I’m writing this from my Deluxe King at The Plaza. I’ve stayed here before, but that first visit was busy with friends and I was barely in the building. This stay ran on my own schedule, which gave me time to absorb what my clients would love, what they might not, and who this hotel fits best.
Below is what the room is really like, what worked at the Champagne Bar and the Palm Court, what the Home Alone package includes, and how to book with Accor Preferred privileges attached.
Book With Accor Preferred Benefits
How to Book The Plaza (With Added Benefits)
The Plaza is a Fairmont managed hotel, and Fairmont is part of Accor. Accor Preferred is the brand’s VIP program. Book the Accor Preferred rate in our tool and the privileges come with the booking at no extra cost. The tool is password-protected because the program requires it, and the password arrives by email in about a minute.
Breakfast
Daily for two at the Palm Court
Hotel Credit
$100 for dining or the spa
VIP Touches
Upgrade, early check-in, late checkout, welcome amenity
If your trip is more involved, like multiple rooms, connecting rooms, a suite, or flexible dates, send it through my luxury hotel request form and my team handles it. Nothing costs extra either way.
What I Love
- People walk into The Plaza already knowing it, and you can watch the awe on their faces. I’ve never seen that at another hotel.
- Rooms are big for New York. My Deluxe King runs about 500 square feet, a lot of it bathroom.
- Breakfast at the Palm Court is my pick over afternoon tea. Same beautiful room, less crowded.
- Service is friendly and formal at the same time. Nobody slouches, and nobody is stuffy.
- Central Park is across the street, Bergdorf across the other, and Fifth Avenue right at the door.
Good to Know
- Rates run over $1,000 a night, even with the third-night-free promotion on.
- Street-side rooms can be noisy at night, so request a higher floor if you’re a light sleeper.
- The kitchen doesn’t take breakfast substitutions, which surprised me at this level.
- The fitness center is small and windowless, but Central Park is right across the street, so I used the park.
- The old food hall is gone and the concourse is smaller than it used to be, though the Plaza Gift Shop and Eloise Shop remain.
- The elevators are small and original to the building, and I hope they never change them.
My Deluxe King Room at The Plaza
I’m in the Deluxe King this stay, the same category I stayed in last time. It’s about 500 square feet, which is generous for a New York City hotel, and a fair amount of that square footage is in the bathroom. There’s a walk-in shower with a temperature gauge, so you actually know how hot your shower is rather than guessing how far to turn a lever, plus a soaking tub and a separate powder room. Sometimes it’s the small things.
The bathrooms are one of the things I love most about The Plaza. The tile mosaics with 24-carat gold-plated Sherle Wagner hardware feel like they’ve been there forever. I would never put them in my own home, but they 100% fit here, and I hope they never change them. Water pressure is good, the vanity kit is well stocked, and the bathrobes and slippers are the real version, not the disposable kind.
Part of what makes The Plaza The Plaza are the crystal chandeliers. There’s a giant one in the center of my room, two smaller ones flanking the TV, another in the bathroom, and more lining the hallways on the walk to the room. The hotel installed roughly 1,650 of them, and you just don’t see this anymore.
The same goes for the ornate gold-trimmed desk with little gold angels on the sides. It’s a bit gaudy, and it completely belongs here. I worked from that desk most of one day, and it’s comfortable to actually sit and write at.
I just use the two upholstered chairs in front of the TV, somewhere to sit with a glass of wine or tie your shoes. If you add a rollaway for a child, it goes roughly where those chairs sit, so you’d trade the little sitting spot for the extra bed.
The minibar lives inside an antique-looking chest with gold bare feet, stocked with mini bottles, Evian water, Brooklyn Lager, Red Bull, juices, soda, Perrier, champagne, Remy Martin, a split of wine, and snacks (M&Ms, cashews, chocolate chips, cookies). You get proper barware, a wine opener, wine glasses, and an ice bucket on a silver tray.
Storage is better than you’d expect in a historic building, with five narrow drawers in the closet, proper suit storage, shoe racks, good hangers, extra pillows, and a complimentary shoe shine. The blinds are manual rather than automated, but they’re good ones, and I noticed no light seepage. There’s an iron and ironing board rather than a steamer, a full-length mirror, and climate control that works well. You could settle in for a week here easily.
Insider Tips · Deluxe King
Request a higher floor if you’re a light sleeper. I was on the 5th floor on the 58th Street side, opposite Central Park, and heard loading noise from the parking structure across the street on my first night. My second night was silent, so treat it as a New York one-off, but a higher floor is easy insurance.
The room has an iron, not a steamer. Some clients care about this. If you need a steamer, request one from housekeeping.
New sustainability touches. The room keys are recycled wood instead of plastic, the water is boxed (Just Water), and there’s a card by the bed for opting out of daily linen changes. Small things, but I noticed.
Which Room to Book at The Plaza
Across 282 guestrooms and 102 suites, The Plaza has a wider range of room sizes and layouts than most New York City luxury hotels, which is a real advantage for families. These are the categories I get asked about most.
Deluxe King
Most Booked
Sleeps two in the king, three with a rollaway (a tight fit), or two plus a baby in a crib. About 500 square feet with a king bed, oversized bathroom, separate powder room, and a working desk setup. The category I’d start with for most stays.
Deluxe Two Queens
Sleeps four across two queen beds. Overlooks 58th Street with the same Plaza finishes, and a better fit for a family of four than a king plus a rollaway.
Junior Suite
Sleeps four with a separated living area, the step up for families who want room to spread out.
Grand Luxe King
A king room with a sitting area and butler’s pantry, more space without moving to a suite. Confirm occupancy for your party before you book.
Connecting Room and Suite Sets
Yes, these do exist and they are outer-connecting. The photo I took below is an example. The exterior doors close off two rooms to create a small foyer between them.
Suites Worth Considering
The Plaza’s suite inventory is deeper than most Manhattan luxury properties, spanning residential-style Legacy Suites, one-of-a-kind creations, and multi-room configurations for larger groups. Below are the ones I recommend most for clients across the range.
Junior Suite
The entry-level suite. Sleeps four with a separated living area. Better fit than a Deluxe Two Queens for families wanting room to spread out.
Penthouse One Bedroom Suite
1,500 square feet on the 20th floor, two-level with a private terrace and butler service available. The suite I would send a couple to for a celebration stay.
Eloise Suite
Designed by Betsey Johnson in pink and black. One-of-a-kind, with custom Eloise bedding and a gift set on arrival. For families with an Eloise-obsessed child, or for anyone who wants the most photographed suite in the property.
Eloise Two Bedroom Suite
The Eloise concept scaled up, with an optional adjacent Nanny Suite for parties traveling with childcare. A rare configuration in this market.
Edwardian Two Bedroom Suite
1,550 square feet with a king bed in each room, a butler’s pantry, and a location on floors 11 through 19. For a family of four who wants two proper bedrooms plus formal living space.
Royal Suite
The property’s top suite at 4,500 square feet. For clients whose stay is a full occasion.
If you’re shopping in the suite range, start a request through my luxury hotel form and I’ll walk you through what fits.
Eating and Drinking at The Plaza
The Champagne Bar
I went straight to the Champagne Bar after checking in, since my flight landed late and the restaurant kitchens were close to closing. Midweek, it wasn’t crowded, and the service was friendly and attentive. I ordered a glass of wine and an heirloom tomato salad, and it completely hit the spot. They let me take my unfinished wine up to the room, which is always appreciated.
On past visits I’ve had oysters and a seafood tower here, plus plenty of champagne. You sit there taking in the flowers and the grand room around you. It’s also a good first stop if you arrive late and everything else is winding down.
The Champagne Bar also serves breakfast, essentially the Palm Court menu minus a few dishes like the fancy omelet. One morning I tried to swap my potatoes for a salad and learned the kitchen takes no substitutions. A little unusual for a hotel at this level, not a big deal, but worth knowing.
Also, there’s a quiet lounge area on the mezzanine above the lobby where you can sit and work. I’ve seen people on laptops up there when nothing else is going on. It’s a good spot if the rest of your family is still sleeping or you just need a calm place away from the room. You can see it from the Champagne Bar.
Breakfast at the Palm Court
My daughter met me for breakfast at the Palm Court. I had the Plaza Royal Omelet (stracciatella, oyster caviar, roasted vine tomato, pearl onions, choice of toast, with potatoes added). She had the Plaza American Breakfast (eggs, tomato, breakfast potatoes, sausage, toast, juice, coffee). Both were excellent.
Breakfast is the version of the Palm Court I prefer. It’s not as see-and-be-seen as afternoon tea, so you can actually look around at the architecture without feeling like you’re in someone else’s photo. I’ve stayed in a lot of very nice hotels, and having breakfast in a space this famous still stands out.
Afternoon Tea at the Palm Court
Afternoon tea is the Palm Court’s signature, and the Eloise-themed tea service runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with custom teacups and tableware. Reservations are required, and recent menus put it around $125 per person. It’s a bucket-list experience for many guests, and a scene of visiting families and milestone celebrations mixed in with locals.
Worth Knowing
The Palm Court publishes a Pinterest board with recommended attire for afternoon tea. If tea is on your itinerary, it’s worth a look before you pack. The dress expectations are real (less so at breakfast).
The Home Alone Package
The Plaza runs a Home Alone package that’s currently $1,755 added to your first night. It includes a limo transfer from the airport, the giant cheese pizza delivered to your room, and the 16-scoop ice cream sundae from the Eloise room service menu. The package can be added to any room category, and it’s hard to resist if you’re traveling with kids who know the movie.
Advisor Intel
If you don’t want the full package, the 16-scoop Home Alone Sundae is available a la carte on the room service menu for $350, toppings rolled into your room and all. I’ve also recreated the moment for clients staying at other hotels who still wanted the sundae-in-a-suite experience.
Eloise at The Plaza
If you’re traveling with an Eloise fan, this is her hotel, and the hotel plays it up in the best way. The Eloise Shop on the lobby level carries the books, dolls, clothes, bags, and everything else you can imagine (it’s smaller than I remembered, but the delight is intact). There’s an Eloise mailbox beside her portrait in the lobby, and room service has a dedicated Eloise children’s menu.
For the full commitment, the Eloise Suite was designed by Betsey Johnson in pink and black, with custom Eloise bedding, dolls, robes, and a gift set on arrival. Pair it with the Eloise-themed afternoon tea at the Palm Court, and you have a trip a certain six-year-old will describe for years.
Service, Atmosphere, and the Lobby Scene
The service is friendly and formal at the same time. Nobody slouches, every uniform fits perfectly. The bellmen are genuinely warm (New York bellmen are a class of their own, and The Plaza has the best of them), the front desk treats you like a person, and housekeeping is there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t.
The concierge is easy to reach by phone. Everybody at the hotel has a very New York air about them in the friendliest way, and you get the sense a lot of them have been here for decades.
The publicly accessible part of the hotel is fairly small, just the rotunda with its gorgeous floral display, the view into the Palm Court, and the path down to the shops. While I waited for my daughter, I sat in the lobby and watched tourists walk in for the first time. Their eyes go wide, everyone pauses, everyone takes the photo. It’s fun to watch, and the Home Alone homage is a big part of what people come to see.
Shopping at The Plaza
Past the rotunda and the Palm Court, the retail level holds the Plaza Gift Shop, which reminds me of the Hotel del Coronado’s shop, full of ornaments, historic books, photos, and Plaza-branded everything that reminds you where you are. A second shop and a few kiosks sell chocolates and small gifts. The original food hall is sadly gone, and the concourse is smaller than it used to be, but it’s still worth the wander.
Spa and Fitness
The spa is now the 111SKIN SPA/CLINIC on the 4th floor, which replaced the longtime Guerlain spa. I haven’t tried it yet, since I’m usually in this neighborhood to shop. Blandi Salon, an independent fixture for more than 25 years, is on the 2nd floor.
The fitness center is open 24/7 on the 4th floor with Technogym equipment, but it’s small and has no windows. Fairmont Fit will deliver workout gear and yoga equipment to your room.
What I’d actually do, and did, is cardio in Central Park across the street (the hotel runs guided park runs and walks, and there’s new signage in the park for a self-guided audio tour), then weights back at the hotel. With cooperating weather, you get views of the hotel itself, buskers, geese in the ponds, and endless photo ops. Very, very New York.
Traveling With a Dog at The Plaza
The Plaza is one of the most pet-forward luxury hotels in New York. There is no pet fee. Dogs are welcomed in every room category, up to two per room, with no size or breed restrictions.
Every dog booking includes the Canine Companions Amenities as standard: a dedicated food and water bowl and a plush dog bed. For an elevated experience, the property offers the Pampered Pup Package as an add-on.
We’ve had clients do this. The package includes a terry cloth robe embroidered with the Plaza crest (sizes XS through XXXL), a Plaza-branded Evian bowl, dog-friendly macarons, and a plush bed. You need to add this in advance so they can make sure to have the robe size you need and personalize your dog’s welcome. The robes are also for sale in the gift shop.
Advisor Intel
Request the Pampered Pup Package when you book so the room is set up on arrival, not scrambled together at check-in. In-room dining has a dedicated dog menu, and the concierge coordinates walkers, grooming, and other pet services on the ground.
Getting to The Plaza and the Neighborhood
The Plaza sits at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South. From JFK, plan on 45 to 75 minutes by car depending on traffic. From LaGuardia, it’s 30 to 45 minutes, and from Newark, 45 to 75 minutes. If you book the Home Alone package, the limo transfer can cover your arrival.
The Central Park side is touristy in the best way, with street vendors, food carts, horse-drawn carriages, and people selling tours. Bergdorf Goodman is across the street, and Saks and Tiffany & Co. are a short walk down Fifth Avenue. We don’t have multi-floor department stores like this in San Diego, so it is always a treat to explore them.
For conveniences, there’s a Duane Reade around the corner, a wine shop nearby, and plenty of places to pick up a picnic for the park. Room service will also pack a Central Park picnic for you.
Who The Plaza Is For (and Who It Isn’t)
The Plaza is for people who want a hotel that is unapologetically itself, from the gold trim and the chandeliers to the double-P doorknobs (the logo is even in the sinks) and the original elevators.
It’s for families who can use the larger layouts, couples who want to walk straight into Central Park, dog owners who want zero pet fees, and anyone who plans to spend as much of the stay inside the building as outside it.
It’s not for travelers on a budget. Even with the third-night-free promotion, rates run well over $1,000 a night. It’s not for anyone who wants a sleek modern hotel (the Baccarat or the Mandarin Oriental fit that brief better). And it’s not for guests who would be put off by patina. The building opened in 1907 and was last restored in 2008, and everything has a lived-in, old-school opulence. It does show wear, and if it didn’t, that would feel strange. A gut renovation simply wouldn’t work at a hotel this famous, and the hotel doesn’t pretend otherwise.
FAQs About Staying at The Plaza
Is The Plaza pet friendly?
Yes, and unusually so for New York luxury hotels. There is no pet fee, and the hotel runs a dedicated pet program with branded dog blankets and amenities.
Does The Plaza have rooms for families?
Yes. The Deluxe Two Queens sleeps a family of four, the Junior Suite sleeps four with a separated living area, and multi-room suites like the Edwardian Two Bedroom (1,550 sf) or the Vanderbilt Fifth Avenue Three Bedroom (2,500 sf) sleep six or more. A Deluxe King works for a couple with a baby in a crib.
How much does The Plaza cost per night?
Typical rates run $1,500 to $2,300 per night depending on season and room category, and well over $1,000 even when the third-night-free promotion is running. Booking through the Accor Preferred program adds breakfast, a hotel credit, and upgrade privileges without changing the rate.
What does the Home Alone package at The Plaza include?
The package is currently $1,755 added to your first night and includes a limo airport transfer, a giant cheese pizza delivered to your room, and the 16-scoop ice cream sundae. The sundae alone is available from room service for $350.
Is there a dress code for afternoon tea at the Palm Court?
Smart attire is expected, and the Palm Court publishes a Pinterest board of recommended attire for afternoon tea. Reservations are required for tea service.
Who manages The Plaza, and how should I book it?
The Plaza is a Fairmont managed hotel under Accor. Booking through an Accor Preferred advisor adds daily breakfast for two at the Palm Court, a hotel credit, a room upgrade when available, and early check-in and late check-out when available. You can book the Accor Preferred rate yourself in our password-protected booking tool, or send your dates through my luxury hotel request form.
Book With Accor Preferred Benefits
Ready to Book The Plaza?
Book the Accor Preferred rate in our booking tool and breakfast for two at the Palm Court, the hotel credit, and the upgrade privileges attach automatically. If your trip is more involved, like multiple rooms, connecting rooms, or flexible dates, send it through my luxury hotel request form and my team handles the rest.
Planning more of your New York trip? See my reviews of The Mercer, the Soho Grand, The Marlton, and The Dominick.
