If you stand at the corner of 59th Street and Fifth Avenue, you’re not just looking at a building. You’re looking at a legend. The Plaza Hotel 768 5th Avenue New York NY isn't just a place where people sleep; it’s a French Renaissance-style castle that has somehow survived the relentless evolution of Midtown Manhattan. It’s been there since 1907. Think about that. While the rest of the city was tearing itself down to build glass needles, The Plaza just sat there, getting more expensive and more famous.
People come here for the history. They come because they saw Home Alone 2 or read Eloise. But honestly? Staying there is a whole different beast than just snapping a photo of the exterior. It’s grand. It’s loud. It’s incredibly fancy, but it also carries the weight of a century of scandals, billionaire buyouts, and high-society weddings.
The Reality of Staying at 768 5th Avenue
Walk through the doors and you’ll notice the gold. There is a lot of gold. Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, the architect, didn't exactly believe in "less is more." He also designed the Dakota, and you can see that same obsession with permanence here. The lobby isn't just a check-in desk; it’s a stage. You’ll see tourists trying to look like they belong and billionaires who actually do.
The rooms are a mix. Because parts of the building were converted into private residences back in 2008, the hotel side of the operation is actually smaller than it used to be. You’ve got about 282 rooms left for guests. Some are "traditional," which is code for "heavy curtains and furniture that looks like it belongs to a French king," while others have been modernized with iPads that control the lights and temperature. It’s a weird contrast. One minute you’re looking at a 24-karat gold-plated sink fixture, and the next you’re toggling a touch screen.
The Eloise Factor and Pop Culture
You can't talk about The Plaza Hotel 768 5th Avenue New York NY without mentioning the little girl who "lived" on the top floor. Kay Thompson’s Eloise books did more for this hotel’s marketing than any ad campaign ever could. There is a dedicated Eloise Suite designed by Betsey Johnson. It is very pink. It is very loud. If you have a kid who loves the books, it’s a dream, but for anyone else, it’s a sensory overload.
Then there’s the movie history. Alfred Hitchcock filmed North by Northwest here. It was the first time a crew was allowed to film on-site. Then you have The Great Gatsby, Funny Girl, and of course, Donald Trump’s cameo in the nineties. The hotel has been a character in more scripts than most actors.
Who Actually Owns The Plaza Now?
It’s complicated. The ownership history of The Plaza is basically a timeline of global wealth shifts. It’s passed through the hands of Conrad Hilton, who paid about $7.4 million for it in 1943. Then Donald Trump bought it in 1988, famously stating in a New York Times ad that he wasn't buying a building, he was buying a masterpiece. He paid $407.5 million, which was a staggering amount at the time.
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He didn't keep it forever, though. After some financial restructuring and a bankruptcy filing for the hotel specifically, it went to a partnership involving Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia. Later, the Sahara India Pariwar took a majority stake. In 2018, Katara Hospitality, which is owned by the Qatar government, bought the whole thing for around $600 million.
When you stay there today, you’re staying in a Qatari-owned asset managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. It’s a globalized icon.
The Food, The Tea, and The Prices
The Palm Court is where the "real" Plaza experience happens. It’s the room with the massive stained-glass ceiling. If you want afternoon tea, this is the spot. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? That depends on how much you value the atmosphere. You’re paying for the history and the fact that you’re sitting under a ceiling that was painstakingly restored to its 1907 glory after being covered up for decades.
- The Champagne Bar: Great for people-watching, right near the lobby.
- The Rose Club: It used to be the Persian Room, where legends like Edith Piaf and Miles Davis performed. Now it’s more of a lounge with a view of the lobby.
- The Todd English Food Hall: This was a huge draw for a while, offering a more "casual" (by Plaza standards) basement dining experience.
One thing people get wrong: they think they can just wander anywhere. Security is tight. If you aren't a guest or don't have a reservation, you’re going to get steered back toward the public areas pretty quickly. They’re protective of the privacy of the people living in the multimillion-dollar condos upstairs.
Is it actually a good hotel?
Here’s the thing. Luxury in New York has changed. You have the Aman New York just a few blocks away, and the Baccarat Hotel, and the Park Hyatt. Those places are sleek. They are quiet. They are "new money" perfection.
The Plaza is "old money" drama. Sometimes the elevators are a bit slow. Sometimes the crowds of tourists outside the Fifth Avenue entrance make it hard to get an Uber. But those other hotels don't have the history. They don't have the molding or the literal tons of marble. If you want a sterile, modern box, go somewhere else. If you want to feel like you’re in a Gilded Age novel, you stay at 768 5th Avenue.
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The Room Layouts
Because it’s an old building, the rooms aren't uniform. You might get a room with a view of 58th Street that feels a bit dark, or you might land a suite overlooking Central Park that makes you feel like the king of the world. The "Legacy Suites" are the ones people see in the brochures. They have formal entry foyers and marble bathrooms with mosaic floors.
Most people don't realize that a significant portion of the building is residential. The "Private Residences" have their own entrance. Those people aren't sharing the gym with the overnight guests. It’s a bifurcated world.
Why 768 5th Avenue Matters for New York
The Plaza is a National Historic Landmark. It was designated in 1986. That means they can't just go in and gut the place to make it look like a Marriott. This protection is why the Grand Ballroom looks almost exactly like it did when Truman Capote hosted his Black and White Ball there in 1966.
That ball was called the "Party of the Century." Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Rose Kennedy was there. It’s that kind of cultural gravity that keeps The Plaza relevant. It’s a repository for New York’s social memory. Even if you never spend a night there, the building acts as an anchor for the southeast corner of Central Park.
Navigating the Area Around the Hotel
You are in the heart of it. To the north, Central Park. To the south, the Fifth Avenue shopping corridor. You’ve got Bergdorf Goodman right across the street. Apple’s flagship glass cube store is literally on the plaza in front of the hotel.
- Central Park South: Walking here at night is surprisingly quiet compared to Times Square.
- The Carriage Horses: They line up right outside. Some people find it charming; others find the smell a bit much in the August heat.
- Museum Mile: A brisk walk or a short cab ride up 5th Avenue gets you to the Met and the Guggenheim.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you’re planning to visit or stay at The Plaza Hotel 768 5th Avenue New York NY, don’t just wing it.
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First, book your afternoon tea at The Palm Court weeks in advance. It fills up, especially during the holiday season when the tree is up. If you just show up, you’ll be disappointed.
Second, understand the dress code. While they won't kick you out for wearing sneakers, you’ll feel very out of place in the public rooms if you’re dressed for a hike. Aim for "smart casual" at a minimum.
Third, look up. The architecture is in the details. The exterior of the building uses white glazed terra cotta, which is why it has that specific glow. Look for the crests and the intricate stonework around the windows.
Fourth, don’t ignore the basement. The Plaza Food Hall is often less crowded than the upstairs bars and offers a variety of high-end snacks and meals that won't cost as much as a full sit-down dinner at the Rose Club.
Finally, check the "Eloise" calendar. If you’re traveling with family, there are often specific events or tea times geared toward children that make the experience much more interactive.
The Plaza isn't just a hotel; it’s a survivor. It has survived economic crashes, ownership battles, and the changing tastes of the ultra-wealthy. It remains the most famous address in New York for a reason. Whether you're there for a $1,000-a-night suite or just a $25 cocktail, you're participating in a century-old New York tradition. Just don't forget to tip the doorman; they've seen everything.