Dream Hotel: The Waldorf Astoria, a New York City landmark

This is a special guest post from my Dutch friend, Carlos.

Waldorf-Astoria Entrance

Situated on Park Avenue, the world-renowned Waldorf Astoria can be considered the quintessential Manhattan hotel. Built in 1931 as the follow-up to the once separate Waldorf and Astoria hotels, the Art-Deco building occupies an entire block between Park and Lexington Avenue.

When you enter the hotel through the main entrance on Park, a surprisingly light vestibule will take you to the main lobby. The lobby and the surrounding hallways with jewelry stores and newspaper stands are just as you’d expect them to be, with lavish woodwork and patterned carpets. Although the hotel has obviously undergone some major renovations over the years, the look and feel of the 1930s is certainly still there. The freestanding clock in the middle of the lobby is a real eye-catcher.
Like the public areas, the rooms and suites are also classically themed and spacious. Be aware though that not all rooms offer an equally spectacular view of the city, you might find yourself looking out on an opposite wing of the hotel. Of course, opting for a nice view might drive up your bill.
Throughout the hotel, you will find framed pictures of famous guests and former residents of the hotel ranging from U.S. presidents to foreign heads of state to A-list celebrities. To accommodate to the special needs of some of these guests, the Waldorf has its own subterranean railway platform that has only been used on rare occasions in the past. On one of his visits to New York, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used a custom built freight-elevator to take him from the underground station to street level, while remaining seated in his car. It’s stories like this that add to the experience.
Naturally, the Waldorf Astoria has quite a few top-notch restaurants to offer, like The Bull and Bear steakhouse or Peacock Alley in the main lobby. If you’re looking for a full buffet-breakfast, Oscar’s Brasserie is your go-to place. Every Sunday, you’ll be able to enjoy brunch in a specially cordoned-off section of the main lobby and for special events such as weddings, the ballroom and other venues can be booked.
Now all this luxury does have its price. Even a couple of nights can run into the thousands of dollars. And since New York City is an expensive city to begin with, you’ll want to think twice before you break the bank on this stay.
Money isn’t an issue? Be sure to check out The Waldorf Towers, an even more luxurious in-house hotel with a select number of rooms and suites in the high-rise section of the building, recognizable from the outside by the domed twin towers.
Luckily the main lobby, shops, restaurants and bars are accessible to anyone so you’ll be able to experience the atmosphere and perhaps even spot a celebrity.

Author: Megan

Megan is an ordinary girl who outgrew her small town and decided to try the world on for size. She's on a mission to travel, photograph, and write about the world.

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  • Worth mentioning that many of the rooms in the main hotel haven’t been renovated in years. Despite the wonderful lobby, the rooms are really underwhelming, cramped and very overrated. A better bet is to stay at the W across the the street on the Lexington Avenue side and then come over to the Waldorf to lounge. (On a personal note – worth noting that we actually got engaged here)

    • Thanks for the info! I think a lot of those historic landmarks don’t bother updating to keep up with the times. It’s unfortunate though. And that’s really awesome that it’s where you guys got engaged! :)

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