New York's historic hotels: Everything old is new again
New York's East Side is a story of wealth, glamour and greed. It's home to some of the most iconic buildings in the city, as well as some of the most famous landmarks in the nation. Through the years, the East Side has seen its share of deceit and descent, but through its tumultuous past it has remained one of the most coveted addresses in the world. The hotels that line the East Side of Manhattan have interesting tales to tell, among them the Carlyle Hotel, The Pierre and the Renaissance New York Hotel 57 -- three hotels with three very different stories to tell of affluence, affiliation and aspiration.
New York in the 1920s was filled with ideas of growth, ambition and indulgence. The beginning effects of the Great Depression were still years away, and much money was to be made, and had, in New York City. From bank world centers to prohibition parlors, New York then was as diverse and coveted as it is today. Our tour starts at 35 East 76th Street at Madison Avenue, where the famous Carlyle Hotel resides along Manhattan’s legendary Gold Coast.
The Carlyle Hotel...Then: The 35-story Carlyle Hotel opened in 1930 as one of Manhattan's premier properties, dominating the skyline on the Upper East Side. Its guests were equally as rich as its interior designs. The hotel's guest book reads like a "Who's Who" of the world's most talked about figures - presidents, heads of state, kings and queens all called the Carlyle home at one point, including the late Princess Diana of Wales, as well as Hollywood elites. The Carlyle grew to become a mecca for the world's most influential individuals who visited New York. But it's the hotel's famous Cafe Carlyle that continues to shine a light on Manhattan's celebrated past.
The Carlyle Hotel...Now: Set straight out of a black-and-white movie scene, Cafe Carlyle is one of New York's classic cabarets, hosting nightly shows from some of Broadway's best known talents. On any given night you'll find Woody Allen, Steve Tyrell and John Pizzarelli reminiscing over their days growing up in New York. The cafe seats up to 90 for a performance, evoking a supper club atmosphere that takes any generation back to the days of a budding Upper East Side. You'll want to dress up for a night at Café Carlyle - after all, and after almost 50 years, the cabaret club is still the see-and-be-seen place among Manhattan's elite. Famed Broadway actress Elaine Stritch recently took the stage at the Cafe Carlyle, crooning about her days as a young woman vying for parts on Broadway, and sleeping her nights in the corner room at Carlyle Hotel. It was during her performance that she waxed poetic about the Carlyle, recalling the wise words of her husband John Bay who once said, "Everything looks better from the corner room of the Carlyle Hotel."
Manhattan's Gold Coast wasn't the only desired destination among America's wealthy. Sitting 15 blocks away on the park is The Pierre, one of New York's most talked about hotels with a history as rich as its guests.
The Pierre...Then: Before the Great Depression took its tool on New York and the rest of the nation, the city's wealthiest could be found at Sherry's, a New York restaurant where Charles Pierre worked in the early 1900s. Catering to likes of names including Astor, Vanderbilt and Chrysler, Pierre found himself longing for a place of his own, and thanks to the financial connections he made at Sherry's, opened Pierre's on the Park in the 1920s. The restaurant became the see-and-be-seen place among New York's wealthiest residents, and hosted everything from debutante balls to high-society weddings. But Pierre wanted more. He joined a group of Wall Street financiers and on Oct. 1, 1930, opened The Pierre Hotel at 2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue. The 700-plus room and residence palace offered sweeping views of Central Park and became a secret hideaway for the rich and fabulous. The Depression hit and the hotel went bankrupt, but not all was lost at The Pierre. The hotel was continuously sold on public auction and despite the economy's best efforts, continued to remain open through the help of private investors. The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts took over the famed Pierre in 1981 and started a much-needed $15 million refurbishment to the hotels rooms, bathrooms, lobby and restaurant. But it's The Pierre's Rotunda that continues to defy the odds of age. Crafted in 1967 by American artist Edward Melcarth, the rotunda was designed to bring the "renaissance back to the present" in New York. Look up to see mural scenes of mythological figures, who impose a sense of nostalgia to the princely Pierre on the park, and who will forever be watch over the guests who enter.
The Pierre...Now: In 2005, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces took over The Pierre as one of the company's first U.S. hotels. Since taking over six years ago, Taj has worked to restore the now 189-guestroom hotel, including the 11 Grand Suites, public areas, restaurant and bar. The full renovation of the Pierre was completed in January 2007, maintaining the same elegance and glamour as originally intended, but adding a touch of Taj throughout. The bed linens, drapery and fabrics in the guestrooms are all hand-made from India, connecting the old world New York hotel with the history of the Taj. Today, the hotel continues to stand as a beacon on the park, welcoming guests from around the world to its opulent home. The one thing that went untouched: the Rotunda, which still remains the pivotal piece of the famous Pierre.
Not everyone had wealth to gain in New York in the 1920s, but Manhattan -- regardless of the amount in your bank account -- was always where dreams were made. On the corner of Lexington and East 57th, women with a vision of independence lived at what is now one of New York's most luxurious boutique hotels.
Hotel 57...Then: When Mr. Blum, an East Side fashion designer, bought the carriage house on the corner of Lexington and East 57th in 1913, his vision was to create a place that catered to the ladies. In 1923, The Allerton House hotel (attached to the Carriage House) was opened as one of the first women's only hotels in New York and the nation, paying homage to the fashion appeal of 1920s New York. This exclusive women’s hotel was a step up from the typical boarding houses that single women typically called home. Catering to designers, architects, writers, lecturers, music and dancing teachers, and executives-in-training, the Carriage House on East 57th was a haven for women seeking an independent lifestyle. The house was equipped with a laundry room, sewing room, music room and a variety of lounges, perfect for entertaining and engaging in conversation.
Hotel 57...Now: Renaissance Hotel New York 57 today is comprised of two buildings - the original Carriage House, and the hotel originally built as the Allerton House in 1923. The darkened entry of the hotel is part of its ambiance, and is set with French-inspired furniture flanked by bouquets of flowers and steel-door elevators that lead to the hotel's lobby. Part flapper-fashion, part modern-day decor, Hotel 57 is sleek with straight lines and bronzed adornments, exuding a traditional boutique feel while focusing on today's technological advancements. The hotel, which is currently undergoing renovations to its front entrance, still embraces the fashion-forward focus of women in the 1920s. Paying homage to one of New York's most famous ladies, a new darkened steel canopy was installed at the front entrance, inspired by a fold in the gown of the Statue of Liberty. The curving stairway that leads from the first floor to the hotel's main lobby is a foreshadow of what the future holds at the top of the stairs.
Readers: What's your favorite historic hotel in New York City?
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About the author
Melanie Nayer is a travel writer who spent many years in the newsroom before jetting off to see the world. Her goal is to bring readers the best insider information More »Recent blog posts
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