In-Depth Review of Four Seasons Hotel New York in Manhattan - AFAR

"Housed in an iconic I.M. Pei–designed 52‑story art‑deco tower with marble floors and a 33‑foot ceiling, this Midtown Manhattan luxury hotel reopened on November 15, 2024 after a pandemic-era closure and an extensive multimillion‑dollar revamp (including new lighting, upgraded AC and more than $8 million spent on elevators). The lobby feels elegant but not stuffy—Les Clefs d'Or concierge service, a live pianist and quick check‑in set a welcoming tone—and the location on Billionaire’s Row between Madison and Park Avenues puts Central Park, Rockefeller Center, MoMA and Fifth Avenue shopping within easy walking distance. There are 219 accommodations ranging from 500‑sq‑ft rooms to some of the city’s largest suites, culminating in a 4,300‑sq‑ft Ty Warner penthouse with private elevator, four glass balconies, an onyx master bath and Thai‑silk canopy bed (tens of thousands per night); Central Park suites offer sweeping park and Hudson River views. The rooms combine a light, understated palette with luxury touches—Tai Ping wool carpets, motorized windows, marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs that fill in about 60 seconds and Natura Bissé toiletries. Food and drink were refreshed under executive chef Maria Tampakis: the Garden Restaurant leans Northern Italian with locally sourced ingredients (notable dishes included lemon ricotta pancakes and a polenta with foraged mushrooms and perfectly poached eggs), while TY Bar is an opulent scarlet‑and‑black cocktail lounge serving era‑inspired drinks (a limoncello‑accented 5th Avenue Cosmopolitan), theatrical bites and novelties like a foie‑gras “apple.” Service is highly attentive and intuitive—with longtime staff and a reported ~60% return‑visitor rate—and the property offers accessible common areas and guest rooms, a well‑equipped gym (personal trainers available) and a spa scheduled to open in 2025." - Katherine LaGrave