Hotels

Waldorf Astoria New York Unveils Restored Grand Ballroom & Event Spaces

By Meeting Spotlight Newsdesk Sep 10, 2025 10:30am

Waldorf Astoria New York has unveiled its Grand Ballroom and iconic heritage event spaces following a masterful restoration. With the return of meetings and events to the storied center of Park Avenue—joining reimagined hotel rooms and suites, and new world-class dining venues—the hotel reclaims its position as the cultural beacon of Manhattan, blending nostalgic glamor with a bold, modern stage for the city’s most spectacular events.

Waldorf Astoria New York has been a fixture of New York society for more than a century. Building on a legacy of hosting some of the world’s most memorable moments including the first Tony Awards, some of the earliest Met Galas, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the iconic Grand Ballroom, Silver Corridor, Astor Salon, Basildon and Jade Rooms have been revitalized.

Meetings & Events Spaces

Waldorf Astoria New York offers nearly 43,000 square feet of event space across 14 private rooms on two floors. The property features some of the city’s most acclaimed heritage venues that have been restored by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), with interior design by Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR) to preserve their original Art Deco detailing while being updated with the latest technology, including:

Grand Ballroom – The three-story, 1,500-person capacity space, with curtained balconies has been completely restored. With state-of-the-art sound, lighting, rigging and staging, the Grand Ballroom is capable of hosting everything from Broadway-style productions to global product launches. Building on the vision of the building’s original architects, Schultze & Weaver, SOM incorporated luminescent cove lighting, built within three tiered coves to replicate the original intent and illuminate nearly the entire ballroom. The decorative plaster bas relief medallion at the center of the ceiling, sculpted by Eugene Rochette and Michael Parzini, has been maintained and refurbished, and further restoration of the original decor recreates the Art Deco look of the iconic event venue. SOM also made several infrastructure changes to ensure the space is now soundproof and incorporated new audio-visual systems, contemporary lighting and heavy-duty rigging points within concealed areas in the ceiling. With these enhancements, plus the hotel’s hydraulic stage, the hotel’s crown jewel is now capable of rivaling the city’s best performance venues.
Basildon Room – An exquisite example of 18th-century design, the Basildon Room has a maximum capacity of 190 guests and now provides a lighter and brighter space as a result of strategic planning by SOM. Several key elements of the space include the ceiling’s restored frescoes, lunettes, cornices, paneling and fireplace mantel, which were all imported from England’s Basildon Manor in Basildon Park, built in 1776. Modern infrastructure, including new lighting, was added to the ceiling, and SOM updated the room to its original color scheme—relying only on a 1930s postcard from the hotel’s archive. Preserving the space’s existing charm, PYR custom designed the carpet to draw from the original designs.
Silver Corridor – The significance of this space lies not only in its architectural beauty but also in its functionality; the Silver Corridor links important event spaces in the hotel, such as the Grand Ballroom, Jade Room, Astor Room and Basildon Room. Sixteen wall murals, originally commissioned for the first Waldorf Astoria and painted in 1897 by American impressionist artist Edward Emerson Simmons, were salvaged from the original hotel for the 1931 construction and brought back to life in the recent restoration by ArtCare Conservation.
Jade Room – With double-height ceilings and windows flanked by marble colonnades, the light-filled Jade Room has been updated to accommodate functions of up to 420 guests. The Jade Room can be paired with functions in the Grand Ballroom or used as a stand-alone venue for intimate banquets and receptions.
Astor Salon – A backdrop to thousands of events throughout Waldorf Astoria New York’s history, including a 1933 concert featuring both Cole Porter and George Gershwin on pianos, the Astor Room has been restored and has a maximum capacity of 420.The room now brings in more natural light and features beautiful columns, which were uncovered during the restoration.

Additional spaces for meetings, pre-function gatherings and receptions include the East Foyer, West Foyer, Boardrooms and Executive Meeting Spaces. Additionally, guests now have access to a new 10th floor terrace which is available for small receptions.

Amenities for events will include a dedicated event experience manager on-site to ensure seamlessly executed events, one of the largest dedicated coat checks in New York City, a private Grand Ballroom entrance with dedicated elevators, an in-house production consultant for entertainment, media suites, and more. Event attendees can arrive via three entrances including a porte-cochère on 49th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue–the only hotel porte-cochère available in Manhattan–or via Park Avenue or Lexington Avenue between 49th and 50th streets.

Accommodations and Signature Suites

Following the hotel’s transformation from a 1,400-room hotel to 375 hotel guestrooms and 372 residences, Waldorf Astoria New York now offers some of the largest guestrooms and suites in Manhattan, with the majority of the guestrooms exceeding 570 square feet. In addition to its luxurious guestrooms that opened in July, the hotel is also debuting five specialty suites this fall, ranging from 1,550 square feet to more than 5,000 square feet. These include:

Manhattan Suite (1,570 square feet with the capability to connect to another room for 2,140 square feet of space) – With three suites available, this suite offers a king bedroom, two bathrooms, dressing area, living room, formal dining room with seating up to eight, full kitchen with stove and wet bar.
Empire Suite (2,260 square feet with the capability to connect to another room for 2,835 square feet of space) – The suite offers a full kitchen with electric stove, formal dining table with seating for six, king bedroom, walk-in dressing area, two bathrooms and ample space for intimate gatherings.
Waldorf Astoria Suite (Over 5,000 square feet) – This suite is complete with a full contemporary kitchen, dining room with seating for eight, living room, piano, media and entertainment room, and a walk-in closet. Guests can connect the suite with two adjoining rooms and one adjoining suite to create a four-bedroom suite.

These suites are available to book starting this month by emailing [email protected].

Guerlain Wellness Spa

Debuting early this fall is the Guerlain Wellness Spa, designed by Wimberly Interiors. Spanning over 20,000 square feet, it features 16 treatment rooms, including two VIP suites, along with a 7,000-square-foot fitness center. Operated by Trilogy Spa Holdings, it also features two ground-floor Guerlain boutiques, offering signature skincare, fragrances and makeup.

The spa offers personalized wellness journeys, facials, advanced massage therapies and a range of body treatments. Highlights include cutting-edge amenities such as the Amphibia Welnamis and a cryo chamber. Signature experiences such as “Spirit of Achievement,” “Rhythm of Wellness” and “Like Clockwork” fuse tailored treatments inspired by the hotel with music, breathwork and relaxation.

Culinary Experiences

In mid-July, Waldorf Astoria New York officially returned as the dining destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike. Peacock Alley continues to embody the hotel’s legacy as a lively center for social events in the heart of New York City. The cocktail menu honors the legacy of classic New York cocktail culture while redefining the hotel bar experience with light bites available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Lex Yard, is led by Chef Partner Michael Anthony. The menu celebrates seasonal ingredients. A casually elegant dining room and lively bar, designed by AvroKO’s New York studio, welcome guests and locals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with two private dining rooms available.

Just steps from Park Avenue, Yoshoku offers a kaiseki-inspired menu from Chef Ry Nitzkowski, reimagined through a New York lens. Guests may also opt for a six-course tasting or à la carte selections. A refined beverage program rounds out the experience with sake, champagne, Japanese spirits and signature cocktails.

Waldorf Astoria Residences New York

The 372 condominium residences, with interiors and amenities by interior designer Jean-Louis Deniot, range from studios to four bedrooms and penthouses, including several marquee residences with expansive private terraces and the option to purchase furnished residences curated by B&B Italia Group.

Residents enjoy priority access to the signature services of the hotel while maintaining a discreet residential experience separate from the hotel, with two residential entry lobbies and a porte-cochère that offers residents a private entry with 24-hour valet service. Residents have signing privileges at the spa and on-site restaurants and bars, as well as a secure residential entrance into Waldorf Astoria New York.

Residents also enjoy access to more than 50,000 square feet of private residential amenities, ranging from health and wellness to entertainment and business facilities. These include the Starlight Pool with skylight overlooking Park Avenue, a fitness center, wellness areas, gaming room, a theater and various venues to entertain and host events, including the Winter Garden and the Grand Salon, the Presidential Library and Bar, curated by the White House Historical Association, and the Empire Club, an elevated executive experience and business center.

Residences in New York City are available for immediate occupancy, starting at $1.875 million.

To make a reservation at Waldorf Astoria New York, visit waldorfastorianewyork.com. For more information on owning a residence at Waldorf Astoria Residences New York, visit waldorftowers.nyc.