The Upper East Side: A Regenerated Gem

Haven’t you heard? Things are happening on the Upper East Side—or, perhaps it’s better to say, they never stopped happening. In the past few years, fashion labels that once defined downtown It girls—like Khaite and Toteme—have opened outposts uptown, legendary prix-fixe French restaurant Le Veau D’Or has lifted its shutters, and The Frick Collection has undergone a fresh makeover. This regeneration points to the idea that, amidst constantly shifting ideas of what’s cool and what’s not in this great big city, we hold close to our hearts whatever vestiges of old New York we can get.

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And the Upper East Side’s hotels offer just that, with their marbled lobbies, fur-clad repeat guests, and doormen who remember your name. Even still, you won’t find any shabby velvet curtains; these storied institutions have changed with the times, offering a healthy dose of contemporary design (just ask properties like The Surrey, which just completed a top-to-bottom renovation in 2024). Plus, basing yourself in the neighborhood puts you in proximity to New York’s most famed characters, from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the shops lining Madison Avenue and martinis at Bemelmans Bar.

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The Pierre, A Taj Hotel

There are few hotels in New York whose mention elicits envious nods of approval from New Yorkers, and The Pierre is one of them. Built on the site of a former Gilded Age mansion, the Pierre was the brainchild of a Corsican chef who gained fame for his work in New York restaurants. As a venture with Wall Street financiers, including Walter Chrysler, it opened in 1930 to great fanfare. Coco Chanel was one of its first guests, setting a precedent for all the famous names who have come and gone. Starting at a practical 300 square feet, the standard rooms—the Superior and the Deluxe, with the option of a city or park view—are luxuriously decorated in soft blues, greens, and creams. With heated floors, the bathrooms are generously sized, some with a shower as well as a bathtub, and come stocked with plush linens as well as products from Etro.

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One of the things that sets The Pierre apart is its service: From the moment you walk through its revolving doors, you feel as if they’ve been excitedly awaiting your arrival. The Pierre’s commitment to excellence has earned it a place on the readers’ choice list for multiple years, with awards in 2018, 2020, and 2021. For a truly unforgettable experience, check in to The Pierre, A Taj Hotel.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

Since it opened in 1930, The Carlyle has become something more than the sum of its extremely alluring parts. A living legend that embodies, if not the spirit of NYC, at least one of her spirits: her brightest, most sparkling, most elegant self—witty, worldly, and nostalgic. An entire movie has been made about this property—Always at The Carlyle—in which George Clooney, Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, and Naomi Campbell discuss their fondness for the joint. Broadly speaking, the rooms get better the higher the floor. Plus, you get to spend more time in the elevators—not an activity to enjoy in everyday life, but this is not everyday life. The ones at The Carlyle are the stuff of legend, as much admired as the astounding Dorothy Draper lobby or Bemelmans Bar.

Imagine if you had been there when Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, and Steve Jobs all piled in (true story). You would have been in awe. Not of them, of course, but of the real superstar—the unflappable, icy-calm, white-gloved Carlyle elevator operator. The Carlyle’s commitment to excellence has earned it a place on the readers’ choice list for multiple years, with awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The Mark Hotel

The Mark hotel sits on a quiet block of East 77th, between Madison Avenue and Central Park. The lobby is an oasis of cool, where the first thing that grabs you is the graphics: the black-and-white-striped marble floor, vividly hued artwork, and enormous bouquet of exuberant pink lilies. It’s sleek and sophisticated, yet playful at the same time—luxury wrapped in fun. Housed in a 1927 landmark building, The Mark hotel was developed by the New York–based Alexico Group, whose portfolio also includes The Laurel, 165 Charles Street by Richard Meier, Grand Beekman, 353 Central Park West, and The Elektra.

Something to look forward to during your stay is the food and drink, with all options top-notch. The Mark Bar is a natural point of entry: An intimate space off the hotel’s lobby, it features retro-futuristic decor, with a truly fun mood set by the cozy, cowhide-patterned couch. The Mark hotel’s commitment to excellence has earned it a place on the readers’ choice list for multiple years, with awards in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.