First Class Foyers: The Haute 5 Hotel Lobbies in NYC

If hotels are for sleeping and hotel bars are for socializing, what are hotel lobbies for? Lounging, of course. Whether you’re looking for a quiet meeting place, an intimate drink or a dazzling background for tea, Manhattan’s finest lobbies offer it all.

The Four Seasons Hotel New York
The Four Seasons is New York’s tallest hotel, and perhaps its most stately, thanks to architect I.M. Pei’s design. From its marble floors to the 33-foot high back-lit onyx ceiling, the lobby oozes classic elegance. The adjacent TY lounge, which overlooks 57th street, is an intimate and elegant place to sip on a cocktail.

Gramercy Park Hotel
Eclectic and decadent, the Gramercy Hotel lobby is a true work of art. There, you will find hand carved Italian fireplaces, the artwork of Julian Schnabel, a custom Venetian glass chandelier, Moroccan tiling, and hand woven rugs. Rich red velvet drapes and furnishings, along with dark wood paneling, complete the look that the Gramercy coins as the, “new high Bohemia”.

Gramercy Park is located at 2 Lexington Avenue. For more information, call (212) 920-3300.

Mandarin Oriental at Time Warner Center
For less lush and more edge, try the sleek, modern lobby at the Mandarin Oriental. At 280 feet above ground, it also boasts an amazing view of Manhattan. The lobby also features a signature fan designed by Vivienne Tam, and is a short trip from a dinner at Per Se or Masa.

The Mandarin Oriental is located at 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street. For more information, call (212) 805 8800.

The Plaza Hotel
This bright and open lobby exudes timeless charm. The New York institution, just off Central Park, features dramatic high ceilings with gold detailing and Baccarat ruby-studded chandeliers. The storied lobby was made famous by Hollywood, as it has been the setting of numerous famous scenes from the 1959 Cary Grant classic, North by Northwest to Donald Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2. You can admire the lobby from the Rose Club lounge, overlooking it, or if the short flight of stairs is too far to go, try the lobby’s newer (and even more convenient) champagne bar, which opened as a part of the hotel’s renovation of 2008.

The Plaza Hotel is located at Central Park South and 5th Avenue. For more information, call (212) 759-3000.

Essex House
The Lobby Lounge at Essex House allows you to lounge while satiating your appetite. Stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M., sip on a cocktail in the evening, or stop by for high tea in the afternoon. The 1920s style décor, which features ream and burgundy accents, is both comfortable and classic.

Essex House is located at 160 Central Park South. For more information, call (212) 459-1339.