In a Robb Report exclusive, we tour the new penthouse suite at the historic hotel, fresh off an eight-year, multibillion-dollar renovation
Some hotels are renovated. Others are reborn, as was the case for the historic Waldorf Astoria, which shut for eight years and received a multibillion-dollar refurbishment to ensure its legacy for the next 100 years. Down from 1,400 rooms to 372 residences and 375 rooms and suites, the New York City hotel feels alive, and staff have a new skip in their step.
“This iconic hotel’s return has instantly elevated the Midtown scene,” says Stacy Fischer-Rosenthal, president of Fischer Travel. “With impeccable service and beautifully restored interiors, the Waldorf Astoria once again stands as one of Manhattan’s most legendary addresses.”
Among those addresses: The Waldorf Astoria Suite, now available from $50,000 a night. In this Robb Report first look, we got a tour of the penthouse wing, a set of three interconnected rooms—1218, 1219, and 1220—that can be booked together or individually, for buyouts and extended stays. For extra seclusion, guests can shut a floor-to-ceiling decorative gate separating the wing from the rest of the hallway. (It makes for quite an Instagrammy entrance.) Suite 1219 is the actual one-bedroom Waldorf Astoria Suite, a 418-square-metre beauty designed by French architect and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The space is elegant and bright, and surprisingly functional given its decadence. Meant to capture the romance of an 18th‐century Parisian pied-à-terre, Rochon used decorative Louis XVI moldings and white‐oak Versailles parquet, damask for days, and elements of chinoiserie to give the suite a vaguely global feel.
Living room
The highlight of the living room, in my humble opinion, is the restored Cole Porter Steinway, pictured above. (Yes, I played it, and it’s very in tune, albeit a little stiff.) A Louis XVI marble fireplace anchors the living room. Heavy drapes open out to views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral one way, and Park Ave and 50th street another, where the red taillights of rush hour are a silent reminder of busy Manhattan down below. (It’s dead quiet up here on the 12th floor.)
Dining room
Want to host a business meeting or Thanksgiving dinner? You have your choice of marble tabletops—there are two—and a separate, full kitchen with range and oven, allowing for private entry/exit for the chef and staff. A bespoke Arizzi chandelier hangs overhead.
Bedroom
Come for the Carrie Bradshaw closet, stay for an extra-long nap in the master bedroom. Following the renovation, all the Waldorf rooms and suites feel spacious—no claustrophobic Manhattan hotel rooms here. Each has a foyer and quick access to a walk-in closet so your bag never has to enter a living space.
Bathroom and beyond
Bathroom tiles seem to mimic the historic mosaic tile work on the main floor, while marble baths and countertops gleam with that reassuring “no one has stayed here yet!” cleanliness.
The more casual, rec-room feel of the media room is a welcome addition, though it feels a bit like the place you stash the kids while the parents are trying to entertain. Still, every home needs a place to relax, and this one allows for business in the front, and a low-key party in the back.
Editor’s note: The Waldorf Astoria Suite is available on request.
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Joe Thomas
