The Waldorf Astoria officially reopened to the public yesterday following the conclusion of its eight-year renovation at 301 Park Avenue in Midtown East, Manhattan. Designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, the $2 billion project involved the renovation and partial hotel-to-residential conversion of the 47-story, 625-foot-tall Art Deco landmark, which was completed in 1931. The property occupies a full city block bounded by Park and Lexington Avenues and East 49th and 50th Streets.
Dubbed “The Waldorf Astoria Residences New York,” the new residential component contains 372 condominium units designed by Jean-Louis Deniot. Pierre-Yves Rochon served as the interior designer for the hotel’s public spaces and 375 guest rooms, which will be operated in partnership with Hilton.
Above the sidewalk canopy is The Spirit of Achievement statue that has returned to its prominent position over Park Avenue.
The Spirit of Achievement statue. Photo by Michael Young.
The Spirit of Achievement statue. Photo by Michael Young.
The front entrance along Park Avenue is a part of more than 60,000 square feet of protected interior space, thanks in part to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Guests are greeted by Louis Rigal’s 148,000-piece Wheel of Life mosaic and Yoshoku, a Japanese concept restaurant with a kaiseki-inspired menu. Two retail spaces will eventually operate on the northern and southern ends of the space.
The Wheel of Life mosaic at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Wheel of Life mosaic at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Wheel of Life mosaic at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Wheel of Life mosaic at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Wheel of Life mosaic at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Seating for Yoshoku at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Nickel vases, elegant bronze railings, and stair posts were also carefully restored.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
At the top of the walls are colorful murals that were restored by ArtCare Conservation.
Murals at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Murals at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
A short hallway lined with white columns provides additional seating space for Yoshoku.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Another small hallway running north to south bisects the main walkway. This corridor features a much darker color palette with wood paneling and red marble that was saved from the original Waldorf Astoria, which was demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
In the center is Peacock Alley, another dining option with the famous Waldorf Clock originally crafted in London for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Next to it is Cole Porter’s restored Steinway piano, which was formerly located in the sales gallery. Light bites and beverage options at Peacock Alley are created by the hotel’s culinary team and led by Executive Chef Patrick Schaeffer.
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Cole Porter’s piano at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
A bar occupies the former location of the hotel’s reception desk. New blue carpeting covers the floors of the expansive room, which features intimate lounge seating, plants, ceramic pieces, and floral decor.
The bar at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Toward the eastern end of the building is the rear Lexington Avenue entrance lined with two sets of staircases and a balcony overlooking the doors.
The rear staircases on the eastern end of the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The rear staircases on the eastern end of the Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
The Waldorf Astoria. Photo by Michael Young.
Also in this section of the tower is Lex Yard, a two-story, 220-seat American brasserie from chef Michael Anthony with interiors designed by AvroKO. The photo below shows the ground-floor space of the restaurant.
Lex Yard. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria.
The building’s interiors are infused with Waldorf Astoria’s signature scent, 301 Park Avenue, which was created in partnership with fragrance house Fueguia 1833.
The Waldorf formerly contained 1,400 hotel rooms prior to its renovation in 2017. Its revamped 375 guest rooms come in 11 different categories and are larger in scope than the originals.
Douglas Elliman Development Marketing is in charge of sales and marketing for the 372 homes, which range from studios to four-bedrooms as well as an exclusive set of penthouses. Buyers have the option of fully furnished homes by Italian design firm B&B Italia Group, and residents will have access to all hotel services and 50,000 square feet of private amenities.
A living space in a hotel room. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria.
A Park Avenue Junior Suite Bed. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria.
The renovated Waldorf Astoria is slated to welcome its first hotel guests on September 1, 2025. This date will also mark the reopening of the 43,000-square-foot event space, which includes the legendary Grand Ballroom, as well as the Basildon, Jade, and Astor Rooms. The Guerlain Wellness Spa and Silver Corridor is also expected to open at that time.
The Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria.
The nearest subway from the property is the 6 train at the 51st Street station along Lexington Avenue.
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this design is from my grandma’s era – what were they thinking?
Gee Joe, maybe its because this is a building from 1931 that has its interiors LANDMARKED??? Did that ever cross your mind?
They were thinking… Let’s keep it classy. And they did!
Which design? Clearly all the hotel rooms were upgraded in modern styles. This hotel has landmarked interiors and cannot be changed – I’m curious what your design choices would be?
What were you thinking…something Disneyesque…maybe a bowling alley look?
What did you want it to look like? Your mom’s basement? Stay home…Don’t go out!
Love the historic redo! Art Deco is amazing because there is a blend of intricate design and simplicity. The room is inviting and calming but warm- not the jarring coldness of so many modern hotels. That bed looks like it will provide more therapy than a year’s worth of PTSD sessions. I truly hope my coworkers book a stay soon.
What an amazing restoration effort! Everything manages to look both original and new at the same time and glad a lot of the original finishes are still there.
Excellent photos Michael Young, and glad you captured this piece of history!
Glamour.
Wow!
Spectacular restoration and a NYC treasure. These photos are equally spectacular and should be made into a coffee table book, bravo Michael Young.
So happy my wife and I stayed here for our anniversary the year before they closed for renovation. Given there are now less than 400 rooms, the price will no doubt skyrocket. Too bad they replaced Bull & Bear (restaurant) with Lex Yard.
But will it be accessible to the public who aren’t staying there for long? After the most recent renovation, the Plaza lobby on the park is now private. After $25 million in taxpayer restoration the great reading room of the Public Library is now only for researchers. And St. John the Divine after fire repair now charges admission of $15. And let’s not talk about the “free to all” (according to its charter) Met Museum. All used to be open free to anyone who appreciated architecture. How long before you need a room or dinner reservation to see this fabulous interior?? Like so much else, the wonders that make NY special are becoming only available to the rich.
The library ceiling had a large plaster rosette fall off. Had that hit someone, it would have been a fatal. The whole ceiling was in urgent need of inspection and repair.
I remember a time when tourists had no interest in the library building. I am glad to see its architecture is now appreciated, but the numbers swarming into the reading room became excessive and disturbing for “readers.” Of course, nearly everyone in the room is using it only to plug in their laptop and not to use library materials.
The answer is yes, it will be accessible. The flow of the lobby requires accessibility to get to the restaurants bars etc..
Don’t compare it to the Plaza. Although the Plaza is a historical amazing place. It does not have the clean lines that the Waldorf has. Perhaps it’s a function of when it was built or the lessor amount of space. But the Waldorf is in a class by itself
But will it be accessible to the public who aren’t staying there for long?
No. Those days are over, too.
The Waldorf, along with the other places you mentioned, turned into homeless encampments when they were free and “open to the public”.
Beautiful pictures! All the silvered metalwork is a feast for the eyes. Hopefully the classic interiors attract classy guests who do them justice…
And owned by the Chinese government.
Absolutely stunning restoration with lots of architectural details to explore! I agree,
the photos are worthy of a coffee table book… I’m assuming somebody is working on one,
the history of the original hotel through the renovation? A perfect Christmas gift!
I went to NYC on my first trip in August 2017, and at that time The Waldorf was surrounded
by construction fencing, but I was still able to admire the exterior details, and dream of
what it looked like inside! I was amazed at just how massive the building was, covering an entire city block!
Now that SHE is back, I’m hoping to return to NYC soon, and see for myself. Maybe I will set aside a few dollars for a drink in the lobby bar, and pretend I’m staying in a suite? I did that this at The Plaza on my first trip, by going into The Palm Court, and “milking” my drink as long as possible! 🙂
The giant fake plants are super tacky. Otherwise awesome.
I hear the Waldorf Suite with 4 or 5 bedrooms goes for 50,000 dollars a night.
Really! Well, I’m not surprised given it’s the Waldorf Astoria.
Looks amazing inside and outside! Can’t wait to see hotel 🏨 opening and running as a 5 ⭐️
This was always one of my favorite places in the city. What an absolutely breathtaking restoration. Mr. Young, your photos are an amazing credit to all the work. Ahem, on behalf of my “grandma” my mother, and me, thank you!
Bravo Michael Young. You have outshown yourself, and paid homage to this old lady.
Bravo!
Now will that portion of Lex get some more attention now that the whole block with the Waldorf isn’t a construction eyesore. That area never really recovered from the pandemic.
I was there the first night. The restoration is incredible and dinner at Lex Yard was fantastic. Big city glamour and a great evening out! Cheers to the new Waldorf!
Kudos to the developers for finding a delicate balance between the public and private life of this iconic structure. My hope is that we can all feel the history come alive upon entering (which was always the case for me…). Buildings like this have a special place in the life of a city. So happy to see that small details and important elements like Cole Porters piano have been restored and respected. Hopefully there remains an ability for the public to enter and enjoy while listening to the walls talk…
This is magnificent! Beloved WA building. a real gem of midtown manhattan and excellent art deco NYC gotham style… It’s impossible not to love it!