A Martin Katz Suite, A Rare Spirits Bar, And A Robot Masseuse: All About The Lotte New York Palace

Many know the Lotte New York Palace as the “Gossip Girl” hotel, or as “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley‘s former residence. Both of these things are true. But it is also a divine hotel, one that seems to still pleasantly surprise the New Yorkers who take advantage of all that it has to offer.

Beyond its aforementioned claims to fame, the hotel has something more important. It consists of a portion of the Villard Houses, built in the 1880s by McKim, Mead & White, which are New York City designated landmarks and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Villard Mansion was conceived in the neo-Italian Renaissance tradition, after the Palazzo della Cancellaria in Rome and today stands as one of the most beautiful living tributes to the Gilded Age. In the mid-1970s, the Archdiocese of New York, owners of the land, cleared the way for hotel development and, in 1980 when it initially opened as The Helmsley Palace, The Villard Mansion had been restored in preparation for a role as hotel public space.

Now, with its current reincarnation as the Lotte New York Palace, the property combines the Villard Mansion with a contemporary 55-story tower for a staggering combined 909 rooms. The Palace features 733 total guestrooms: 330 superior rooms, 113 rooms with views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 230 rooms with a premier view of the Manhattan skyline, and 11 suites. Meanwhile, the Towers at Lotte New York Palace is part of the property, but separate: it’s a luxe midtown hotel-within-a-hotel that houses 176 premier rooms and suites which occupy the top 14 floors of the hotel, including 100 Towers rooms, 22 Executive Suites, 7 Tower Suites, 39 Corner Suites, and a selection of specialty suites. The Towers offer the city’s most opulent and spacious guest rooms, featuring newly re-styled accommodations with picture-perfect skyline views. Towers guests enjoy amenities including butler service, a private lobby, a dedicated concierge, a Maybach house car drop-off service, packing and unpacking services, and a complimentary en-suite cocktail bar, among other offerings.

There’s really no contest though — the specialty suites blow the others away. The Royal Suite Collection, which made its debut in 2020, consists of eight one-of-a-kind suites ranging in size from 2,500 square feet one-bedroom to the 5,000 square feet three-floor penthouse. As part of the unveiling, Lotte New York Palace also introduced four newly-renovated suites designed by award-winning interior designers Forrest Perkins.

There’s the Jewel Suite by Martin Katz, a collaboration with acclaimed jewelry designer Martin Katz. It’s a 5,000 square foot Art Deco daydream where guests who book receive a complimentary, original Martin Katz Diamond Microband Ring (retail value $2,500); a private consultation with either Martin Katz or an associate; daily afternoon tea service; and complimentary pressing of gowns and formal wear. The suite itself prominently displays Katz jewels and also features a wood burning fireplace; 10-seat dining room; en-suite kitchen; fully furnished outdoor terrace and garden; and floor to ceiling windows.

The Champagne Suite, meanwhile, is a sparkling balm for your senses (and my personal favorite). It’s inspired by the creme de la creme of champagnes, a 5,000 square foot homage to that sparkling goodness spanning three floors with carefully curated art and elements of contemporary opulence. Upon entry, warm black and bronze tones are juxtaposed with a Nouveau Nero polished marble foyer and Italian stone textured walls to create a sophisticated penthouse atop the New York City skyline. Upstairs, hues of Chardonnay, rich Pinot Noir and glistening Rose can be found throughout the master bedroom suite and double queen guestroom, each with its own impressive bath. In addition to the terrace, fireplace, dining room, and kitchen, there’s also a fully-stocked wine cellar, library and tasting room, and a beautifully landscaped and furnished outdoor terrace with a waterfall spa.

Last but not least, prepare for the beauty sleep of your life in the Hästens Ultimate Sleep Suite. Highlights of this two-bedroom retreat include a spacious living/dining area with open kitchen and dining table seating six, a library nook, and spacious bathrooms with soaking tubs and glass showers. The master bedroom features the $250,000 Hästens Vividus king mattress, which offers a sleep experience like no other. The suite starts at $10,000 per night and comes with two keepsake sets of Hästens pajamas and slippers.

The Gold Room

There are five dining outlets on site, but three of which we’ll actually note here. VILLARD is inspired by the bygone era of opulent hotels in New York City as well as the classical cafes and bistros of Europe, with breakfast dishes that use locally-grown and sourced eggs and dairy, and meats, with bread and pastries baked in-house.

The Gold Room invites guests to experience the glamour and opulence of the Gilded Age, set underneath the original gilt ceilings from 1882. It offers modern interpretations of classical, hand-crafted cocktails such as the Carnegie, The Mrs. Astor, and Hemingway that are inspired by iconic figures from historic New York City. The dining experience is actually surprisingly on point, which dishes that are so flavorful you might not be able to stop eating. Standouts include the tuna tartare (truly some of the best I’ve had in New York) and black truffle frites.

Rarities is really where it’s at for the luxury-living set though. This is an intimate 25-seat salon that offers an exclusive and personalized drinking experience catered to New York’s elite. The reservation-only venue, accessed through a discreet entrance just steps from the hotel’s courtyard, features an eclectic and abundant menu of exceptional Champagnes, Prohibition-style bottled spirits, modern classics and a connoisseur’s wine cellar. There are vintages of rum and whisky that can only be found here, vintages from the early 20th century, and the rarest of spirits that true collectors will be drooling over — set amidst a room of leather and velvet, with wooden versions of classic board games for an additional old school touch.

And last but not least, there’s the ila Only Spa. It’s sister spa is a gem, tucked deep in the English countryside, and its New York property follows suit. It may not have the look of the rest of the hotel, but it’s modern feel might just be the perfect foil to the historical property. It not only has some of the best, most thoughtful therapists you’ll find in the city, but a slew of stress-relieving treatments using farm-grown organic ingredients, a private yoga studio, bespoke hair and nail services, and treatment rooms with state-of-the-art “sound healing” experiences designed to restore your body’s peace on a cellular level. There is even — wait for it — one of the city’s first robotic masseuses. How’s that for a game-changer? Leona would have been proud.

Lotte New York Palace is located at 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022