Review / How Waldorf Astoria New York has revived the golden age of travel, after 8-year makeover

Sep 21 , 2025

The Waldorf Astoria New York reopened this year following an eight-year renovation. Photo: Handout

The historic hotel has played host over the years to A-list guests from Barack Obama to Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra

Eight years – that’s how long it took to restore the Waldorf Astoria New York to a level of grandeur worthy of the hotel that Conrad Hilton, who acquired it in 1949, famously called “the greatest of them all”.

Established in the late 19th century following a partnership between two of New York’s most legendary families – the Astors and the Waldorfs – the hotel moved to its current location on tony Park Avenue in 1931.

Since then, the Waldorf, as it’s often called, has hosted every US president from Hoover to Obama – three presidents even called it their New York residence – and luminaries ranging from the Duke of Windsor to Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.

The Waldorf Astoria New York first opened at its Park Avenue location in 1931. Photo: Handout

The place that gave the famous Waldorf salad its name is also where one of the most beloved hotel perks was invented: room service.

While you could spend hours holding forth about the hotel’s history, the Waldorf Astoria is not resting on its laurels.

New York is already home to properties from five-star chains such as St Regis, Peninsula, Aman and Mandarin Oriental. The Waldorf Astoria, however, is a real New York institution.

The grand foyer of the Waldorf Astoria New York, entering from Lexington Avenue. Photo: Handout

Everything about the hotel’s interior screams – or whispers, we should say – “New York”. The art deco touches, the gleaming steel and bronze paired with polished marble, the historic murals and the soaring hallways take you back to a time when moguls like Rockefeller and Carnegie roamed these halls.

Its legacy aside, the hotel’s renovation has been nothing short of spectacular. The chintz and curtains of yore have been replaced with light-filled spaces that are opulent but not flashy, providing the perfect combination of old-school glamour and chic restraint.

Architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill worked closely with New York’s Landmark Preservation Commission to preserve the original 1931 design, while also updating it to suit the needs of modern-day luxury travellers.

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