After a four-year hiatus, the iconic Art Deco establishment, designed by the famous Chinese-American architect Ming Pei, has just reopened its doors. On the program: an even more exclusive and refined offering for dream stays or events…
The most discerning travelers in the Big Apple have been missing it…Four years after its closure, i.e. since the pandemic, the emblematic Four Seasons hotel on East 57th Street in New York reopened on November 15, following a top-of-the-range facelift.
The silhouette of the Four Seasons, which stands close to Central Park, Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Plaza in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, is instantly recognizable: the famous Chinese-American architect Ming Pei (who designed the Louvre Pyramid) skilfully drew his inspiration for the tower from the Art Deco architecture of New York skyscrapers of the 20s and 30s.
At the time of its inauguration in June 1993 , with over 360 rooms spread over 52 floors, it was the city’s tallest hotel (208 metres), a record that has since been beaten. But in terms of decoration and service, it continues to reach for the sky…
Quintessential luxury hospitality
“This hotel has long represented the quintessence of luxury hospitality, and together with our long-standing partner Ty Warner, we will be shaping the next chapter in the continuing history of this magnificent hotel,” said Rainer Stampfer, Four Seasons President of Global Operations, Hotels & Resorts.
For the inauguration, a selection of rooms in several categories have already opened their doors. With some of the largest floor areas in New York, ranging from 47 square meters to 400 square meters, “bathed in light and offering views of Central Park, the Manhattan skyline and beyond”, they provide guests with a particularly pleasant stay. All 368 rooms and suites will be available by 2025.
For extended stays, one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations with spacious kitchens and, in some cases, terraces are announced. Some are even large enough to allow “dining under the stars”– a luxury in New York!
A penthouse with four terraces and a 360° view of New York City
But the pinnacle of the hotel remains the Ty Warner Penthouse, the result of a seven-year collaboration between architects I.M. Pei , Peter Marino and owner Ty Warner, perched on the 52nd floor, “an architectural and artistic tour de force renowned for its bespoke design, four terraces, 360-degree view of New York City, beautifully crafted finishes and world-class features and amenities” boasts the Four Seasons group in its press release. Hand-lacquered walls with mother-of-pearl inlays byAmerican artist Nancy Lorenz, custom-designed four-poster bed in Thai silk with threads of pure 22-carat gold…At $80,000 a night. the wallet of its occupants will have to live up to the place…
But you don’t have to go all the way to the top to enjoy the establishment’s luxurious atmosphere.
Right from the entrance, its grand lobby crowned by a “spectacular 10-metre glass ceiling”, and “honey-coloured marble floors and columns, enhanced by sculptural flowers” announce the color.
A new chef for both restaurants
On the service side, guests can visit the two restaurants, “lively upstairs and open onto the grand lobby”.
In The Garden, breakfast, lunch (and dinner from 2025) will feature new menus concocted by chef Maria Tampakis. Alongside the restaurant’s iconic dish, lemon and ricotta crêpes, we’ve added dishes with Northern Italian influences, such as French toast with panettone or agnolotti stuffed with prime rib and caramelized onion, drizzled with sheep’s milk cheese fondue , as well as classics revisited in a luxurious version, such as Italian Benedict with sun-dried tomato hollandaise.
Across the great hall, the TY Bar is back, with a “selection of top-quality spirits”, including a novelty, a journey through the different eras of New York cocktails, and its “well thought-out” wine list.
But it’s also possible to treat your taste buds and enjoy a meal, thanks once again to a new menu by Maria Tampakis.
Another new feature of this reopening is the arrival of Jonathan Pereira as executive pastry chef for both establishments, as well as for in-room meals and banquets. “His creations are magnificent, and the tastes are on a whole new level,” assures Restaurant Manager Iwona Luksza.
In-room culinary delights
The taste experience continues in the rooms and suites, where menus from the hotel’s restaurants are available 24 hours a day. New for the most refined palates: the signature breakfast, with caviar, crème fraîche and Dom Pérignon! For a great start to the day…
The beverage bar has also been reinvented, with snacks selected from local suppliers or from further afield, such as Lavazza premium Italian coffees.
In the spa-like bathrooms, the joy of cosmetic samples – surprise bags for grown-ups – can be found again, with luxurious products from Spanish skincare brand Natura Bissé.
Private or business events
An ideal location for the perfect New York City tourist break, its Four Seasons is also ideally suited to business meetings and social events of all kinds, “thanks to its central location and expertise in creative planning and impeccable event execution.”
In its more than 1,400 square meters of multi-purpose space, including the “spectacular FIFTY7 space with exhibition kitchen and 6-meter-high ceiling overlooking 58th Street”, anything is possible, “from an elite board meeting to glittering receptions to a sit-down dinner for 270 guests” recalls the establishment ready once again for a tumultuous life…
“Since we announced the date of our reopening less than a month ago, we have received considerable interest from new guests wishing to discover the hotel for the first time and from loyal guests eager to stay and dine with us again, and to return to their beloved Manhattan address, their home away from home,” thus rejoices General Manager Michal Dedera.
Read also > The Four Seasons group taps into the jet-setting trend with The White Lotus
Featured Photos: © Four Seasons
