It’s been a long wait, but it looks like one of New York City’s most iconic hotels is finally ready for its return.
The Waldorf Astoria New York, a symbol of luxury and grandeur for nearly a century, has announced it will reopen its doors to guests on September 1st, 2025. That’s several years later than originally expected—but judging from the recent video update, it looks like that timeline might actually stick this time.
A $2 Billion Restoration of a Legend
The hotel closed in early 2017 for an ambitious $2 billion renovation. Part of the plan was to convert the upper floors into luxury condominiums—The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria—while restoring the historic hotel spaces below.
We stayed there in January 2017, not long before the doors were shuttered. Even then, the hotel showed its age in places. But despite some worn edges, there was an undeniable sense of timeless elegance. You can’t recreate that kind of charm from scratch. The Waldorf wasn’t just a hotel—it was an institution.
And because so much of the building is historically protected, the restoration required patience, precision, and an obsessive attention to detail.
Bringing the Past Back to Life
Much of the historic Art Deco interior has been lovingly restored to reflect how the hotel might have looked when it opened on Park Avenue in 1931. In fact, many of the restored elements now look more like the original design than what had been there pre-closure.
Among the highlights:
- The famous lobby clock is back, refurbished and proudly on display.
- Murals that once graced the Waldorf’s original location (now the Empire State Building site) have returned to the hallways.
- Signature spaces, such as the Peacock Alley lounge and Ballroom, have been revived with a modern touch while preserving their historic character.
Photos and updates on the official Waldorf Astoria New York site give a glimpse into what awaits—lavish details, sweeping chandeliers, polished marble, and rich gold tones that channel the hotel’s golden age.
A Cultural Icon Through the Decades
The Waldorf Astoria isn’t just a hotel—it’s a cultural landmark that has helped define New York City’s identity for nearly a century.
It was home to the glitterati of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and some of that glamour remains etched in its walls. Cole Porter composed many of his most famous songs while living at the Waldorf, with his grand piano still on display in the hotel today. Over the decades, stars like Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Michael Jackson all called the hotel home at one point or another.
It wasn’t just celebrities. The Waldorf was also the unofficial hotel of U.S. presidents. Every commander-in-chief from Herbert Hoover to Barack Obama stayed at the Waldorf during their time in office. That legacy of prestige and influence is something no amount of renovation can fabricate—it’s earned over time, and carefully preserved.
Booking the Waldorf Astoria New York: Cash or Points?
Unsurprisingly, a stay at the new-and-improved Waldorf won’t come cheap. Cash rates currently start at $1,500 per night, with prices dipping slightly in early 2026 to just over $1,000 before taxes.
Standard Hilton Honors points redemptions aren’t available until January 2026, but when they do open up, 150,000 points per night appears to be the going rate. While that’s not exactly cheap in points terms, it can still represent solid value compared to cash rates—especially for Hilton Honors members sitting on a large points balance.
Even better, if you have a Free Night Reward from a Hilton credit card, you can use it here. That could be one of the best redemptions you’ll ever get from one of those certificates.
Final Thought
It’s not every day a hotel gets a $2 billion facelift while preserving its historic soul. Whether you’re planning a stay this fall or just want to marvel at the restoration, the Waldorf Astoria’s grand reopening marks a rare comeback in a city constantly reinventing itself.
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