Classy Queens Rejoice: The Waldorf-Astoria Is Back!

I've stayed there twice. The entrance is impressive but the regular rooms were in dire need of a refresh.

Second time I stayed in the towers, which were lovely (more expensive obviously). But - again, it was a bit traditional. Beautiful marble bath and real oil paintings in the room.

Needed some technology and decor updates - if was starting to feel a bit dated, not in a classic way.

Of course, it's been 10 years since I've stayed there.

Never stayed there but would enjoy hearing from anyone who has.

I have stayed, for a week, at The Pierre, in the 1980s. It was a divine and decadent experience.

I stayed there once on a work trip but that was around 20 years ago. I just remember my room was small and the bathtub was the smallest one I’ve ever been in.

Twice, and very much like R1's experience, but 35 and 30 years ago. Both visits were underwhelming, the scale of the place worked very much against it, making it difficult to see it as a luxury hotel. (The first visit was a business trip, the second for pleasure, after one of a few campaigns of renovation I recall.

Arriving at the Waldorf felt more like arriving at a train station than a hotel

It doesn't help that it was the NYC digs of those old toad-faced grifters, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Do they still have $7 single rooms? With air-conditioning?

The restaurant is called Lex Yard, sounds like a porn star.

R4 - that's a funny reference - staying at a train station, but you're spot on. When the taxi pulled up, it felt like I was being rushed in and it DID feel like I was being dropped off at Grand Central or some train station. Lots of people and activity.

It looks stunning. I LOVE old world hotels like this, the Algonquin, the St. Regis, and my favorite hotel on earth, the Plaza.

I stayed at the Plaza and the Waldorf towers in the 80s and the Waldorf was much better than the Plaza. But perhaps my Tower room was several grades higher. The Plaza had the Central Park view. I preferred the public places in the Waldorf. Every place at the Plaza was monetised and if I recall trump had already cheapened things with gold. The Plaza had nice rooms on the ground floor for bars and restaurants - some infamous such as the Oak Room - but there wasn't a grand progression and flow of public spaces. Waldorf had and still has grand sequences of lobby lounges but they are also enveloping - despite the scale - they wrap around you. It's all together a grander hotel, and a bit otherworldly.

R9 If you run into Eloise, DON'T mention her gay grandson.

Forever and Always, The Plaza reigns Supreme. If for no other reason for its wonderful convenience to Bergdorfs.

My first visit to NYC was in 1985. I wanted to stay at both the Waldorf *and* the Algonquin...and I did.

R12 The Plaza went condo years ago.

The old Waldorf had a lot of small rooms, that were OK. The public areas were beautiful. Clearly, they wanted to take this out of the usual convention/conference trade for business travelers.

yeah it was all about the towers.

Rendering. They’re not actual photos?

I've actually eaten the famous Waldorf Salad at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel.

I've also eaten the famous red velvet cake at the Waldorf-Astoria.

Few people know that the red velvet cake was invented at the NYC hotel.

Gayle King and Paris Hilton may not be the PR the Waldorf would choose on its own.

Now they can host the Maharincess of Franistan again.

She was a mere Hennarincess, r21.

Can someone explain these real estate deals? Purchased for almost $2 billion. How do the investors make money back, improvements and then resale?

money laundering

The dong at Four Seasons is a better quality!

Rooms starting around $1500/nt on cheap nights according to the Hilton website. Autumn in New York is pricier: $2300-plus in late September.

When I was in my early 20s I was picked up by a very attractive and well-hung youngish black executive from Chicago who was staying at the Waldorf. We had begun our activities elsewhere, but he invited me over to his hotel.. Although my focus of attention was not on the accoutrements of the room, I remember lots of black marble accents I don't think the room was massive, but it was more spacious than my apartment at the time. It was the hottest part of the summer, and I was wearing levi cutoffs and a white wife-beater. (Tank top) We dawdled too long the next morning, and I had to go to work wearing those trashy clothes. This must have been the early 1980s before the sudden shift to long shorts. It was a dance studio, so formal wear was not needed or expected, but that was far trashier than my usual work wear. A mortifying walk of shame, but I was able to shrug it off, because I had had a satisfying evening and spent my only night at the Waldorf Astoria.

R26 - holy shit - yeah, I just saw that. And that's probably not Towers.

Trust me, I didn't pay anywhere NEAR that much when I stayed there. That's crazy.

Looks like they converted HALF of the building to condos (375 out of 750 rooms), so there are far fewer rooms now.

When I stayed at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square I cajoled the doorman into bed. He was built like a gorgeous tank.

R14 There are still 282 hotel rooms and only 181 private residences at The Plaza Hotel.

There just haven't been any quality hotels in Manhattan since Leona Helmsley died.

We tried to sneak into The Supremes’ dressing rooms to steal (and wear) their extra gowns when they appeared there.

When R29?

A friend of mine stayed there on business in the 90s. The bathroom in his suite had beautiful black and white tiling and was bigger than some studio apartments I've lived in. Lush life.

I've tossed Cindy Adam's salad at the Waldorf-Astoria