How a Multi-Billion-Dollar Restoration Reinvigorated Waldorf Astoria New York as the Best Historic Hotel of 2026

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What separates the best hotels from the merely memorable isn’t just luxury—it’s also legacy. A truly great historic hotel should feel like a living time capsule, where original architecture, design details, and cultural significance are preserved without sacrificing modern comfort.

The most impressive historic hotels feature thoughtful restorations that honor the past while creating spaces that still feel relevant today. Too much modernization erases history, while too little can make a stay feel dated.

The finest properties strike that rare middle ground, offering both atmosphere and amenities in equal measure. It’s that careful blend of heritage and hospitality that the Waldorf Astoria New York has mastered, which is why it has been recognized as the best historic hotel in the U.S. as part of the 2026 Men's Journal Travel Awards.

Why the Waldorf Astoria New York Is the Best Historic Hotel of 2026

The hotel that invented room service, the Waldorf salad, red velvet cake, and eggs Benedict is finally back and better than ever after eight years of shuttered doors. The Waldorf Astoria’s origins date back to 1893, when William Waldorf Astor, reportedly motivated by a feud with his aunt, opened the original Waldorf Hotel on Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street on the site of his father’s mansion. Four years later, his cousin John Jacob Astor IV opened the adjacent Astoria Hotel, and the two were eventually conjoined by a grand corridor. Both were demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building, and two years later the current tower rose, until its closure in 2017 for a multi-billion dollar restoration led by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon — casually one of the largest preservation projects in New York City’s history. 

In the summer of 2025, the Waldorf Astoria New York reopened for business. Luckily, at the heart of the project was preservation, not pure modernization. SOM’s approach was guided by the renderings and drawings uncovered in the original architect, Schultze & Weaver’s, archive. Now, a restored Park Avenue lobby is anchored by the famous 1893 World’s Fair clock, back in its original position. Three restaurants have also arrived: The historic Peacock Alley lounge has been transformed into a full-service dining destination, alongside Lex Yard, a modern American brasserie, and Yoshoku, an intimate Japanese restaurant. Guests can also indulge in wellness treatments at the Guerlain Wellness Spa, on an entire floor of its own with an outdoor terrace. Guest rooms are now some of the largest in Manhattan, after going from 1,400 keys to just 375 (there are also 372 residences). Inside, guests can find spacious seating areas, incredible Park Ave views, and walk-in closets, evoking the feel of classically elegant New York apartments.

Why You Should Trust Me

As a travel journalist with nearly a decade of experience, I’ve stayed at hotels of all kinds, from intimate boutique inns to expansive resorts run by major hotel brands. Along the way, I’ve developed a keen eye for what makes a hotel stand out — and what makes one fall short.