Local before arrival
This building on New York’s Upper East Side has exhibited a timeless elegance since it began welcoming leaders from politics, the arts, and business in the 1930s. Designer Thierry Despont and Alexandra Champalimaud have updated many of the 188 rooms and suites in recent years, giving them a touch of contemporary panache. The Empire Suite, boasting walls upholstered in cashmere and a private art collection curated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art just a few blocks away, is one of the hotel’s finest. Known for its entertainment options, visitors can stop by the Café Carlyle to listen to Woody Allen during one of his regular jam sessions with the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band.
