New York City. It’s a beast of a place, a constant hustle, a never-ending story. And right in the thick of it all, standing tall and proud, are the hotels that aren’t just for sleeping – they’re part of the city’s very DNA. We’re talking about the ones that have seen it all, from Gilded Age extravagance to rock ‘n’ roll mayhem. These aren’t just hotels; they’re time machines, each with its own wild tales to tell.
New York City boasts a collection of hotels, but when it comes to the title of most iconic hotels in New York, several legendary establishments immediately come to mind, each with a unique story etched into the city’s vibrant history.
Think about it: these places have hosted presidents, movie stars, literary giants, and even the occasional Beatle. They’ve been the backdrop for iconic movies, legendary parties, and moments that have shaped the city’s cultural landscape. If you’re the kind of person who appreciates a bit of history with your high thread count, then you’ve come to the right place. And hey, if you’re also into snapping that perfect hotel shot for the ‘gram, you might want to check out our previous deep dive into the Most Instagrammable Hotel Brands In The World. Just saying, double the travel inspo.
Most Iconic Hotels in New York
But for now, let’s get down to brass tacks and explore what makes a New York hotel truly iconic. We’ll be focusing on a couple of heavy hitters that have earned their stripes as legends of the city.
The Plaza Hotel: Still Serving Up Grandeur After All These Years
Let’s kick things off with The Plaza. Situated right at the corner of Central Park South and Fifth Avenue, this place practically screams “classic New York.” While the original Plaza opened way back in 1890, the even more opulent version we know today threw open its doors on October 1, 1907. Designed by the one and only Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, the same brain behind The Dakota, The Plaza was built to impress, channeling a French Renaissance château vibe with a healthy dose of Beaux-Arts flair.
From the get-go, The Plaza was the place to be for the crème de la crème. Its first guest? Millionaire sportsman Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. Talk about setting the tone. Over the years, it’s popped up in countless movies, from Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” to the eternally charming “Home Alone 2”. Literature buffs will know it as a key location in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. And in a moment of peak pop culture, The Beatles even called The Plaza home during their 1964 invasion of America. Truman Capote’s infamous Black and White Ball in 1966? Yep, that went down in The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom.
The Plaza has also played host to a who’s who of notable figures. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright lived there while working on the Guggenheim, and Kay Thompson, the genius behind Eloise, also called it home. Marlene Dietrich and even a princess with a penchant for keeping animals in her suite were among its long-term residents. And let’s not forget that every US president since William Taft has made an appearance. Through renovations and transformations, including a major overhaul in the late 2000s that meticulously recreated the Palm Court’s original laylight, The Plaza has managed to maintain its timeless appeal.
The St. Regis New York: Where Sophistication is Always on the Menu
If The Plaza is about grand entrances, then The St. Regis is its effortlessly chic cousin. Opening its doors on September 4, 1904, the St. Regis was the brainchild of John Jacob Astor IV, a name that’s practically synonymous with luxury hotels in NYC. Astor’s vision was to create a hotel that could go toe-to-toe with the best in Europe, offering a refined and almost residential feel.
Astor didn’t hold back, decking the place out with opulent furnishings, marble from Caen, and Waterford crystal chandeliers. He even threw in some seriously forward-thinking amenities for the time, like phones in every room and an early version of air conditioning. Fun fact: the name “St. Regis” came from Astor’s niece, inspired by a lake named after a French priest known for his hospitality.
The St. Regis is also the birthplace of the legendary Bloody Mary, concocted in 1934 at the King Cole Bar by bartender Fernand Petiot. It was also a favorite spot for the one and only Salvador Dali. The guest list reads like a roll call of 20th-century icons, including Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, Marlene Dietrich, Ernest Hemingway, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono. A signature touch at The St. Regis is its impeccable Butler Service, a tradition started by Astor himself, offering personalized attention to every guest. And let’s not forget the elegant Afternoon Tea and the dramatic Champagne Sabering Evening Ritual – pure class.
The Waldorf Astoria: From Rivalry to Legend
The story of the Waldorf Astoria is one of familial rivalry turned legendary union. The original Waldorf Hotel, the vision of William Waldorf Astor, opened in 1893. Four years later, his cousin, John Jacob Astor IV (yes, the same visionary behind the St. Regis), opened the Astoria Hotel right next door. In a move that ultimately created a unified icon, the two hotels were connected by a 300-foot marble corridor known as Peacock Alley, leading to the hyphenated name “Waldorf-Astoria” and the creation of the world’s largest hotel at the time.
However, this legendary location was demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building. But the Waldorf Astoria was reborn in 1931 in its current Park Avenue location, an even more impressive Art Deco masterpiece that became the world’s tallest hotel upon opening. It was a pioneer in service and amenities, being the first to offer electricity on every floor, en suite bathrooms in every room, and 24-hour room service.
The Waldorf Astoria has served as a central gathering place for cultural figures, political leaders, musicians, and royalty. Legendary composer Cole Porter made it his long-term residence for three decades. It hosted the engagement party of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly, and every US president from Herbert Hoover to Barack Obama has stayed there. Even the Duke of Windsor called it home after his abdication. The inaugural Met Gala was held in its Grand Ballroom, and IBM introduced the first Personal Computer at a press conference there in 1981. The Waldorf Astoria’s restaurants are also credited with inventing and popularizing dishes like Eggs Benedict and the Waldorf Salad.
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel: Where Presidents Feel at Home
If you’re looking for a dose of Upper East Side elegance, The Carlyle is your spot. Since 1930, this Art Deco beauty, designed by Sylvan Bien and Harry M. Prince, has been the epitome of sophisticated New York living. Fun fact: Diane Ginsberg Jaffe, the founder’s daughter, named it after the British essayist Thomas Carlyle.
This place has serious political cred. It was President John F. Kennedy’s go-to in the city, earning it the nickname “the New York White House”. The original owner even kept the “Kennedy duplex” on standby. And get this, every American president since Harry S. Truman has stayed here. Royalty? Oh yeah. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Diana, and the Kings and Queens of Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Sweden have all checked in. Hollywood royalty loves it too, with Ingrid Bergman, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn among its past guests.
But it’s not just about who’s slept here. The Carlyle boasts the legendary Café Carlyle, where Bobby Short held court for over three decades. And let’s not forget Bemelmans Bar, with its whimsical murals by Ludwig Bemelmans of “Madeline” fame.
The Algonquin Hotel: A Literary Hideaway
For those who prefer wit with their stay, The Algonquin Hotel in Midtown is your jam. Opening in 1902, this “H-shaped” building, designed by Goldwin Starrett, blends Beaux-Arts and Renaissance Revival styles. It quickly became a haven for novelists, journalists, and playwrights like Sinclair Lewis, Gertrude Stein, and Maya Angelou. Actors like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were also regulars, thanks to its proximity to theaters.
But The Algonquin’s real claim to fame? The Algonquin Round Table. This legendary group of writers, critics, and actors, including Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, and Alexander Woollcott, met for lunch almost daily from 1919 to around 1929, trading barbs and shaping literary opinions. And let’s not forget the hotel’s charming tradition of a resident cat in the lobby since 1923.
Hotel Chelsea: Where Bohemian Dreams Lived (and Sometimes Died)
If you’re after a hotel with a serious counterculture vibe, look no further than Hotel Chelsea. Built between 1883 and 1885, it was originally one of the city’s first cooperative apartment buildings. But it soon became a haven for artists, writers, and musicians.
The list of residents reads like a who’s who of the creative world: Mark Twain, Dylan Thomas (who tragically died here ), Jack Kerouac, Arthur Miller, Bob Dylan (who composed “Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands” here ), Leonard Cohen (who wrote “Chelsea Hotel #2” about Janis Joplin ), Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, and Andy Warhol (who filmed parts of “Chelsea Girls” here ). The hotel has seen its share of drama, including the infamous death of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. After extensive renovations, it reopened in 2022, its legendary past still attracting attention.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park: Elegance with a View
Originally opened in 1930 as the Hotel St. Moritz, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, boasts a prime location at 50 Central Park South. Designed by Emery Roth, it offers unparalleled views of Central Park. It underwent a major transformation and rebranding in 1999 to become The Ritz-Carlton.
Even before its Ritz-Carlton days, the Hotel St. Moritz had its moments, appearing in episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show”. Barbara Hutton, a prominent socialite, threw a lavish party here in 1930. And Russian Prince Paul Troubetzkoy once requested accommodation for his two shepherd dogs, offering to book an entire suite.
Lotte New York Palace: Where Gilded Age Meets Modern Glamour
The Lotte New York Palace has a history that stretches back to the Gilded Age with the construction of the six Villard Houses in the 1880s. These elegant brownstones, designed by McKim, Mead & White, were later joined by a striking 51-story skyscraper in the late 1970s. The hotel officially opened as The Helmsley Palace Hotel in 1980 and was later acquired by Lotte Hotels & Resorts in 2015.
The Villard Houses underwent meticulous restoration before the hotel’s opening. The hotel has also become a popular filming location, appearing in “Gossip Girl,” “Succession,” and “27 Dresses”. Notable guests include Michael Jackson and Jackie Onassis.
The Knickerbocker: Times Square’s Stylish Comeback
The Knickerbocker Hotel, right in the heart of Times Square, first opened its doors in 1906. Built by John Jacob Astor IV, the Beaux Arts building was designed by Marvin & Davis, with Bruce Price as a consultant. Its location was key to its early success.
The Knickerbocker is rumored to be the birthplace of the martini and the location where Babe Ruth’s sale to the Yankees allegedly took place. Sadly, it closed in 1921 due to Prohibition but made a triumphant return as a hotel in 2015. Enrico Caruso, the world-famous tenor, lived here until his death, and other notable guests included F. Scott Fitzgerald and Giacomo Puccini.
The Gramercy Park Hotel: Bohemian Charm with a Rock ‘n’ Roll Edge
Overlooking the exclusive Gramercy Park, The Gramercy Park Hotel opened in 1925. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style, it offered guests access to the private park. It quickly became a favorite for athletes, politicians, and screen legends.
Humphrey Bogart married his first wife here, and the Kennedy family stayed here in 1927. During the Great Depression, Babe Ruth was a regular at the hotel bar. In the 1970s, it earned the nickname “The Glamercy” when David Bowie stayed for two weeks. It became a haven for rock stars like The Clash, U2, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and Debbie Harry. After closing in 2020, it’s currently undergoing renovations with plans to reopen.