The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

Enter this Upper East Side fixture and you will be transported to the New York City of old, with its discreet elegance, dimly lit piano bar, and elevator operators who have been there—and witnessed it all—seemingly from time immemorial.

• The stunning Premier Two-Bedroom Suite—also called the Princess Diana Suite, as it was the princess’s room of choice when visiting New York.
• The Art Deco Bemelman’s Bar for cocktails, with its live piano, signature cocktails and timeless feel.
• The grand pianos, Juliet balconies and other individual features that make each room truly unique.

Though it pains us to say it, there is only one historic grand hotel left in the city: the Carlyle, on East 76th Street and Madison Avenue. The southeast corner of this intersection has been officially named Bobby Short Way in honor of the legendary piano man and song stylist who performed regularly in the hotel bar right up to his death in 2005. Since the hotel opened in 1930, it has been a bastion of discreet luxury and the address of choice for movie stars and high-net-worth men in the midst of a dalliance or of a divorce. (President Kennedy and Marilyn are said to have trysted at the Carlyle.)

The lobby and Bemelmans Bar, named in honor of the legendary illustrator of the Madeline children’s books who painted the Central Park-themed murals in return for his room and board, have been given fresh polish by interior designer Thierry Despont, who managed to keep it glamorous but restrained. Today, the gleaming black-and-white marble floors and the velvet couches form a backdrop as elegant as the one Ingrid Bergman found when she first stayed at the hotel in the late ’30s. Over the years, different decorators, including Dorothy Draper and Mark Hampton, have brought their visions of gracious New York living to bear on the 181 guest rooms. The most newly renovated suites are the Rosewood Suites, which were reimagined with contemporary finishes like sleek marble tables, abstract artwork and bold-colored furniture. Some of these suites even boast grand pianos in the living room area or private outdoor terraces with Central Park views. Whether one desires a more classically elegant or modernly designed room, the Carlyle has something for all tastes and it is best to work with our bookings team on selecting the right one.

Families or couples seeking the quintessential New York experience, nestled in what feels like a true Upper East Side apartment in a quietly luxurious part of town.