A BEACON OF BIG APPLE GLAMOUR FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, NEW YORK’S EVER-ICONIC PLAZA HOTEL PREPARES FOR SANTA SEASON WITH A SPECTACULAR SPREAD OF FESTIVE DELIGHTS

BY AMANDA MCCOY

At the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, cheery tuxedo-donning bellmen collect luggage as a barrage of well-heeled guests, from prominent political figures and dignitaries to movie stars and moguls, arrive via black car service. Visitors line the block, snapping sel¬fies with the Tuscan columns and famed tri-staircase entrance in the background. It’s a typical day at the Plaza Hotel, a lantern of New York luxury since its debut in 1907 (the châteaux-style building was officially registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1986). Even in an age of instant grati¬fication and digital convenience where talking to an actual human can feel more dated than doting the bygone art of old-school, white-glove service reigns supreme here: afternoon teas by Palais des fiés are served daily, chefs proudly don traditional toques, and attentive butlers are on hand to honor even the most detailed of requests.

NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 21: Cristo and Jeanne-Claude’s “The Gates: A Project For New York” sits during a snowstorm in Central Park on February 21, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

Designed by American architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh (lauded for this mastery of the then-revolutionary new building form, the skyscraper), the white-bricked grand dame is as integral to the Manhattan tapestry as the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. Even New York novices could spot its iconic portico in a crowd, made famous by timeless romcoms like The Way We Were and Sleepless in Seattle. The precocious six-year-old title character from Kay ¬ Thompson’s venerated 1950s book series Eloise lived at the top of the Plaza, and Kevin McCallister’s legendary chase through the hotel’s lobby will live on in cinema lore forever.
Though the property’s prestige doesn’t dim in any season of the year (the front entrance is a constantly revolving door for top-pyramid guests like royalty, heads of state, and A-list celebrities), the Plaza dials up the dazzle for the holidays with lavish feasts of festive fare, from the towering lobby Christmas tree display to ornate, light-studded wreaths that seem larger than life. On November 28, the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will officially kick off the holiday season at the hotel. Attendees can expect musical stylings, dance performances, and Santa photo-ops in addition to hundreds of twinkling lights.

A pair of specialty suite packages are on deck this year, including the return of the cult-favorite Home Alone 2-themed special that would make Kevin proud. The experience begins with a four-hour cruise around the city in a black limousine, of course, and yes, a piping hot New York-style cheese pizza is included to visit the movie’s most famous filming locations, including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and Radio City Music Hall. Upon return, guests are invited to nestle into their suite with “an extra-large bed” as they enjoy in-room sundae service, featuring 16 scoops of assorted ice cream flavors with whipped cream, maraschino cherries, M&M’s, brownie bits, chocolate, caramel, and raspberry sauce. (While available year-round, this package is even sweeter during the holidays.)

Feast on a quintessential NYC Christmas with the Suitest Season of All package, featuring in-room ornaments like a seven-foot-tall Balsam tree, festive floral arrangement, and a chef-inspired, holiday-themed welcome amenity. The package includes an overnight in one of the Plaza’s five legacy suite types, which stretch between 1,000 and a cavernous 2,100 square feet and overlook the park and/or Fifth Avenue. Room-specific standout features include separate living and parlor rooms, marble wet bars, and palatial master bathrooms with mosaic floors, floral wall motifs, soaking tubs, and 24K gold-plated fixtures. The Grand Two Bedroom Penthouse features an elegant stairwell that leads to the master suite, finished with an expansive private terrace.
Santa is rumored to make regular appearances throughout the month of December, posing for photos, accepting gift wishes, and hosting story time in the Rose Club (including a ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas reading at 7 p.m. on Christmas Day). Kicking off on November 28, the Sarafina’s dance troupe, founded by former Radio City dancer Purdie Baumann, will high-kick live every Thursday from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. in the lobby, alternating between the Palm Court and the Champagne Bar
Afternoon Tea served under the famed glass mosaic roof of the Palm Court, gets the holiday treatment as well, boasting a special menu that spans a sea of scones, sandwiches, pastries, and additional sweets and savories. Begin with a glass of Louis Roederer Cristal before diving into delights like applewood-smoked pearl salmon with dill creme fraiche and trout caviar on brioche, foie gras macaroons tru¬ffle scones, pecan pie, and Oolong tea cheesecake. There’s also an Eloise-inspired tea menu with elevated takes on childhood favorites like PB&J, apple butter cinnamon swirl sandwiches, and chocolate chip cookie tarts.

There’s also a pair of holiday feasts, featuring king crab, East Coast oysters, lobster, salmon nigiri, and California rolls, plus carvings of roasted turkey on Thanksgiving and beef Wellington on Christmas. Local cheeses, salads, and freshly prepared soups start the meal, and guests can also choose between an array of entrées like sautéed striped bass with parsnip puree, roasted thyme butternut squash, and stuffed roasted chicken with sundried tomato. Prices are $295 and $395 per adult on Thanksgiving and Christmas, respectively
Guestrooms begin at around $800 per night.

The Plaza New York
768 5th Avenue, NYC
212.759.3000 / theplazany.com