NYC’s Top 6 Renovated Historic Hotels: Where Luxury Meets Legacy

ByCathy Bennett Kopf

If you’re planning a New York City vacation, your hotel choice will involve several factors including location and price. Room rates can be staggering, especially for properties in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. When I’m staying overnight, I usually look for a newish hotel operated as a Marriott brand so I can offset the expense with Bonvoy points.

But sometimes a trip demands a splurge. If you’re heading to the Big Apple on an anniversary trip, for example, or to treat your teen for a special birthday, you’ll want to stay some place extra special. NYC’s historic hotels are legendary. Many have welcomed celebrity guests, including movie stars, US Presidents and royals, for over 100 years!

If you’re picturing dusty relics with tiny rooms and antiquated plumbing, think again. Several of the city’s most iconic hotels have undergone recent renovations. Today’s guests can enjoy modern amenities while soaking up the glamour of days gone by. Here’s a look at NYC’s most recently renovated historic hotels to consider for your next trip to the Big Apple.

The Four Seasons Hotel

Located in the heart of the city’s Billionaire Row, The Four Seasons Hotel reopened in 2024. The landmark skyscraper, designed by I.M. Pei, houses some of the city’s largest hotel rooms and suites, many with outdoor terraces with Central Park views.

Entrance to the NYC St. Regis, one of the best Manhattan historic hotels.
The NYC St. Regis was the first brand property. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The St. Regis New York

Another Midtown gem, The St. Regis, a Marriott property, completed a 2024 renovation to commemorate the hotel’s 120th anniversary. The dreamchild of billionaire John Jacob Astor IV who died on the Titanic, The St. Regis claims to be where the Bloody Mary was invented. Sip one in the renovated King Cole bar and gawk at the lobby’s restored Tiffany chandelier.

The Peninsula Hotel is one of NYC's finest historic hotels.
Grand entrance of The Peninsula Hotel. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Peninsula

Also celebrating its 120th anniversary with a renovation is The Peninsula. Its 219 guest rooms and suites received a modern refresh and its reimagined rooftop lounge, Pen Top, is open year round. Want the ultimate selfie? The lobby’s stunning double staircase is the place to pose.

Exterior of The Algonquin Hotel, one of NYC's historic properties.
You’ll find the Algonquin’s famous round table in the lobby restaurant. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Algonquin

If you’re heading to NYC to go to a Broadway show, The Algonquin, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, is ideally located in the Theater District. It was the famous Roaring ’20s hangout for NY’s literati, including Dorothy Parker and The New Yorker founder Harold Ross. They gathered to dish and dine around the hotel’s Round Table. You can too since the table’s been restored and reinstalled in the hotel restaurant. It has a tall blue booth surrounding it.

The Chelsea Hotel facade features wrought iron balconies.
Wrought iron balconies are a distinctive feature of The Hotel Chelsea facade. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Hotel Chelsea

Featured in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, The Hotel Chelsea has a gritty history that includes the 1978 murder of Nancy Spungen by her boyfriend Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. Its 2022 renovation retained the property’s edgy vibe but elevated the guest experience with modern room decor and a luxe rooftop spa.

Facade of the Waldorf Astoria, one of NYC's historic hotels.
The Waldorf Astoria is a landmark hotel in New York City. Photo credit: Shutterstock

Waldorf Astoria

The highly anticipated 2025 reopening of the Waldorf Astoria will feature the addition of a 30,000 square foot spa and the restoration of the 1893 World’s Fair Clock. Think a stay is out of reach? It may not be since it’s a participating Hilton Honors property.