The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, is everything you want in a classic New York City stay, from sweeping views of Central Park to top-notch service that makes you feel special.
This classic, five-star hotel sits right on the southeastern edge of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street and is by far the best hotel stay I’ve had in the city. Its understated elegance is felt as soon as you walk into the lobby, which plays host to myriad lavish events throughout the year.
Opened in 1930, the 41-story hotel with 189 small dog-friendly rooms and 76 apartments was modeled after Versailles by famed architects Schultze and Weaver (who also designed the Waldorf-Astoria) and boasts neo-Georgian accents, checkered marble floors, incredible ballroom spaces with grand staircases and a rotunda with murals hand-painted by American artist Edward Melcarth in 1976—one of the most romantic rooms I’ve seen in NYC.
After my stay here, I can see why it’s been featured in films like First Wives Club, Meet Joe Black and Oceans 8. It’s also hosted luminaries like Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, Hubert de Givenchy, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Yves Saint Laurent, Barbra Streisand, Joan Collins (and many UN delegations) over the many decades and you can see them represented in the hotel’s incredible candid photos by Ron Galella that line its main hallway.
But where The Pierre really shines is in the details, which make it feel like home.
Check-in was a breeze with staff who welcomed me heartily and offered freebie chocolate from Mariebelle, which has a little shop on-site. Friendly attendants, many of whom have been at The Pierre for decades, rode the elevator up with me, pressing the button to my floor.
Inside my luxe carpeted room, which was outfitted with a king-size bed featuring a tufted headboard and a window overlooking Central Park, complimentary water bottles, tea and a NYC chocolate display with a fondant subway sign, a mini sculpture of the Empire State Building, macarons and truffles, and a personalized note thanking me for my stay, were waiting for me.
Looking over Central Park from this room was a New York City moment I’ll never forget.
As someone who specializes in things to do in the city, I was impressed by the conceirge team, which is led by the talented and spirited Maurice Dancer. A packet of things to do in the city during my stay was set on the desk for me and leafing through it, I saw many timely events and exhibitions I’d recommend myself. Going above and beyond, Dancer says his team experiences things before recommending them.
Though, if you want a staycation here, you can do so easily. The Pierre’s Two E Bar & Lounge is a great spot for grabbing drinks and taking in live jazz. It also has a rotating art gallery program, high tea in the Rotunda on the weekends, more shopping that includes the Florentine apothecary Santa Maria Novella, the Suite Reyad Salon, and a hidden gem of a restaurant, Perrine.
Opened in the summer of 2016, Perrine is led by executive chef Michael Mignano, a Queens native with a long history at The Pierre. Mignano has also worked in kitchens on the Food Network as well as at NYC icons Bouley, Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, Balthazar and Les Pinasse. At Perrine, farm-fresh ingredients are the name of the game. You’ll find a largely French menu with classics—with a twist. My Poulet rôti au miel was a mouthwatering honey-lavender roasted chicken and the steak au poivre vert was the best my partner has ever tasted. Make sure to order the short rib ravioli. Perrine has also revived the Indian menu it was celebrated for back in the 1950s, with a modern twist of course, with dishes like Gosht Biryani, Masala Fish Curry and Paneer Malai Kofta Curry. At Perrine, they say “Indian is the new French.”
All this to say, a stay at The Pierre is for those who want to feel at home in New York City. It’s been doing it for so long that this kind of care and attention to details is baked into its DNA.
Neighborhood:
This central spot is right across the street from Central Park, kitty corner to The Plaza Hotel and within a two-minute walk to all the shops on Fifth Avenue. It’s closeby to Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and the Upper East Side, where you can find some of the city’s best museums—The Met, The Guggenheim and The Frick—and more shopping along Madison Avenue.
Nearby:
1. Café Boulud: For a celeb chef meal at a revived classic spot.
2. The Park Avenue Armory: For an immersive and memorable art or theater experience.
3. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): For one of the most iconic art showcases in the world
Time Out Tip:
The Pierre’s Two E Bar & Lounge is a great spot for grabbing drinks and taking in live jazz from Modern Martinis Music, every night, Tuesday through Saturday.