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Did you know that New York City has the third-largest hotel industry in the country? There are almost 700 hotels in Manhattan alone.
Are you planning a trip to NYC? You should consider staying in one of the many historic hotels in NYC.
This guide will list some of the best historic hotels in New York City. Keep reading to learn more about them.
1. The Plaza Hotel
The most historic hotel in NYC has to be The Plaza Hotel. Overlooking Central Park this grand hotel first opened in 1907 and has become a landmark location in New York City.
Many influential and legendary people have stayed at The Plaza including John Lennon, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jackie Onassis.
If you’re a fan of romantic movies then you’ll know that The Plaza was featured in the iconic film Sleepless in Seattle starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
If you’re a child of the 90’s you’ll also recognize this hotel as the central location in Home Alone 2.
2. The New York Edition
The New York Edition was once a clock tower and was later transformed into a beautiful hotel. Constructed in 1909, this historic building faces Madison Square Park.
The top floor of the building became the restaurant called The Clocktower. While eating your lunch you’ll get to enjoy a beautiful view of the city landscape.
Another historic fact is that this tower was the tallest in the city when it was first built.
3. Lotte New York Palace
Next on the list of cool historic hotels in NYC is the Lotte New York Palace. In 1882 this hotel was first built as a group of townhouses.
The building has been owned by railroad financier Henry Villard, the Archdiocese of New York, and the Sultan of Brunei.
A hotel tower was constructed in the 1970s and the hotel opened as the Helmsley Palace in 1980. It became the Lotte New York Palace in 2015.
4. Gramercy Park Hotel
Opened in 1925, the Gramercy Park Hotel has seen many creative and intriguing guests pass through it.
Madonna, the Rolling Stones, and the Kennedy family are only a few of the famous guests to have stayed at this hotel.
The rooms are decorated in a Renaissance style.
Art is a common theme in this hotel. It’s been home to artwork from renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
5. Westgate New York Grand Central
The Westgate New York Grand Central is another hotel you should consider staying at when visiting the city.
Located in the historic Midtown Manhattan, you’ll have plenty to see in the area like Grand Central Station or Rockefeller Center.
In the 1700s this area was home to the Winthrop family, an influential family in American history. During the Civil War, this neighborhood struggled with gangs, thieves, and murderers.
Today Westgate New York Grand Central is home to a luxury hotel designed with classic and modern sensibilities.
Check it out here https://www.westgateresorts.com/hotels/new-york/midtown-manhattan/westgate-new-york-grand-central/.
6. The Carlyle
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel was constructed in 1930 and is famous for hosting every U.S. president since Harry S. Truman.
The hotel has even been nicknamed the New York City White House.
The hotel has also seen many royal faces through the years including the late great Princess Diana, Prince William, and Duchess Kate Middleton.
Bemelmans is The Carlyle’s bar and definitely tops the list of historic hotel bars in NYC.
It first opened in 1947 and was named after famed author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the children’s book series Madeline.
7. The Algonquin
This 118-year-old hotel makes it the oldest hotel in New York City.
That alone makes it a historic place to visit. There are many fun facts about this hotel like how it had its very own resident cat named Billy who came to live here in 1923.
When it opened in 1902 nightly hotel rates were only $2.
The famous Algonquin Round Table was formed here in 1919.
It included well-known writers like Dorothy Parker and Harold Ross who went on to create The New Yorker.
8. The Pierre
Next on the list of best historic hotels in NYC is The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York. This hotel was first opened in 1930.
The 1930s were a decade of hardship with the start of the Great Depression, the last few years of prohibition, and speakeasies.
The Pierre hosted famous guests like Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, and Audrey Hepburn.
Hepburn lived at The Pierre while she filmed the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
9. The St. Regis New York
Known as one of the richest people in America at the time, John Jacob Astor IV built St. Regis in 1904. Astor’s goal was to create a luxury hotel ahead of its time.
Marble floors and crystal chandeliers decorated every room.
Each room also had its own phone. At the time, this was a luxury no other hotel had.
A famous fact about St. Regis is that it’s the birthplace of the Bloody Mary. Fernand Petiot created the drink while working at the hotel bar.
10. The Knickerbocker
This hotel was also built by John Jacob Astor IV. Construction was completed in 1906. This hotel was home to many of the city’s most grand parties until the beginning of prohibition in the 1920s and 30s.
After that, The Knickerbocker became an office building.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In 2015, it reopened as a hotel once again.
Historic Hotels in NYC You Should Check Out
There are many historic hotels in NYC you should see during your next trip.
The Westgate New York Grand Central is at the top of the list followed by The Plaza Hotel and The Algonquin.
Did you find useful information in this article? If you did, make sure to check out some of the other travel blogs on our site.