment, featuring creative takes on classics.
- The Waldorf Astoria made the wise call to dramatically reduce the number of rooms from 1,400 to 375. Now, the accommodations are among the largest in Manhattan.
- Chef Michael Anthony, of Gramercy Tavern acclaim, helms Lex Yard. The atmospheric, two-story American-style brasserie serves approachable, playfully elevated classics, such as the decadent beef-fat fries and a fully loaded lobster roll that’s topped with a heap of caviar.
- The 20,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa contains 16 treatment rooms, including two VIP suites, for personalized journeys that touch on the pillars of nutrition, movement, sleep and mindfulness.
- The New York City hotel spans an entire city block and offers three entrances. The newly added private porte-cochère allows high-profile guests to arrive with discretion, while the Park Avenue lobby, featuring a 148,000-piece “Wheel of Life” marble mosaic, greets all guests with major wow factor.
- By utilizing the hotel’s original architectural plans, details like the frescoes hand-painted in 1897 by American impressionist Edward Emerson Simmons in the Silver Corridor — which had been obscured by years of cigarette smoke stains — and Cole Porter's mahogany piano by Steinway & Sons have been meticulously preserved for the next era.
- The Manhattan hotel's signature Waldorf Bronze, crafted from bronze and nickel, gleams from the crown moldings and elevator doors.
- Every detail, including the staff uniforms, has been carefully considered. British fashion designer Nicholas Oakwell created distinct uniforms for each department.
- Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors inspired the original design of the Waldorf Astoria’s stunning third-floor Silver Corridor. Mirrors reflect light from crystal chandeliers, enhancing the illumination of the 16 murals originally commissioned for the building and creating a luminous, otherworldly glow.
- The three-story Grand Ballroom with curtained balconies was the site of the first Tony Awards and Met Gala. It retains its art deco glamour with a decorative plaster bas-relief medallion at the center of the ceiling, sculpted by Eugene Rochette and Michael Parzini, but was updated with lighting and soundproofing.
24-hour room service 
Babysitting services
Bar
Fitness classes
Gym
House car
Meeting rooms
Pet friendly
Restaurants
Spa
