The Waldorf Astoria New York reopened its doors on Tuesday, following an extensive revamp. The landmark property had been closed since 2017.
The Manhattan hotel now offers more spacious, redesigned rooms and suites. The redesigned property now has 375 hotel rooms and 372 condos, down from 1,400 guestrooms.
The majority of accommodations exceed 570 square feet, which make them some of the largest guestrooms and suites in Manhattan, said the Waldorf Astoria.
Reservations are open at the hotel's three dining venues: Lex Yard, a 220-seat American brasserie led by chef Michael Anthony; the restored Peacock Alley lounge; and Yoshoku, a Japanese restaurant offering kaiseki-inspired cuisine.
The property's 43,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including its Grand Ballroom, will reopen on Sept. 1. A Guerlain Wellness Spa, spanning 20,000 square feet, will open at a later date.
Waldorf Astoria is one of Hilton's luxury brands. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta called the New York hotel "the original luxury property and the place where luxury service was perfected."
The Lex Yard restaurant at the restored Waldorf Astoria. Photo Credit: Waldorf Astoria New York
"In many ways, the Waldorf Astoria New York is the most important hotel in the world," said Nassetta.
The hotel opened in 1931 and was described by Hilton founder Conrad Hilton as "the greatest of them all."
The hotel's restoration involved the preservation of 62,000 square feet of landmark-designated interior space, with Hilton billing the project as one of New York City's largest preservation and adaptive-reuse initiatives to date. Murals were preserved, as was the iconic Waldorf Astoria Clock from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. A Steinway piano once owned by Cole Porter was preserved and resides in the restored Peacock Alley.
A Park Avenue Junior Suite bedroom. Photo Credit: Waldorf Astoria New York
The Waldorf Astoria was acquired by China's Anbang Insurance Group from Hilton for $1.95 billion in 2015, but work was disrupted when Anbang was seized by the Chinese government in 2018 amid a corruption scandal.
The property is now owned by China's Dajia Insurance Group.