Walking past the corner of 63rd and Madison, you can’t really miss it. It’s that massive brick fortress that looks more like a high-end museum or a private bank than a store. Honestly, that’s because it was a bank. The old 1921 Bank of New York and Trust building at 706 Madison Avenue is now the beating heart of Hermes Madison Ave NYC.
It is 20,250 square feet of "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it," but the vibe inside is surprisingly different from the stuffy atmosphere you might expect.
The Hermes Madison Ave NYC Experience (It’s Weirdly Welcoming)
Most people assume they’ll be tackled by security if they aren't wearing a Birkin. Actually, the staff is generally quite chill if you’re there to appreciate the craftsmanship. You walk in and the first thing you see isn't a wall of bags. It’s a 19th-century Hansom cab. Like, a literal horse-drawn carriage from the 1830s sitting right there on the terrazzo floor. It’s a flex, sure, but it’s also a nod to the brand’s equestrian roots.
The layout is a bit of a maze because it’s actually three buildings fused together.
You’ve got the main Federalist-style bank building and two adjacent townhouses. The architects, RDAI, spent nearly a decade making these three separate structures feel like one "Maison." The result is a series of "salons." Each one focuses on a different métier—that's Hermes-speak for product category.
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A Quick Layout of the Land
- Ground Floor: This is the chaos zone. Silk scarves, perfumes, and that high-end "fashion jewelry" that everyone buys as their gateway drug into the brand. There’s also a coffee bar here.
- Second Floor: The Men’s Universe. It feels like a very expensive library with herringbone wood floors. You’ll find the home collection here too—pillows, blankets, and those $600 plates you’re afraid to eat off of.
- Third Floor: Women’s ready-to-wear and shoes. There’s a "sun globe" on the ceiling that mimics natural light. This is also where the "secret" champagne bar is tucked away.
- Fourth Floor: The Holy Grail. Leather goods. Handbags. This is where the glass cupola is, and it leads out to the rooftop garden.
Why the Rooftop Garden is the Real Star
New York has a lot of rooftop bars, but a rooftop garden on a retail store is a rarity. Landscape designer Miranda Brooks handled the greenery, and it’s basically a slice of Paris dropped onto the Upper East Side.
You’ll see the "artificier"—that iconic cast-iron cavalryman statue—chilling among the native plants. He was moved here from the old 691 Madison location. If you’re exhausted from deciding between two identical-looking shades of orange, this is where you go to breathe.
What Most People Get Wrong About Shopping Here
"Can I just buy a Birkin?"
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Still no, but with more steps.
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The Hermes Madison Ave NYC flagship operates on a relationship model. You don't just walk in and point at a Kelly bag on the shelf. Those bags on the fourth floor? They’re "display only." They are there to taunt you.
To actually get a "Quota Bag" (a Birkin or Kelly), you basically have to date the store. You find a Sales Associate (SA) you vibe with, you buy some shoes, maybe a scarf, perhaps a saddle if you’re feeling spicy. You build a profile. Eventually—and "eventually" can mean six months or two years—you might get "the text."
Pro tip from locals: Don’t bother with online appointments for leather. They don't exist here. You have to walk in and talk to the concierge at the iPad station. If you want a smoother experience, go at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday. Saturdays are a literal zoo.
The Artisan Factor
What makes 706 Madison different from the Meatpacking or Wall Street locations is the fifth floor. It’s not for shopping. It’s a private atelier where five full-time artisans live and work. They handle repairs, personalization, and sometimes do live demos.
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It’s a reminder that while the brand is a billion-dollar beast, there’s still someone in the building who knows how to hand-stitch leather with two needles and a piece of waxed thread.
The "Madison 706" Exclusives
If you’re a collector, you know Hermes loves a store-specific limited edition. When this place opened, they dropped a bunch of stuff you can only find here:
- An H08 watch with taxicab-yellow accents.
- A Kelly bag with a "Hommage à Gene Kelly" print.
- Special colorway scarves that feature the building's facade in the artwork.
- A literal Hermes jukebox.
Is it Worth the Hype?
Look, it’s a retail store. But as far as retail stores go, it’s a masterpiece of adaptive reuse. Seeing how they preserved the original bank’s brass railings and the plaque listing the board of directors—which includes Alexander Hamilton, by the way—is cool even if you aren't buying a $4,000 coat.
It feels less like a shop and more like a clubhouse for people who appreciate very, very nice things. Whether you're there to drop five figures or just to grab a $200 bottle of Terre d'Hermès, the experience is the same: quiet, slightly surreal, and intensely polished.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
If you're planning to go, don't just aimlessly wander. Head straight to the concierge on the ground floor and ask for a quick tour of the different levels. Even if you aren't assigned a dedicated SA immediately, it helps you get the lay of the land without feeling like a lost tourist. If you're serious about starting a "journey" toward a bag, make sure the SA you speak with actually creates a profile for you in their system—otherwise, your visit basically didn't happen in the eyes of the Hermes computer.