New York's Waldorf Astoria celebrates its reopening

When you think of New York, a touch of glamour always comes to mind – and hardly any other building embodies this in quite the same wat as the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue. Even upon its initial opening in 1931, it was an architectural masterpiece and a symbol of the splendour and sophistication of the Art Deco era. Now, the traditional hotel is celebrating its comeback.

Following years of extensive restoration, the curtain is rising on a new beginning that harmoniously combines historical substance and contemporary luxury – a truly glamorous chapter in the history of the Waldorf Astoria and the Art Deco movement.

The current relaunch of New York’s iconic Art Deco hotel fits has been timed to perfection in marking the occasion of Art Deco’s 100th anniversary. The hotel on Park Avenue, built in 1931, is currently celebrating the completion of its complete renovation and the seamless fusion of its listed architectural heritage with contemporary lifestyle. High-calibre designers were brought on board for the project: New York-based architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, who specialises in listed buildings.

Art Deco, the second time around! Here, in addition to gold and silver leaf ceilings, mineral colour tones will also provide clarity and elegance in 2025. Intimate thresholds divide the spacious, light-flooded rooms while also opening them up. The striking Portoro marble, subtle bronze accents, and famous Waldorf mosaics have been freshly restored and now interact with integrated lighting, automated curtains, and bespoke furniture. The result is a divinely elevated Art Deco grand dame of New York’s top hotels, ready to tell the good old stories of the golden years gone by.

Rather than merely referencing the greats, Cole Porter’s Steinway piano actually plays here – one example among many. Above all, however, it is the variety of nuances that impresses, which even the experts at SOM Architects only gradually discovered over the course of several years of research.

Alles neu im Waldorf Astoria New York

For its reopening, the traditional hotel has reduced its capacity from over 1,400 rooms to 375 spacious suites and guest rooms, complemented by an equal number of luxurious residences on the upper floors – designed by Parisian designer Jean-Louis Deniot. This shifts the focus significantly towards exclusivity.

The event spaces are also returning in renewed splendour: in future, around 43,000 square metres will be available for events, including the famous Grand Ballroom and historic rooms such as the Jade Room and the Silver Corridor, which have been extensively restored.

The Waldorf is also opening a new chapter in culinary terms. Lex Yard, a two-storey American brasserie run by Michelin-starred chef Michael Anthony, reinterprets the tradition of American cuisine in contemporary form – classics such as Waldorf salad and red velvet cake feature as modern signature dishes. Complementing this, Yoshoku focuses on Japanese fusion cuisine in the lobby area, while the legendary Peacock Alley resumes its role as a social meeting place, as a bar and restaurant space.

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