Midtown East, New York City
The St. Regis New York
A study in classic luxury
What it is
A New York icon that sets the bar for classic luxury.
What it isn't
Hip. This is not a hotel that chases trends (or trend-setters).
What we think
John Jacob Astor IV famously perished in the Titanic disaster, but the grand hotel he founded in 1902 has met a much more illustrious fate. The St. Regis was created as the ultimate expression of the Gilded Age—the Beaux Arts structure defined luxury and innovation, with butler service, elevators and mail chutes on every floor—and it still sets the standard for five-star hotels in New York. (We wish we could say the same about some of the city's other iconic properties.) The 238 rooms and suites retain the original high ceilings, crown moldings and crystal chandeliers, not to mention butlers. Recent renovations have kept them fresh and elegant, with striped wall coverings, tufted headboards and a color palette of royal blue, aubergine and other jewel tones. The lobby is a repository of age-old grandeur with its frescoed ceilings and inlaid marble floors—but it, too, never feels stale. That's partially thanks to the ever-buzzy King Cole Bar, where the Bloody Mary was invented in 1934. But it's mostly due to the sense of timeless wonder that the hotel still evokes.
You're here because
You're a history-minded romantic with very high standards.
The Moment
After enduring a delayed flight and bumper-to-bumper traffic from the airport, you arrive in your room exhausted and disheveled. Without prompting, the butler offers you a pot of freshly brewed tea and help with unpacking your luggage.
Restaurants & Bars
Astor Court - International cuisine
King Cole Bar
Location
Right in the heart of Midtown, near Fifth Avenue shops, Central Park and the Museum of Modern Art.