Manhattan’s Landmark Hotel Celebrates 120th Year with Renovation

The St. Regis New York will celebrate its 120^th year this fall with the debut of a redesign and renovation, marking a new chapter. With revamped public spaces including the lobby, King Cole Bar, and two new dining locations, The St. Regis New York unveils a new era at Manhattan’s address. The renovation reflects the hotel’s legacy reborn for today’s global traveler with a modern aesthetic led by design firm Champalimaud Design.

Celebrating 150 Years

“We are thrilled to debut the exquisite renovation of our very first St. Regis hotel and global flagship, The St. Regis New York, while also celebrating the 120th anniversary of St. Regis – a significant milestone for the brand,” said Jenni Benzaquen, senior vice president of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts. “This anniversary reflects our enduring legacy of luxury, personalized service, and contemporary elegance that has captivated guests around the world. As we honor our rich heritage, we remain deeply attuned to the desires of both our loyal guests and the next generation of luxury travelers, ensuring that every experience we offer is as extraordinary and bespoke as it is timeless.”

The Rich History

John Jacob Astor IV’s vision for The St. Regis New York was to create a hotel which rivaled the finest hotels in Europe, where his close friends and family could feel as though they were guests in a private home. The hotel quickly became the center of Manhattan social life, and the headquarters for the original “Caroline’s 400” – the elite social group designated by Astor’s mother and society doyenne, Caroline Astor. Throughout its 120-year history, The St. Regis New York has attracted personalities of each era from Salvador Dali to Marilyn Monroe, and served as the birthplace for cultural moments from the invention of the Bloody Mary cocktail to iconic jazz performances on the hotel’s rooftop as well as the backdrop for iconic scenes in film and television.

“Since 1904, The St. Regis New York has stood as a beacon for generations of global travelers looking to be in the center of Manhattan and surround themselves in the timeless allure which has defined the Fifth Avenue icon from its founding by John Jacob Astor IV,” said general manager, Octavia Marginean-Tahiroglu. “The renovation signals a milestone moment for the cherished New York City icon as we present our masterfully redesigned public spaces this fall – in our 120^th anniversary year.”

Led by Champalimaud Design, The St. Regis New York’s redesigned public spaces embrace the design legacy of the hotel as well as its original Beaux-Arts architecture, while transforming it into an urban heaven that would feel like home for the Astor family in the 21^st century. This approach brings together heritage design elements, including Waterford crystal chandeliers and original crown moldings, reinvented by the introduction of modern furnishings, layered textures and a rich color palette.

“We have created spaces with energy and splendor, layering the classic architecture with contemporary elements, reinvigorating the hotel with magic, as the Astors had done when the hotel first opened,” said Alexandra Champalimaud. “The public spaces will have a sense of openness and a palette featuring emerald greens and red rose tones that evoke the grandeur of the Astors' legacy.”

Guests step off Fifth Avenue into the world of St. Regis through the original gilded rotating doors to discover the lobby, now infused with fresh touches and updated furnishings. During the process of the renovation, the reception area’s original exterior facing windows were discovered and restored, incorporating a stained-glass window based on the room’s original 1905 Tiffany window design. The original cages that housed the front desk have also been restored and reimagined into the walls behind the reception desk area. The new color scheme adds lightness with a cloud-dappled ceiling, a simplified floor pattern in keeping with the original architecture, and neutral walls accented with pops of red area rugs inspired by Caroline Astor’s favorite flower, the American Beauty Rose. Now expanded with an open floor plan, the lobby extends into a welcome area, housing the concierge team, which features deep aquamarine walls and custom hand painted wallcoverings featuring peacocks, a nod to one of the original 1920s murals featured at the hotel created in collaboration with de Gournay. The space’s original Tiffany & Co. Chandelier hangs above modern furnishings, epitomizing the juxtaposition of old and new within the revitalized public spaces.

Move through these welcoming areas and follow the din of conversation floating from the fully reimagined lobby restaurant and lounge, The Drawing Room. The restaurant is swathed in a palette of pink and rose, turquoise, emerald, gold, and accents of black, interpreting colors of the King Cole Bar mural, now a visual centerpiece past glass doors and a new entry staircase. The space is touched with embroidery and fringe details inspired by Caroline Astor’s embellished dresses and jewelry, while mirrored walls mimic those of the original Iridium Room. Seating is relaxed and embraces a lounge aesthetic with velvet couches and armchairs to encourage guests to linger. Off the main dining room, an extended lounge features additional seating tailored toward groups gathering for a more relaxed dining experience. Guests will also discover the original Astor Library’s private collection of books, which John Jacob Astor IV had commissioned by Scribner and Sons for the hotel. The incredible collection is now on display in the public spaces for the first time ever, encased in new dark wood bookcases reminiscent of their former home on the hotel’s 2^nd Floor.

Beyond The Drawing Room, guests are invited to rediscover the King Cole Bar, Manhattan’s most storied meeting place. While the iconic Maxfield Parish King Cole mural continues to command the space, providing a watchful eye over spirited imbibers, the bar is refreshed with dark wood paneling and a deep green ceiling further softened with scalloped banquettes and lavender tasseled chairs. Accents of bronze and onyx finishings add an additional level of sophistication to the New York institution. The renovation will also introduce a new dining venue, La Maisonette, serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. The bright and airy space creates the feeling of an outdoor pavilion, inspired by the hotel’s original breakfast room from the 1910s and French design. Creamy white walls and a recessed skylight brighten the space alongside a palette of soft pinks, burgundy, emerald and turquoise. The space will serve breakfast daily for hotel guests and visitors as well as transform into an afternoon tea salon, a time-honored ritual of The St. Regis New York started by Caroline Astor.