Eight years after shutting down operations for a major renovation and conversion from hotel to mixed-use property, the Waldorf Astoria New York has shared first looks of its new spaces ahead of the official openings.
At NYU IHIF, held in New York City in late May and early June, Dino Michael, the SVP and global category head, luxury brands and branded residential at Hilton participated in a Spotlight session on the property, and said that the hotel would start formal reservations on Sept. 1.
“In many ways, Waldorf Astoria New York is the most important hotel in the world. It is the original luxury property and the place where luxury service was perfected. It not only holds a special place in Hilton’s history, but also in modern history,” Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton, said in a statement. “Today, we build on this legacy as we mark the start of a new chapter for this iconic property. We look forward to once again welcoming guests to experience its timeless charm and modern enhancements, as this hotel and Waldorf Astoria properties around the world set the standard for luxury stays.”
On September 1, the hotel’s 43,000 square feet of meetings and events spaces—including the Grand Ballroom and the Basildon, Jade and Astor Rooms—will officially come back online. The Guerlain Wellness Spa will follow.
Architecture and Design
The renovation of the Waldorf Astoria New York was led by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with hotel interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon and residential interiors and amenities designed by Jean-Louis Deniot. The reimagined property recaptures the hotel’s original Art Deco architecture while integrating contemporary furnishings, technology and high-end finishes.
SOM’s work is a blend of preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse, and the interplay among all three approaches informed thousands of decisions over the course of design and construction.
Through archival research and a collaboration with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, SOM preserved the integrity of the original 1931 design of Waldorf Astoria New York while bringing the property into the present. The tower is both an exterior and interior landmark, with 62,000 square feet inside designated by the commission—making the transformation of the historic property one of the largest preservation and adaptive reuse projects in New York City’s history. Murals, some dating to the 19th century, were restored by ArtCare Conservation.
Pierre-Yves Rochon oversaw the interior design, which establishes a deliberate spatial sequence through material and tonal consistency. In the new reception area, the same marble used for the historic Peacock Alley columns was used to construct the fireplace for visual continuity. Portoro marble, mosaics and restored decorative features were preserved and repositioned in dialogue with contemporary interventions such as integrated lighting systems, automated curtains, and custom-designed furniture. The PYR team selected a palette of neutral, mineral tones to amplify the clarity of volumes and the presence of original materials.
Guest Experience
Guests can now arrive at the hotel via three entrances including a porte-cochère on 49th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue—reportedly the only hotel porte-cochère available in Manhattan—or via Park Avenue or Lexington Avenue between 49th and 50th streets. The main entrance for guests will still be on Park Avenue, Michael said, but the new entrances will help keep traffic to a minimum.
At the top of the Park Avenue entrance is the restored “Spirit of Achievement” statue from Icelandic artist Nina Saemundsson. The art installation has been over the entryway since the hotel opened in 1931.
The property’s leadership redeveloped the hotel team member’s wardrobe collection in collaboration with British couture designer Nicholas Oakwell’s NO Uniform. The new uniforms reflect the building’s art-deco heritage and were inspired by the city’s fashion scene.
The hotel’s signature scent, 301 Park Avenue, was created in partnership with luxury fragrance house Fueguia 1833. The scent, named after the address of the hotel, has been integrated throughout the property’s public spaces and residences.
Following the hotel’s transition from a 1,400-room hotel to a combination of 375 hotel guestrooms and 372 residences, Waldorf Astoria New York will have some of the largest guestrooms and suites in Manhattan, with the majority of the hotel’s guestrooms exceeding 570 square feet.
The 11 different guestroom categories will incorporate soft leathers, polished woods and tailored upholstery in a palette of light neutral tones. Each room will have a bespoke bar.
Marble-finished bathrooms have walk-in showers, separate toilets and dressing areas, with a direct path from the dressing area to the guestroom door making it easy to unpack luggage.
The transition meant that the reception desks required for 1,400 rooms were no longer needed, Michael said. As such, they were replaced with a “much more elegant desk side.”
Meanwhile, an escalator in the central lobby that led to the meetings and events space has been removed—again out of sympathy to the hotel’s history. “Having an escalator, a moving escalator, in a building of such majesty almost seems wrong and ill-fitted,” Michael said.
“The landmark areas have been brought back to above and beyond that original kind of splendor.”
The Residences
The Waldorf Astoria New York has been used as a residence since 1931. The new 372 condominiums of the Waldorf Astoria Residences New York range from studios to four bedrooms and penthouses, including several marquee residences with private terraces. “If you think how many people stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in residence for so long, having a residential component almost befits the history of the hotel,” Michael said.
Interiors and amenities were overseen by interior designer Jean-Louis Deniot. As part of the exclusive turnkey program with B&B Italia Group, residents will have the option to purchase furnished residences curated by the design firm.
Residents have priority access to the services of the hotel in addition to a distinct residential experience separate from the hotel, as well as 50,000 square feet of private residential amenities.
Food & Beverage
Reservations are now available on resy.com for the hotel’s three food and beverage experiences: the signature brasserie Lex Yard, the historic Peacock Alley and the Japanese dining concept Yoshoku.
Peacock Alley links Park Avenue, Lexington Avenue and the Library Lounge as the hotel’s main thoroughfare. Decorations include the historic Waldorf Astoria Clock and Cole Porter’s piano. Freshly restored and positioned in the center of Peacock Alley, the Waldorf Astoria Clock was crafted in London for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and has become part of many Waldorf Astoria properties and a symbol of the brand globally. Legendary pianist and composer Cole Porter was a longtime resident at the hotel and his Steinway piano, which was gifted to him by hotel staff, has been restored and relocated to its permanent home in Peacock Alley.
Mixology expert Jeff Bell, managing partner of the speakeasy Please Don’t Tell, worked alongside the hotel team to curate the beverage programs for Peacock Alley and Lex Yard. The cocktail menu honors the legacy of classic New York cocktail culture while redefining the hotel bar experience. Light bites and bar staples created by the hotel’s culinary team, helmed by Executive Chef Patrick Schaeffer, accompany Peacock Alley’s cocktail menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Lex Yard is Waldorf Astoria New York’s signature restaurant, led by chef partner Michael Anthony and located at the corner of Lexington and 50th Street. The two-story, 220-seat American brasserie was designed by AvroKO’s New York studio. Two private dining rooms on each floor accommodate up to eight guests individually or 16 when combined.
Close to Park Avenue, Yoshoku is an intimate venue inspired by the visual and architectural storytelling of the historic Waldorf Astoria. Set beside the 148,000 hand-cut tile “Wheel of Life” mosaic by Louis Rigal, Yoshoku has a kaiseki-inspired menu reimagined through a New York lens.
For more about the renovation, read How Hilton has reimagined the Waldorf Astoria New York at Hotel Management’s sister site Hospitality Investor.