The renovated Waldorf Astoria in New York still offers glimpses into the past, like this piano once played by legendary composer Cole Porter. (Courtesy of Hilton)
Last year, we were previewing the residential side of the Waldorf Astoria under construction—a vision that felt like stepping into a living legacy. Now that it’s officially complete, I can’t help but swoon. Though I’m a downtown girl at heart, there’s something undeniably magnetic about the old-world architecture, rich history, and sheer grandeur of this Park Avenue icon. It’s a timeless masterpiece, now ready to be called home.
Midtown Manhattan has a new heartbeat again. On July 15, 2025, one of New York City’s most storied landmarks—which occupies the entire block between 49th and 50th Streets along Park Avenue—reopened to the public after a nearly eight-year closure. Originally closed in 2017 to convert its upper floors into condominiums, the transformed Waldorf Astoria New York now blends luxury residences with a refreshed hotel offering and a reimagined trio of culinary destinations.
A New Chapter in Architectural Grandeur (and Intimate Hospitality)
The ambitious $2 billion renovation, overseen by leading design firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and interior designers like Pierre‑Yves Rochon and AvroKO, reduced the hotel room count from around 1,400 to 375, offering significantly larger accommodations. The remaining upper stories house 372 private residences designed by Jean‑Louis Deniot.
Photo: Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
Key historic features—the iconic “Wheel of Life” mosaic, the Cole Porter Steinway piano, and the grand Peacock Alley lounge with its golden clock—were meticulously restored, balancing the Art Deco era’s glamorous legacy with modern comfort.
Dining at the Reimagined Waldorf
Lex Yard
The hotel’s flagship restaurant, Lex Yard, is helmed by Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern fame. Spanning two levels, this 220-seat American brasserie serves old‑school New York dishes reinterpreted for today—think a modern Waldorf salad with gem lettuce, grapes, candied walnuts, and cheddar in a lemon aioli; lobster rolls; herb‑roasted chicken; and seasonal cuts of steak or halibut. There’s also a prix‑fixe Market Menu paired with à la carte options. Private dining rooms nod to history with names like Track 61 and FDR.
The menu at the Waldorf Astoria would be incomplete without a Waldorf salad. (Paul Quitoriano)
Yoshoku
Nestled off the lobby, Yoshoku offers refined kaiseki-style Japanese cuisine by Chef Ry Nitzkowski, inspired by both traditional Japanese aesthetics and New York flair. Expect multi-course tasting menus with dishes like toro tartare, wagyu, king crab, and elegant small plates—all designed in harmony with views of the restored mosaic.
Yoshoku in the Waldorf Astoria specializes in kaiseki, a multi-course style of Japanese dining. (Paul Quitoriano)
Peacock Alley
Now reborn as an all-day lounge and restaurant, Peacock Alley reconnects to its heritage with timeless glamour—maple burl woodwork, black marble columns, period lighting, and Cole Porter’s piano at the center. Mixologist Jeff Bell of PDT leads the cocktail program, offering elegant modern classics like the “50th St. Martini” and absinthe-laced Waldorf cocktail, alongside upscale bites such as caviar-topped lobster rolls, seafood towers, and elevated versions of nostalgic favorites like pigs-in-a-blanket.
Photo: Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
World-Class Wine Cellar & Beverage Vision
Natascha Patterer, the hotel’s Beverage Director, has curated a wine program that spans over 500 selections, with plans to reach 700+ by the holidays. In addition to fine international Burgundy, German Riesling, and sparkling wines, Patterer features strong selections from New York wineries such as Wölffer Estate and Channing Daughters. Her approach blends hyper-seasonal cooking with curated tradition, seamlessly pairing wines across all three new concepts and room service.
A Legacy Reinvented
Once the largest hotel in the world, the Waldorf Astoria has hosted everyone from Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, to Herbert Hoover, and appeared in countless songs and films. Now, with modern hospitality standards, significantly fewer rooms, and luxurious residences above, it offers a living museum: a blend of its gilded past and a new future. With the Grand Ballroom, meeting spaces, and spa slated to debut fully by September, this is NYC’s grandest comeback in years.
More Than a Hotel, a Cultural Reset
The Waldorf Astoria reopening is a milestone—not just for real estate or hospitality—but for New York’s soul. It represents the city’s ability to preserve heritage while reinventing itself. From Chef Anthony’s artful brasserie to Peacock Alley’s timeless glamour and Yoshoku’s cross-cultural elegance, the hotel returns with renewed purpose, elegance, and heart.
For longtime New Yorkers and global visitors alike, it’s not just a stay. It’s a step into history, reimagined for today—and available once more to capture imaginations.
