Waldorf Astoria New York reopens: Here’s our first look

The Waldorf Astoria New York is a hotel that changed the history of hotels. Throughout the years, there have been many versions of the famed property, from its original inception in the late 19th century to the modern, towering icon gracefully sitting between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue today.

This property, which Conrad Hilton called “the greatest of them all,” introduced the world to modern room service and iconic dishes like the Waldorf salad, red velvet cake and eggs Benedict. It also hosted a slew of notable guests — including nearly every U.S. president, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II — and more important events, meetings and celebrations than one could possibly list.

But back in 2017, the hotel, at the time home to more than 1,400 rooms, closed its doors for a historic renovation, transforming a huge portion of the property into private residences and lowering the room count to just 375 keys.

Now in a soft-opening phase, the Waldorf Astoria New York has been reborn and is welcoming guests back into its hallowed halls.

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TPG was one of the first on the scene to experience an overnight stay, along with Splenda, our points pup, who was the very first dog to grace the reopened hotel’s halls. Here’s what it was like.

First impressions

No matter where you enter the Waldorf Astoria New York, be it via car through the gorgeous (and rare-for-New-York) porte-cochere or under the revived “Spirit of Achievement” statue at the doors on Park Avenue, you will immediately be transported back to the glory of New York’s past.

Over the past eight years, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill meticulously renovated, restored and reworked the exterior of the building, while Pierre-Yves Rochon revived and modernized the hotel’s interiors.

Inside, guests will find a soft opulence that’s both fresh and timeless, from the moody Peacock Alley lobby lounge — where the hotel’s landmark clock, originally commissioned by Queen Victoria for the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition, stands sentinel — to restored murals and tile work, cascading crystal chandeliers and a Steinway piano that once belonged to Cole Porter.

But more importantly, the only thing equal to the beauty of the hotel is the staff’s enthusiasm to welcome back guests, and the hospitality we experienced during our one-night stay.

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The Rooms

For my stay (with a friend and my corgi, Splenda), we were given a junior suite with two double beds looking out on Park Avenue. Measuring 640 square feet, the spacious room felt like a small luxury apartment rather than a hotel room, with mostly understated colors, including a beige love seat and green armchair, soft carpets and subtle details likes books, vases and lamps, all artfully arranged.

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On the wall, a large TV pulled out and around to face the two ultra-comfortable beds, while a desk divided the living and bedroom areas of the main room. Tucked away in one corner, a tantalus cabinet hid a well-stocked minibar, Nespresso machine, tea kettle, glassware and reusable water bottles.

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Off the main entryway, a beautiful closet space provided plenty of room to unpack and hang garments. In this particular suite, the closet also hid a door to a connecting room, offering guests even more space if needed. I did wish I could close the entry hallway off to the main living/sleeping area for a more intimate space — if anything, to keep my dog from sleeping by the door and getting excited by other guests. That said, sounds from the hallway and bustling Park Avenue outside were few and far between.

In the bathroom, dual vanities and excellent lighting created a luxurious place to get ready, and the bathroom could be fully closed off from both the entrance hallway and the bedroom. The toilet sat in an enclosed glass room next to another glassed-off area, which housed a soaking tub (with a convenient bathtub tray) and the shower (with both handheld and rainfall shower heads). Throughout the space, Aesop bathroom amenities abounded.

All in all, I found the room (which costs more than $1,000 per night), extremely comfortable, homey and luxe.

Dining at The Waldorf Astoria New York

The Waldorf Astoria New York has three bars and restaurants — Lex Yard, Chef Michael Anthony’s all-day American restaurant; Peacock Alley, the signature lounge found in every Waldorf Astoria, serving breakfast and an all-day menu, plus drinks until midnight; and Yoshoku, a New York take on Japanese kaiseki dining — plus in-room dining.

Alongside Chef Michael Anthony, Jeff Bell of the celebrated cocktail bar Please Don’t Tell created the hotel’s beverage program.

Ahead of dinner, we started our journey with cocktails at Peacock Alley, where the menu offered a range of classics with modern twists (think: multiple martini and old fashioned options), accompanied by people-watching, of course.

At Lex Yard, we sampled a series of dishes, including a sizzling cut of steak, perfectly roasted chicken, mouthwatering cacio e pepe pasta, oysters and ultra-strong martinis.

The food was superb, and despite our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, we very much enjoyed the experience, especially in the modern, art deco-styled space.

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Though I didn’t have the chance to eat at Yoshoku, guests there should expect a six-course tasting experience (though a la carte options are also available) inspired by the hotel’s architecture, with highlights like grilled lobster, toro tartare with caviar, and king crab with briny tosazu jelly.

And since there’s nothing more luxurious than breakfast in bed, we ended our stay with room service that included an egg-white frittata with chicken sausage, a fluffy waffle and iced coffee to pump some caffeine into our veins (so we had the energy to clamber out of the temptingly comfortable bed).

Amenities and service

• A dedicated concierge who can help with most requests
• A soon-to-open, 20,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa
• An expansive, soon-to-open fitness center
• The pet-friendly hotel offers plenty of amenities for pooches, like a dog bed and pet accessories (note Splenda in her dog robe)
• 43,000 square feet of event spaces, including the restored, opera-inspired Grand Ballroom
• Digital keys available in the Hilton Honors app
• Smart TVs with streaming capabilities
• Pick-up, drop-off and valet services at the porte-cochere
• Extremely friendly staff who are truly excited to be working and assisting at one of the world’s most famous hotels

Location and logistics 

Located between 49th and 50th Streets and Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue, the hotel is easily accessible via a number of transportation options. The nearest subway is the 6 train’s stop at Lexington Avenue/53rd Street ($2.90). Though traffic can change drastically in New York City, a car ride from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) should take around 30 minutes (from $50), and around one hour from JFK Airport (from $70) or Newark Liberty International Airport (from $60).

What it costs to stay at the Waldorf Astoria New York

Cash rates at the Waldorf Astoria New York through the end of the year start at $1,406 per night. Early in 2026, when New York sees a decline in tourists, rates start at between $900 and $1,000 per night. Hilton Honors members can book award nights from 150,000 points, though the booking calendar shows most nights until February 2026 priced significantly (if not exorbitantly) higher.

When booking the Waldorf Astoria New York, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hilton stays, or one that offers automatic Hilton Honors elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels, automatic Gold elite status and the ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card: Earn 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Silver elite status (with an upgrade to Gold through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year).
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and automatic Diamond elite status.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Accessibility

After undergoing its meticulous redesign, Waldorf Astoria New York is more accessible than ever, with public and in-room features to help people with various needs. Public spaces and guest room floors are all accessible via elevator and there are a number of ADA-compliant rooms.

As always, TPG recommends calling the hotel directly to discuss what is available to help travelers with specific requests and accessible room options.

Bottom line

The Waldorf Astoria New York is back and better than ever. From the minute I arrived, the hotel oozed glamour and history, but still felt fresh and modern. Few hotels have the gravitas of the Waldorf Astoria — after all, it’s a hotel that launched an entire brand. And this particular hotel, in versions past and present, changed both New York City and the hospitality industry writ large. Everyone who worked on this project should be proud, and if you’re looking for a sumptuous experience that feels definitively of New York, consider booking a stay at “the greatest of them all.”

And for what it’s worth, Splenda recommends it as well.

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