Mad Men Hotels: An Affair at The Pierre Hotel, then and now

On this week's episode of AMC's hit Mad Men (spoiler alert!), little miss Peggy Olson and Duck had an, um, "encounter" at The Pierre. This isn't the first time the storied NYC property has made a cameo on the show; in season one, Don Draper had an awkward meetup with department store heiress Rachel Menken in the hotel's white-tablecloth restaurant to solicit her help with an ad campaign.

These days, those white tablecloths are gone. In non-TV-world, the iconic Manhattan hotel just debuted a new, refreshed look this summer after undergoing a $100 million renovation -- and obviously (recent upgrades or not) the look of The Pierre as depicted on Mad Men, set in the early 60's, isn't quite the same Pierre we'd visit today. Would you, Mr. Modern Ad Exec, still take the office hottie to this place to charm the panties off of her? Or has it been of an "in with the plasma TV's and out with the sensual elegance" sort of situation? Let's scope it out, shall we?

Then: um, looks like a fancy old hotel with lots of ornate details and a carpet that you probably don't want to spill red wine on.

Now: Some of the finishes seem to be the only remaining old-school touches left in the room -- though the 2009 issue bedskirts and fluffy pillows certainly do make the bed seem quite a bit more plush than Mad Men's interpretation of the old room. Though it's hard to compare the morning-after sexy factor without a naked lady in bed.

Then: Bumping your noggin on that headboard probably hurt, eh? Also: those striped linens are quite fancy-looking.

Now: Solid white linens (they're Frette!) and a thump-and-bump resistant headboard seem to be a lot more romp-friendly. Also: hey there, mirror on the wall.

Then: This suite's artwork looks like it was bought on the street in Manhattan somewhere. The blue and gold couch and giant bottles of booze are the standouts here.

Now: Good luck getting the mood right with the teensy bottles of liquor available in the minibars in Traditional rooms. Also, the photo on the right -- of the living area in a One Bedroom Suite -- doesn't have the same stuffy upholstry on the furniture. And the art looks a little bit like it was torn from your little brother's Magic Eye book. Subtle wallpaper has replaced the 60's stale green paint throughout.

Oh, and those fresh flowers you see in the Mad Men shots? The hotel assures us that fresh flowers will be waiting for you in your room when you arrive. Some things don't change -- but just hope your lady doesn't have allergies.

Other Hotels Worth Checking Out (for an affair or otherwise):