Hotel Plaza Athenee

This Upper East Side boutique hotel first opened in 1927 as Hotel Alrae and today as Hotel Plaza Athenee, it looks and feels more like a residential luxury townhouse than a New York hotel. The bright red-domed awnings and large bronze logo on the sidewalk set the hotel apart from it's neighboring brownstone mansions. Inside, the hotel is finished with Beaux Arts style and the small lobby is filled with wonderful details like a hand-painted mural, gold Paul Garnier clocks, and antique writing desks for a sit down check-in. It's occasionally also filled with luggage from guests who wouldn't dream of packing light. Bar Seine is beautifully decorated with leather-covered floors and a collection of artifacts like framed African beads and butterflies. Onyx lighting gives the space a romantic glow. Guests are here for the over-the-top service and discreet luxury. Many repeat celebrities and socialites book rooms, and the hotel has hosted both Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor in the duplex suites. 

Located on a tree-lined street dotted with brownstones, the Hotel Plaza Anthenee is built in a quiet and tony section of the Upper East Side. There are basically three reasons to visit the neighborhood: shopping, museums, and Central Park. The hotel is just one block from Central Park, and a five-minute walk from the many high-end designer boutiques along Madison Avenue. The stretch of Fifth Avenue that runs north from the low 80s to 104th Street, known as "Museum Mile," is home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. 

• Two blocks from the F subway line; 5 blocks from the N, Q, R subway lines; 6 blocks from the 4, 5, 6 subway lines
• Two-minute walk to Central Park
• Five-minute walk to Barneys New York 
• 14-minute walk to St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• 16-minute walk to Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• 18-minute walk to Rockefeller Center
• 21-minute walk to Metropolitan Museum of Art
• 12-minute subway ride to Bryant Park and the New York Public Library
• 13-minute subway ride or walk to Times Square
• 16-minute subway ride to Penn Station
• 18-minute subway ride to Flatiron Building
• 19-minute subway ride to Union Square
• 20-minute subway ride to the West Village and the Washington Square Park
• 21-minute subway ride to the Empire State Building
• 25-minute subway ride to the High Line and the Chelsea Market
• 25-minute drive to LaGuardia Airport
• 35-minute drive to John F. Kennedy Airport
• 40-minute drive to Newark Airport

The 142 rooms at the Hotel Plaza Athenee are understated and luxurious, featuring gorgeous, classic European decor. Expect neutral tones, rich fabrics, and lovely artwork. Top-notch amenities include Sferra linens, plasma TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms also feature glass-enclosed solariums or terraces that offer excellent city views. Other suites have fully equipped kitchens. Specialty duplex suites, such as the Thai Suite or the Penthouse Suite, are also available -- Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor have both called these spaces home. Marble bathrooms feature deep soaking tubs, rain showers, and British Penhaligon toiletries. Evening turndown service is a nice touch.

Features are as luxurious as the rooms and location. Spa Valmont is only available for hotel guests. It offers four gorgeous suites with decor and treatments inspired by Asian philosophies. Each suite features a dressing room, lounge chair, and private steam shower, while two specialty suites either offer a couples massage area or a Thai massage treatment space. The hotel's spa is also the only one in New York City to use Valmont Cosmetics, the famed Swiss brand known for its rejuvenating philosophy. The fitness center is well-equipped, with TechnoGym cardio and weight machines. There are also resistance balls, yoga mats, and stretch bands. Private yoga and Pilates instructors are available for a fee. Guests look out over tree-lined 64th Street while they work out.

Romance is the name of the game at the hotel's two dining outlets. Bar Seine's eclectic mix of Moroccan, European, and Asian-influenced design elements -- including Murano glass chandeliers, dark woods, and warm red walls -- create a cozy atmosphere. Afternoon tea is served here daily, as are seasonal cocktails. Arabelle is an elegant space featuring white tablecloths and cream walls with intricate paneling under a gold domed ceiling. Guests enjoy contemporary American cuisine for all three meals. The restaurant strives to use ingredients from local organic farms and to focus on nutritionally balanced preparations. 

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. A dedicated team of Les Clefs d'Or concierge are on hand to handle even over-the-top requests.