Waldorf Astoria New York

I reserved a standard room through Jetsetter and got an amazing rate. I read the reviews before booking, but since I was going to New York for a weekend seminar and really just needed a comfortable place to lay my head Saturday night, the reviews didn’t bother me. After all, it is the Waldorf.
When we arrived at the Park Avenue entrance, I knew I was the queen of balling on a budget. The lobby is beautifully opulent, and I felt wealthier immediately upon entering. I didn’t check in right away, as we arrived at 7 am and check-​in wasn’t available until 12. However, pre-​registration was easy and we left our bags with the very courteous valet. Just before 12, I received a text that our room was ready.
We arrived back at the hotel at 6. Check-​in was easy, and we went to our room in the main building. Sure, the hallways are dated, and there are pictures of celebrities of yesteryear on the walls, but there’s something pretty cool about staying in such a historic place.
Now for the lowdown:
The good:
The room was dated but clean and very comfortable. Thankfully, there was no evidence of ghosts (or leavings) of guests past. The bed was so comfortable that once I lay down, I just couldn’t get up.
My son said the gym is well appointed but crowded with too much equipment, so there’s not much room for jumping rope or weightlifting.
The bad:
The electrical outlets. As mentioned in previous reviews, the ones by the bed are blocked by the lamp plug and who knows what else. The ones in the desk don’t work. I finally found one behind the cabinet that the TV was on and unfortunately that’s where I saw peeling wallpaper.
The window. One of the windows wouldn’t close completely, so late into the night the room smelled like charbroiled meat a la Burger King.
The ugly:
The rusty dusty vent in the bathroom. Yuck.
The really ugly:
The bathtub didn’t drain properly. My son said by the time he finished his shower the water was almost up to his calves. The germophobe in me can’t handle that, of course, so I used my water conservation skills to take the shortest shower ever. I have no desire to soak in my own filth. At checkout, I did let the desk clerk know about the problem, and he appeared to make a note.
Bottom line:
My advice: heed the reviews. Pray to the gods of awesome hotel experiences and hope for the best or stay elsewhere.

Asked for early check in. Was reassured I’d get my check in.
Showed up. Was told to wait until 4PM and they only have a double bed for me and my wife.
Asked to speak w manager. Was told no one is available to speak with. Asked what time it was (I just flew in) and the staff told me to turn around and look at the clock.
Rude rude rude even for NYC standards. Also– hotel is undergoing remodeling and it’s so noisy. They didn’t mention this prior to booking.
Waldorf is old and dated. Staff is rude. Better to go somewhere else

LOVED it… Lobby bar fabulous. The spa wonderful. The décor stunning! I’ll be back.

Amazing classic hotel. Comfy beds. Close proximity to everything. Great service and concierge Anneth was on point with scoring us some great theater tickets. Room service food was the only thing that was not absolutely amazing.

We did not receive a room upgrade. At 5:30pm the following evening without any advanced notice, 2 men knocked on the door and said they were there to move us. Since we were getting ready to go out for the evening and were leaving the next day, we declined. When we tried to check out today the lines were so long (at least 30 people in line) we requested that the receipt be emailed to us. We have not yet received the hotel bill receipt and have no knowledge of any credit because of our problem.

What a fabulously beautiful hotel! We had a black tie event and it was just stunning– every inch of the ballroom, the lobbies, the hallway is just gorgeous. The food was just ok taste-​wise, but it was probably the biggest steak I’ve ever seen.
The reason it lost all the stars was when we realized what everyone meant when they said it felt like there was something under their feet. The event and fabulous night ended and on went the lights and look and behold… roaches. After hours getting ready and getting dressed up in tuxes and gowns, the last thing I expected was to have a roach crawl across my uncle’s shoes. I fully appreciate that it’s the city and it’s just a fact of city life there to am extent; however, an establishment of that caliber should have it under control and take great pains to ensure they don’t have a pest problem for their guests who expect and pay for luxury.

I’m lying here awake in the early morning hours of my honeymoon because I was given a room that doesn’t have curtains to block out light. $ 60 for breakfast?
Ok, ok. I’m updating this — I wrote this while I was tired and cranky due to the light from the room. However — the customer service from everyone I experienced at the restaurant was exceptional, so I’m raising it from one to three stars!

After a terrible experience I was invited back to the Waldorf to give them a chance to woo me. And they did not disappoint. The suite they offered us is a time capsule to a NYC before boutique hotels. Our regal dwelling was cavernous and spotless. I swept a white towel in inconspicuous crevices looking for dust and could not find any! The staff here is meticulous.
Unfortunately the AC only worked in half the suite rendering a large part of this accommodation unusable due to this weekends heat wave.

Waldorf Astoria
This entire building just makes me happy
If these walls could talk… They can’t but walking down the corridors in this historic masterpiece of Art Deco design you can at least watch some of the famous former guests in a number of beautiful black and white pictures hanging on the walls.
I have never had anything but excellent service here and that goes all the way from the absolutely wonderful housekeeping to the check in at front desk and the doorman at the entrances.
Yes, it’s old, but that’s part of the charm and atmosphere that makes it unique.
I really enjoy the live piano music in the Peacock Alley bar/​restaurant. Their cocktails and service at the bar is as good as it gets! The floor service is a little more uneven but still good.
I would not recommend their restaurant Bull and Bear Steakhouse, the food was ok but the service absolutely terrible. We waited more than 30 mins in a not even half full restaurant for our food. Our server asked me three times if I wanted coffee before he actually served it…
We had fabulous help from Mina at the concierge desk booking popular restaurants and getting great tables!
I like the towers the best, it just feels a little more private.
If you have time you should do the tour of the hotel, it’s pretty fun, especially to visit the kitchen, one block long! Our guide Barbara was the cutest lady ever.

This hotel was such an amazing experience! But let me start with the beginning:
(Better cancel your plans for today, because it’s going to be a hell of review! So much to tell!)
It was going to be my first time on American soil and after hearing all kinds of horror stories about different hotels I was kinda afraid to end up in such a hotel for a week. So when I booked, I immediately got in contact with Ms Howard. Every question was answered very quickly.
And after I told what the reason of the visit was… Well, let’s say she made my stay unforgetable and I wasn’t even there yet. :-) (By the way: The reason: A gift from my hubby for our wedding.)
When we entered the hotel (we took the airtrain/​subway to the hotel, but i can recommend to get a cab to get the real NYC vibe) we were immediately blown away by the hall of the hotel. It was gorgeous! I vibe in the hall/​lobby is unique. I felt like a moviestar… (Too bad my not so white all stars showed the people I clearly was not a superstar…)
When we came to our senses about the place, we actually wanted to check in as soon as possible. Well, that didn’t worked out for us, because we got lost… We couldn’t find were to go to check in. Lucky me that a supersweet clearner showed me the way. Really, he was sooo friendly!
I can honestly say that I have no complains about checking in: It was a very friendly, fast welcome. Up to the elevators! We had our room on the 21^st floor. And my god, their elevators are fast. I’m not really into taking an elevator, but going up 21 floor with a suitcase that weighs 20 kilo is not an option. But then… When we openend our room, my gosh. I can not explain how we felt. All I remember is that me and my best friend screamed, hugged and did a little dance. (Yes, I am almost 30 and I still do a happy dance if it’s necessary.)
The room was unbelievable: So tidy and welcoming! 2 big beds, 2 bathrooms, a living room and as a welcoming gift: 4 cupcakes that were so delicious that we didn’t even bothered to empty our suitcases. Nope, Hop in the shower, hop in a Waldorf Astoria bathrobe (Soooo soft!) and hop on the sofa with the cupcakes.
And for the rest of the week it was the same: It was a joy to stay in such a beautiful hotel. The employees are so nice! Whatever you ask and whenever you ask it: Nothing is too much for them. You can even get an umbrella if it’s raining.
The only negative thing I experienced was the noise it makes when the neighbours are showering/​flush the toilet. But it’s not the staff their fault. We had neighbours that showered after midnight. (Lucky for us, only the last 2 nights of our stay!)
The only thing I do wish we would have known before is that there is a brunch on Sunday. Unfortuantly for us it was fully booked, but it smelled so good and the buffet looked like foodheaven! (Oysters, choclate fountain,… In my eyes: Definitely worth the 105 dollars.
We didn’t do the Spa in the hotel, because it was a bit above my budget. But next time I’ll book a massage, because I saw the photo’s of the spa and I can’t imagine to have a more relaxing place for a massage.
I am, for sure, comming back to New York and I can say that I have found the right adress to stay. It has the perfect location for shopping and for sightseeing/​museums.

Checked-​in today.
This is a joke. $ 1,500 thrown into the garbage. This is officially the most disgusting «hotel» I have ever stayed at. I would give –5 stars if I could.
Too keep it short:
— dirty bed sheets
— cracked bath tub
— dust and dirt everywhere
— garbage under the bed
— outdated and non-​functional equipment
— 5 star hotel prices
Pictures worth a thousand words, so see them…

The bf and I stayed here for New Year’s. Figured it would be cool to say we stayed there since it’s considered so iconic.
The hotel is old… and by that we also mean dated. Nothing in the room functioned for comfort or practicality, it was just old and sad. This is not a place to stay for the young, hip, or contemporary.
They have a dress code! Being from California, this is a complete no no and yes, we can definitely afford to stay and dine at the best. Sport coat just to grace the lobby? No thank you!
This might seal the deal on your judgement of us but hopefully you’ll laugh — being Californian and visiting NY, we wanted to try White Castle but didn’t want to trek somewhere to get it… we ordered it to be delivered. Understandably right? My bf went downstairs in his sweats and sandals to pick up the order but ended up bringing the wrong room key (we decided to extend our stay last minute). He goes to customer service and they refuse to let him upstairs or call up to the room! I had fallen asleep and wasn’t picking up my cell. I’m sorry but this was completely unacceptable. We were paying guests and expect the same courtesy as any other guest. After an hour, my bf ended up giving them the last 4 digits of the credit card he used to book the room.
Nevertheless, we will never stay there again or recommend them to any of our friends planning a visit. It’s unfortunate as we plan to visit as often as we can and would have loved to have found our go to hotel in the city.

A star for aesthetic beauty and a star for the friendliness of the staff. Outside of that this place is a shitty hotel. I’ve stayed in Hampton Inns that were nicer than this.
To start, our room was very warm upon entering so we turned on the AC. Returning a few hours later, the thermostat read that the temperature had somehow risen. We called the desk and they said they’d have someone fix it. This amounted to our windows being opened (there’s a request on the windows that they not be opened OR closed except by staff). Over the four days that we stayed there, the temperature situation was never fixed.
Next, the famed Bull & Bear bar, which is located inside the building, has some of the most poorly made and watery drinks I’ve ever been served. Not only that, but they’re $ 19 each and the service was tremendously slow.
Overall, this is an overpriced Hilton with a thin sheen of historical glamour (which is slowly peeling away).

Seventy Years ago on June 9^th my parents spent their wedding night at the Waldorf Astoria. Today I went in just to see if I would feel comfortable. I wanted to see if I would be allowed to look around to take photos. I can’t remember ever going inside. These days I go wherever I want! I’ve been thrown out of some of the best places. :-)
I must have 100 photos. No one disturbed me the whole time I was there.
They have the telephone room, the Coat Room, the safes to lock valuables, concierge, Bell Captain, long halls, beautiful chandeliers, the bar, ballroom and more.
There were at least six display cases with memorabilia of famous guests. So many cozy seating areas surrounded by potted palms. I could have easily had a seat and relaxed for a while.
The floors, walls, and ceilings must have all been restored. It’s just beautiful elegance everywhere you look.
I didn’t want to wear out my welcome so I took photos and wandered out just the same as I wandered in. It was a great experience.
Funny thing, when I told my daughter where I went today, she couldn’t believe it. Today she was wearing the necklace my father gave my mother on their 36 Anniversary. It’s a gold disk charm very plain. Engraved on the disk it says «I love you more today than yesterday but less than tomorrow.» It has his initials and the date on the back.
What a wonderful coincidence. I still have the hotel receipt from their honeymoon 70 years ago. My mother saved it. They stayed only a night or two. I’m sure it was really romantic! Then reality hit on a Monday and they went back to work!
End of story…
If you like nostalgia (or old hotels) visit the Waldorf Astoria. I wasn’t disappointed. I did feel comfortable!

In its day, the Waldorf Astoria was a dazzling hotel. These days, it’s just another old hotel in Midtown East. It has definitely seen better days, but that does not mean that it is completely bad.
PROS: Rooms are pretty spacious for New York. We got adjoining rooms, so even more space! Beds are really comfortable. The shampoo is Salvatore Ferragamo. (Everything is super high-​end!) Bellman was really quick. Lobby smells like soap. There are a few problems, though.
CONS: Wallpaper is peeling in places, and the adjoining door is downright atrocious! From the lobby to the rooms, everything is old and not taken care of. You have to hold down the handle to make the toilet flush properly. This is not much of a problem, but the iPod dock is for an old model. Wi-​Fi is super slow. I mean molasses slow. It takes two minutes to load a YouTube video.
OVERALL: Once upon a time, the Waldorf Astoria was a glamorous hotel. Now, it is a semi-​nice hotel with peeling wallpaper. I might come again if I stay in this part of New York.

Really enjoyed my stay at the Waldorf — 5 nights in one of the superior double rooms. We were situated on the 9^th floor in what turned out to be a comfortable, spacious and quiet room.
Rolling up to the Waldorf in your car or taxi is still, in my view, a genuine thrill. It’s so iconic that you can’t help but be whisked away in your mind to a bygone era, especially when you emerge from the revolving doors into the marble lobby. The check-​in process was smooth with an optional suite upgrade offered at $ 100 a night, including breakfast and wifi (I didn’t take it up).
The rooms have all the amenities you might need. Our phone wasn’t working, so I went down to reception to ask them to fix it and also if they might have a plug adapter, as I’d packed the wrong one. They generously gave me one free of charge and our phone was fixed the next day as I requested.
The bathroom was marble, spacious and well-​catered in terms of towels, etc. Top tip — pop the Waldorf branded soap in your bag each day and you have 5 bars to bring back and impress your pals with! Ditto the Ferragamo toiletries if you are in an upgraded room.
We didn’t eat at the hotel, but had cocktails in Sir Harry’s Bar and Peacock Alley, which although expensive, were delicious, strong, and accompanied by a great ambience and live piano music. It’s worth having just one cocktail to experience it!
We even saw some hookers in the lifts one night — a true NYC experience!
Upon check-​out, there is a left luggage facility in the basement which we used for all 5 of our bags. It’s free, but obviously, as is usual in the US, tip heavily!
The Waldorf is in a great location and there are good deals to be had — we were essentially paying about £50 a night — so I’d not hesitate to come back.
Tip: book direct with hotel and not Expedia, and enroll for free in the Hilton Honors program, to receive free wifi — it costs $ 18.95 per day otherwise!

I love the preservation of the lovely architecture and timeless ambience and design of the hotel. I see a lot of one star reviews and am surprised there are so many. My room in the east tower 8^th floor is clean and good size. I don’t see any of the issues that others have talked about like crack in paint, door problems etc. it’s a nice room and Have no complaints. I actually like the style of the rooms. It is simple and outdated according to our era but isn’t that the point? I think you have to appreciate history and the past in order to love to stay here. If you want modern style this isn’t the place for you. There’s plenty of other options in the city.
I do have to stay a couple negative things:
1. The fake «fireplace» with an orange colored light bulb is a little much… and tacky. Would prefer maybe a decorative vase and/​or flowers as a replacement. The orange glow of a light bulb just isn’t appealing to me and takes away from the rest of the décor because it looks cheap.
2. I think everything is overpricedw. I’ve lived in Manhattan for almost 4 yrs and I think charging $ 35 for coffee/​pastries for breakfast or $ 25 for a regular cocktail is excessive even to New York City standards. Would appreciate equal costs i. e 12 – 20 for a cocktail would be more realistic.
All in all I would recommend this hotel. I think the service is wonderful and the history is a pleasure to experience and be a part of. Thanks for a great week long stay WA!

I’ve read a lot of reviews and seen a lot of pictures of an unkept Waldorf. We decided to book anyways because we love the history of this place. Luckily, our experience was great. Our room was clean and spacious. Nothing was in disrepair that we noticed. There were some things showing obvious signs of aging, but that was to be expected in a historical hotel. The staff was welcoming and helpful. Our bed was comfortable. My one and only complaint is about the lack of wall outlets near the bed. Overall a great stay! We can’t wait to come back.

Iconic hotel, worth a tour but not a stay. While this hotel should be the representation of the worldwide Waldorf luxury brand, it isn’t. I stayed 5 nights during my honeymoon, I’m a Hilton member, and was never granted even the most basic upgrade… pretty disheartening considering the low occupancy of the hotel and the reason and length of my stay.
After arriving to my room (while i understand the historic nature of the property), i was surprised at how dated and unkept the room looked and felt. From the most basic necessities like broken fixtures and outlets to the heater that never worked to the TV that could not display the majority of the channels without a fuzzy signal. The mini bar was never cool and dispute numerous calls to the front desk to get it fixed, it never was. The room just felt «blah». It was obvious it had not been renovated in decades. I have stayed in holiday inn’s that are far nicer and well kept. The room we stayed in felt like a room that had been forgotten about.
Often times I would call first services or front desk and get different answers to my questions. Most of the time the phone would ring 7 – 10 times before anyone would answer. My last name is Warren and it was pronounced «Warner». When I requested water due to the mini fridge not working, it took 40 minutes to arrive at my room, at 10pm at night.
Overall I was very disappointed with my stay. It did not measure up to the Waldorf Astoria name. I can’t figure out why the hotel is a four star four diamond when I hardly see how it could be worth three. While the hotel has an impressive history, I would not recommend staying but only touring.

I fully expected to be staying at a top notch hotel when I booked a weekend here but it was anything but that. Tv didn’t work whole weekend, shower was not working properly, window in the bathroom was slightly ajar when we checked into the room so the bathroom and adjoining bedroom were somewhat cold since there was a blizzard bearing down on city this particular night. And to top it all off I mistakenly left a $ 400 coat hanging in the closet, called the hotel the night I left and was told they would get back to me and never got a return call. Plz have the maid send me a thank u note for my generous mistake.

Just okay. Maybe I expected more because of the Home Alone movies… but this place needs a refresh badly! Rented a top tier suite and felt like they needed to give me money back…

The good: Great cutomer service, magnificent building, full of hitory of dignitaries and celebrity visitors.
The ugly: for a five star hotel as Waldorf, I was dissappointed on the room. There is a crack at the corner of the bath tub, you can cut your feet if you are not paying attention. They should keep up with the maintenance.

My wife and I decided to stay in Manhattan for 2 days Dec. 24 — Dec. 25, 2015. We chose the Waldorf Astoria because of its proximity to Radio City Music Hall and other cultural activities. We frequently visit 5 star hotels based upon exceptional etiquette service.
Well, let’s begin. Please see photos numbered 540 through 547 of Room 906. The conditions were horrendous. This is the world renown Waldorf Astoria. This is our experience!!! There was no reinforced safety latch on the decrepit door. We called the front desk and we were connected to the detective department. My wife explained the conditions.
A very nice man named YaYa (sp?) came with a WD-​40 lubricant can. Upon entry, he observed the condition of the door and stated he would return with necessary repair tools.
We tried to contacting the front desk regarding relocation but was not contacted by management. We «sucked it up» and stayed.
This will be our first and last reservation with the Waldorf Astoria.
How can this brand allow for sub par conditions in a billion dollar zip code?!?

The glamor of the Waldorf isn’t lacking in in the magnificent lobby, the guest rooms or the price. However, the property didn’t exceed my expectations in any way. In some cases, they fell short.
Booking online as an HHonors member is the best way to go, you can also request upgrades through the app. If you’re a Gold or Diamond member of their program they’ll give you a voucher for a free cocktail, up to a $ 20 value, at any of their restaurants. You’ll need every penny of it for a drink here as most cocktails and glasses of wine run at this price point.
The magnitude of the property is immense, taking up an entire city block. You may experience this as you wander the halls finding your guest room.
The rooms are historic and nice and the beds were comfortable, that perfect balance of soft and firm for a great night’s rest. The bathrooms are older and my room had an interesting plumbing arrangement with the shower head at the opposite end of the bathtub than the faucet and drain. For the shower, water pressure was poor.
I ordered room service a couple times. Delivery times, took up to an hour each time. The food prices are luxury for food items that are not luxurious, unless you order the caviar. On a gluten free dietary restriction, they provide options on their menu. However, the kitchen missed the mark by serving me gluten free bread, but adding wheat breadcrumbs to the sides on the plate, causing cross contamination. At an hour wait time, I tried my best to avoid anything near the crumbs to avoid getting sick, only to prove that avoidance wasn’t the best option. I’d prefer finding another local eatery if you have a dietary restriction.
It’s cool to say you stayed at the Waldorf, but didn’t feel the experience was exceptional in any way. My wife’s expensive tastes may bring us back one day. Aside from the spectacle of the entrance and lobby, it wasn’t spectacular.

This review addresses poor service at both the Waldorf Astoria Hotel AND The Waldorf Towers. Unilocal removed the review from the Towers page and asked that it be put here, but covers failures in both places. Let’s see if they remove it again…
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I still get agitated and anxious when I think of how poorly my wedding night stay here began.
We chose the Waldorf not only for its proximity to our wedding site in Central Park, but also because my grandfather was a banquet chef here ages ago. The stories and allure of a piece of classic New York history meeting family history made it ideal. I made the reservation well in advance and spoke to a concierge to note that it was to be our wedding night stay, but that if our room were ready early enough, I’d love to dress there before the ceremony. The concierge made a note and offered congratulations, even sharing a direct line to his desk. On the day of the ceremony, I spoke to our concierge contact and I was thrilled to see a text saying that our room was ready at 9:30am! I didn’t think it would happen, and finishing errands kept me busy till our 12:30pm arrival. And thus began a two hour panic.
I checked in at the desk and headed to our assigned 8^th floor room with my mother… to find it completely upside down. Its old and well-​used furniture was all on one pile and in assorted states of disassembly as a man with a vacuum swept back and forth in the spot where the bed should be. Lamps were in pieces and on the bed, pushed against one wall. When I entered he barely looked up — I waved and he shut off the vacuum, told me to set my things (wedding dress and bouquet) atop the furniture pile, and give him 30 more minutes! My mouth fell open and I froze. We made our way to a hall phone and dialed my direct number for the concierge who I’d spoken with several times prior. I described the chaos in the room I’d been given and explained that I had only 90 minutes before I was due at my wedding, was now in a hallway in curlers with bridal party and dresses in tow… and was put on indefinite hold. I was in tears.
My groom arrived and went straight to reception, where I met him after hanging up on my then-​15 minute hold, and a front desk attendant looked up our initial room on the computer and apologized, as the room was noted as being repaired and never should have been assigned. He gave us our new room keys and two drink vouchers, assuring us it would be okay. We were never more pleased than when we came upstairs to find we’d been assigned a room in the Towers, a side room of the Elizabeth Taylor Suite!
It was a mini apartment of its own! One and a half bath, king bedroom, living room with wet bar, foyer, and enormous closet space! Finally, I relaxed and prepped for our wedding day.
Until I realized my bridal bouquet, having been toted around the hotel with me in a vase, was now missing. In all the back and forth, I could recall setting it down on a table in the hallway as I made my panicked call to the front desk… and couldn’t remember anything of the rush afterwards! I called the front desk: no, they hadn’t seen it. I called housekeeping: no, they hadn’t seen it. I called the concierge to ask if they could help me find somewhere to buy a replacement somewhere in a rush: they had to look into it and see where, but nothing came to mind. How was this possible at the WALDORF that there are no florists on speed dial? As my mother went back to the 8^th floor hallway to look for it or find a maid she could ask, I called security. They said nothing had been turned in, but they would look into it. I begged them to look into camera footage because someone clearly DID see it and had it. The woman on the other end said she would…
…and 10 minutes later my flowers were magically found and returned to me by a security guard. Had I not pressed for security’s help, I’d never have gotten my wedding bouquet back. I’ll never know if housekeeping took them or the front desk did, but thank goodness for cameras in hallways and one willing security agent.
Wedding done, dinner over, we returned to our room to find they skipped us for turndown service. :shrugs:
Breakfast the next morning was wonderful, served in a posh suite in the Towers. The room itself was sumptuously decorated and I’m a Liz Taylor fan, so it was a treat to see all her photos lining the walls preceding our room. But nowhere to be found were the extra touches or above and beyond service, especially for wedding night guests, that I’d heard tell of at the Waldorf. Had our initial room not been in shambles, garnering the apology upgrade, this would’ve been no different than a stay at any other chain property, but with a higher pricetag. With the exception of security and our second registration desk agent, service was non-​existent.

We won’t be staying here again. There was a huge cockroach just inside our door when we arrived. Still alive, we kicked it out into the hallway. The next morning it was still there.
Although we had complimentary Internet service, it NEVER worked. We read the reviews before booking the hotel and believed some experiences to be isolated incidents. The most joy we found was in a Thai restaurant a couple of blocks away. The staff was just okay. Nothing special. There was no personality whatsoever in this place. We’ve stayed at The Roosevelt and The Ritz and loved them.
The water pressure in the shower was horrible, and it took several minutes for it to warm up. Honestly, we’ve stayed at much better properties than this — including Courtyards and Residence Inns. The service was better, and the property was cleaner. Although we stayed away from the Park Avenue side, the hotel was still extremely noisy.
As Hilton Honors members, we won’t ever stay at this property again and will not be recommending it to any of our friends.
Update:
I changed my review to four stars because of the most gracious customer service follow-​up. I’ve received phone calls and emails from management which were followed up in writing. Thank you!

Before booking this hotel as a gift to dear friends, I read the Unilocal reviews, and I admit I was a little concerned by some of the reviews. But I went with it anyway, and here’s my two cents:
Cons: There

As a rather large fan of the ‘old New York’ I am particularly fond of the luxury hotels of the Belle Époque and Art Deco periods so the Waldorf is one of my favorites to visit. It has a spectacular lobby and amazing décor. It also has one of the best hotel bars in Sir Harry’s.
We checked early at the Diamond Desk and were promptly given our keys and had our baggage brought up to the room. We had a couple of issues with the assigned room and after contacting the desk were immediately reassigned to a master suite without any problems.
The room was on a high story which afforded great views of the East Side, the Chrysler Building and the rest of the skyline. The suite was large and well appointed and had a huge bathroom with both a shower stall and tub.
The day we were to check out we opted to stay a little later and after calling the Diamond Desk were able to get a 1PM late checkout without any issues.
Service at this property was excellent and we are already planning our next visit.

I came to check out the Art Deco architecture, the mosaic mural the wheel of life, and in general to be immersed in the energy of glamorous old time New York. Additionally I wanted to do some research for a novel I’m writing, yes like many in this city, I too am a struggling and starving artist.
To my dismay because I came in through the «wrong» entrance, I was profiled. I was told by security that it would be «easier» to go around through to the main entrance. So I did, and I had a leisurely stroll around. Before I was to have a drink in the lobby bar, I decided to use the restroom.
It was then that the reality of the situation dawned on me, that yes I, who have passed as Caucasian all my life, was being made other. It arrived with the knock on the bathroom stall, and the famously rude New York attitude telling me, «I know I’m not supposed to be here.» Yes I am of middle eastern descent, yes I have a luscious beard, yes my head is covered, and no it doesn’t matter that my coat is Claiborne.
After I walked out, I was interrogated by not one, but two security guards with earpieces and suits. I then explained everything to them, and they apologized. All is forgiven, a simple «misunderstanding» sure yes, call it what you will. So I sit here and drink French cider at your fancy bar, quite certain that I’m still on your little list. Which is odd, considering the Chinese ownership of the hotel.
All good fodder for my novel, but your folly earns you a well deserved one star, and if you’re very lucky, this won’t blow up on social media. Cheers to rolling the dice!

This place is really at the outer limits of what I’m prepared to spend for a hotel but my wife really likes it and anything that keeps her happy.
The rooms are like mini-​suites, very clean, furnishings and toiletries, etc. are high end. The downstairs lobby and public areas are really impressive, too. Staff are very professional. All around well run hotel.
If you can get a weekend rate or some other deal (they give modest discounts for AARP, AAA, etc.) here then go for it.

This iconic hotel — where many classic movie scenes have been filmed — is a beautiful experience.
I stayed here for one night with my friend who visited from London. Our room was 600 $ per night including breakfast buffet.
I love old fashion glamour — which is making you feel, you may run into Marilyn Monroe or Veronica Lake at anytime — its oozes of history — and is definitely a New York City experience ((in my book)).
I recommend it to everyone, — if your budget allows it.—
Service is immaculate, the hotel is stunning.

Ich kann das Hotel absolut NICHT empfehlen. Wir waren hier auf einer Konferenz und haben hier gebucht, weil es das Konferenzhotel war. Die Zimmer sind veraltet und abgenutzt. Die Preise sind auf höchstem New Yorker Niveau und außer der Lobby ist das Hotel wirklich nicht beeindruckend. Wir waren einen Abend in der Präsidenten Suite und selbst die ist alt und schäbig. Wer Wifi will muss dafür übrigens 18 $ bzw 24 $ pro Tag extra zahlen! Ich hab die Nächte vor der Konferenz zum halben Preis in einem wesentlich schöneren Hotel ebenfalls in NY verbracht. Mal sehen ob der neue Investor dem Hotel nochmal wieder etwas Glantz verleiht.

The Quick: Offers gorgeous architecture and absolute sophistication, however it just doesn’t compare to other luxury hotels in the area (cough cough The Plaza and The Pierre).
The Details: I was lucky enough to attend a recent gala at the Waldorf-​Astoria. Imagine my delight to be invited to such an iconic hotel. It is gorgeous, it is classy, and it embodies the rich and famous. That being said, the food was overly mediocre. If I would’ve ordered that entrée at a restaurant I would’ve been very disappointed. It also fell short of dazzling me. That being said, the bartenders were spot on.
The Damage: money money money money… mooooonnnneeeyyy!

Also was den Wasserverbrauch bei den Pissoires angeht darf bei 3,9 Liter (1Gallone) pro Spühvorgang wohl nicht mehr von Zeitgemäß ausgegangen werden, was zu den restlichen Kommentaren passt ;)

El mítico Waldorf-​Astoria impresiona por fuera y por dentro.
Un edificio Art déco de 42 plantas que está situado en Park Avenue, muy cerca de Grand Central Terminal y el Chrysler Building.
¿Sabías que el Waldorf-​Astoria tiene su propio andén en Grand Central Terminal, desde donde un pasillo privado subterráneo conecta directamente con el hotel?
Si siempre has querido sentirte como el príncipe de Zamunda, tienes que visitar este hotel!
No puedo hablar de las habitaciones porque no me he alojado en el Waldorf, pero sí de la oferta de gastronomía. Hay un restaurante clásico, un steakhouse y una brasserie, además de tres bares.
Muy destacable e igual de famoso que el hotel en sí es el brunch de los domingos (10 a 14 h). Pero en este hotel no se trata de una brunch cualquiera — más bien parece un cuerno de la abundancia hecho realidad.
Hay estaciones de TODO — una barra de cosas crudas (caviar, ostras, etc.), de gambas y bogavante, estaciones de pescado ahumado, de carne trinchada al momento, bufé de quesos, fiambres. No me puedo imaginar nada que falte!
Un bufé con más de 100 tipos de postres, alguno hecho al momento con la miel recogida del jardín que tienen en el terrado… (sí, tienen colmenas arriba cual Sherlock Holmes de Elementary, además de verdura, hierbas aromáticas, etc.)… muchas cosas demasiado exclusivas, pero todas buenísimas.
Durante el brunch hay que aprovechar — por supuesto — para probar algunas de las especialidades que se inventaron allí, como los Huevos Benedict, la ensalada Waldorf y el Red Velvet Cake!
Una experiencia realmente inolvidable y una cosa que uno hace a lo mejor una vez en la vida (menos los neoyorquinos que van regularmente). No me atrevo ni a poner el precio porque creo que internet o Unilocal o por lo menos mi ordenador implosionaría…

A New York Legend… Gerade für NYC-​Neulinge, die zum ersten Mal den Big Apple besuchen, eine absolute Empfehlung.
Die Atmospäre ist sehr NY-​typisch und man hat viel zu schauen.
Die Zimmer sind ganz schön, aber auch schon leicht angestaubt. Die Betten sind allerdings top!
Der Service ist ok, aber man merkt, dass dieses Haus es nicht unbedingt mehr nötig hat, mit dem Service zu punkten. Aber es ist, wie gesagt, wirklich ok und in dieser Stadt verzeiht man vielleicht auch manches.
Alles in Allem aber wirklich einen Besuch wert!