The Waldorf Astoria New York will reemerge next year after nearly a decade of renovations, and Robb Report got an exclusive first look inside its revamped Park Avenue suite.
The legendary Midtown Manhattan hotel is set to reopen its doors at 301 Park Avenue in spring 2025 following an extensive, multi-phase restoration that began in 2017. Guests will be able to start making reservations beginning Tuesday, December 10, ahead of the grand opening, and if you’re curious, we got a sneak peek at what to expect before you book.
French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon is behind the swanky new look, at least when it comes to the interiors. The design studio revamped all 375 rooms including its 78 suites. Most notably, the hotel downsized from 1,400 guestrooms and noted that most will “double in size, starting at around 600 square feet,” Dino Michael, global category head of Hilton luxury brands, told Travel Weekly.
The plush, one-bedroom Park Avenue suite is an homage to the Waldorf Astoria’s Art Deco history, which began in 1931 when the hotel made its debut. Inside, everything from the textures down to the finishes are curated nods to the original property, including a fireplace made of onyx and custom embroidered window drapery featuring a special archival pattern.
“With a distinctively residential sensibility, the suite celebrates the richness of its heritage while providing an exclusive and unparalleled experience that reflects the essence of the hotel’s iconic address,” the hotel said in a release. Elsewhere, the room marries custom-built Delta furnishings and vanity sconces by Chapman lighting with desk lamps in an original Pierre-Yves Rochon design that acts as an homage to Waldorf Astoria’s storied past. Rates for the rooms start at $1,500 per night.
Outside of the accommodations, guests will have access to a slew of on-site perks such as a massive 30,000-square-foot spa and state-of-the-art fitness center. There will also be a two-story American brasserie-style restaurant, Lex Yard, spearheaded by longtime Gramercy Tavern chef Michael Anthony.
The beloved luxury hotel faced on-going delays since it shut down eight years ago. Initial predictions forecasted that the property would reopen as soon as 2019, however, the target date has been pushed back several times since then due to unforeseen pandemic delays, in addition to a corruption scandal that arose in 2018.