It took eight years and several billions of dollars, but the legendary Waldorf Astoria New York has finally reopened. On July 15, 2025 the Park Avenue landmark – widely considered to be New York City’s most iconic hotel – welcomed its first guests since its closure for renovations in 2017. The transformation is all-encompassing: the lobby, the rooms, the event venues, the restaurants, and even the spires have been refurbished to make the 1931 property shine bright again.
A Respectful Refresh Throughout
When an early-20th-century hotel gets renovated, we expect jarring, unbridled modernization. But it’s not the case here – thankfully. Mostly, the work of the architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon was to preserve the beauty of the past and respect the vision of the original architects. That means that the mosaic, murals, and staircase of the Park Avenue Lobby remain, but have been scrubbed up to perfection. Also, Peacock Alley, one of the most famous spaces in the building, shed its 1980s updates to return to its 1930s roots. Even the Grand Ballroom has its mojo back, and it’s even been carefully soundproofed so that it can welcome the wildest of parties without disturbing every guest in the house. And, of course, the Art Déco exterior remains intact, but the limestone’s been repaired and cleaned up so that the 44-story building gleams again.
The Rooms and Residences
The Waldorf Astoria is a big hotel – 1.6-million-square-foot big, to be exact. While in the past a property of such a size meant a lot of rooms (there were 1,400 of them when the hotel shuttered in 2017), today, things are a little different. The hotel now comprises only 375 guest rooms, and 372 privately owned residences. Yes, that’s some serious shrinkage, but that also means that every single accommodation is now a lot more spacious.
The smallest guest room, the Deluxe Two Doubles, has 425 square feet of space and can sleep four. The largest, the Premier One Bedroom Suite, offers 950 square feet of space and can sleep three. All the rooms and suites feature a very light color palette and custom furniture in soft, luxurious material, to bring peace and quiet to the guests. Once in your accommodation, you’ll forget all about the New York City chaos outside your windows.
The residences, all located above floor 15, are in a different ball game altogether. They range from studios to four-bedroom condos with large private terraces and penthouses. The starting price for a condo in the Waldorf Astoria is $1,875,000.
The Amenities
Needless to say, a hotel of this caliber comes with serious dining. Lex Yard is the Waldorf Astoria signature restaurant. The American brasserie is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers a seasonal five-course menu. For something different, there’s also Yoshoku that serves refined and multi-course Japanese dinners. And, of course, you can’t pass on The Peacock Alley Bar’s glamorous ambiance and vintage cocktails. (Ask for a Bronx Cocktail if you want to look like you’re in-the-know).
The upcoming Guerlain Spa is the 20,000-square-foot icing on the cake, which opened on September 1, along with some of the event venues, like the Grand Ballroom. You’ll find large variety of skincare and wellness treatments delivered by top practitioners.
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FAQs
Q: When did the Waldorf Astoria reopen?
A: The Waldorf Astoria reopened on July 15, 2025 after eight years of renovations.
Q: Who owns the Waldorf Astoria?
A: The Chinese company Dajia Insurance Group owns the Waldorf Astoria; however, American multinational hospitality company Hilton manages the property.
Q: What is the address of the Waldorf Astoria?
A: The Waldorf Astoria’s address is 301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA.
