Waldorf-Astoria
301 Park Ave., New York, New York, 10022, USA
Why We Like It
The restoration took eight long years, but it was worth the wait. Resplendent from top to bottom, every detail of the hotel has been meticulously refreshed and modernized while maintaining its Art Deco origins (case in point: A 140,000-tile floor mosaic by French artist Louis Rigal has been immaculately restored and reset just inside the Park Avenue entrance). The Waldorf Astoria feels poised to reclaim its old moniker, “New York’s Living Room,” drawing a new generation of the city’s most prominent personalities.
Fodor's Expert Review
Following a mammoth $2 billion restoration project, the beloved Waldorf Astoria is reemerging as one of the city’s most glitzy locations. Commanding an entire Midtown block between Park and Lexington Avenues, the hotel contains 375 brand new guest rooms and suites, a glamorous bar, two destination restaurants, a 20,000 sq. ft. Wellness Center and spa, and even a grand ballroom that’s hosted everyone from U.S. presidents to European royalty.
PROS
- Restoration is beautiful from top to bottom
- Buzzy, elegant drinking and dining
- Phenomenal service
CONS
- Some bathrooms have a wetroom with no separate shower
- Certain rooms are on the smaller side
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Room
The suites can be on the small side for a fancy hotel, but the space is well utilized with a lounge area, desk, and dressing room. Art Deco details and a (mostly) grayscale color scheme made the room feel incredibly chic, and perfectly placed lighting highlighted artworks and books. Fun fact: The Waldorf Astoria claims to have invented the concept of room service. We ordered an in-room breakfast, that came with a little button to press once we were finished eating, alerting staff that our tray was ready for collection.
Bathroom
Bathrooms have more of a wet-room vibe, with a rainfall shower that falls directly onto the tiled floor. For those who prefer a bath, the soaking tub does not disappoint. It has a caddy with bath salts and a trio of heavenly-smelling Aesop products.
Lobby
There are four entrances to the Waldorf Astoria, including a discreet porte cochere for VIP guests, but the lobby is situated at the heart of the hotel, adjoining Peacock Alley bar. Two check-in desks, separated by an elegant marble fireplace, each have their own sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables. There’s a laidback feel, but the chatter and music drifting through from the bar provide a lively background ambiance.
Dining
The Waldorf Astoria has two restaurants: Yoshoku, a Japanese-American kaiseki (traditional multi-course) dining experience, and Lex Yard, a contemporary American offering helmed by James Beard award-winning Chef Michael Anthony. The latter is considered the hotel’s signature restaurant, and is divided across two floors – a lively downstairs bar room with a raw bar and sharing plates, and an upstairs dining room, with a special five-course market menu featuring seasonal produce from nearby Union Square farmers market. Don’t miss the leek ravioli or Chef Anthony’s lighter, more modern twist on the famed Waldorf Salad.
Drinking
Peacock Alley, the Waldorf Astoria's lavish bar, is named after the corridor that separated the original Waldorf and Astoria Hotels – a runway of sorts, where NYC’s high society came to “peacock,” showing off their most elaborate outfits. The space is expansive and grand, with loungey seating arranged around an antique clock commissioned by Queen Victoria and a piano once owned by former resident of the hotel, Cole Porter. Peacock Alley’s cocktail menu was devised by Jeff Bell of PDT (Please Don’t Tell) fame, and boasts inventive twists on classic tipples. Stop by for live music Tuesday through Saturday, from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The hotel is a stone’s throw from Lexington Avenue / 51st Street station, which serves the 6, E, and M lines. The 4 and 5 lines stop at Grand Central, a 7-minute walk away.
Restaurants
If you want to eat at a restaurant that’s almost as iconic as the hotel itself, you don’t have to wander far. Monkey Bar, a 100-year-old steakhouse with white tablecloths, tabletop lamps, and smartly dressed wait staff (8 8-minute walk) is a classic NYC establishment. As are Le Bernardin, one of the city’s most esteemed fine-dining restaurants, with a splurge-worthy tasting menu (15-minute walk), and Grand Central Oyster Bar, an underground seafood spot within the train station that opened in 1913 (10-minute walk).
Bars
Wine connoisseurs, head to Aldo Sohm Wine Bar (15-minute walk), an establishment with the feel of a swanky apartment, offering 40 by-the-glass options and 200 different bottles. Alternatively, Valerie (13-minute walk), a spacious bar inspired by Manhattan’s Golden Age, is a great option for cocktail lovers – especially fans of gin (it boasts over 100 labels from around the world).
Photos
Quick Facts
HOTEL INFO
HOTEL DETAILS
Rate Includes: No Meals
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