Plaza Hotel Building

Historic luxury hotel overlooking Fifth Avenue

At Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, the Plaza Hotel is a landmark Beaux‑Arts building famed for its Palm Court and hotel restaurants. Visitors stop for afternoon tea, photos, and the hotel's history next to Central Park.

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Plaza Hotel at a Glance#

Address: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA

Website: https://www.theplazany.com

About Plaza Hotel#

The Plaza Hotel is a landmark luxury hotel on Fifth Avenue at Central Park South in Midtown Manhattan that opened in 1907. It was designed in a grand Beaux-Arts style by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and has been prominent in New York City social life.

Public highlights include the historic Palm Court and large ballroom spaces that have hosted ceremonies, teas and events for more than a century. The hotel combines hotel rooms, public dining and retail spaces and is notable for its ornate interior public rooms and frontage along Fifth Avenue.

The Plaza was built in the early 20th century as a purpose-built luxury hotel and has undergone multiple renovations and ownership changes while retaining its landmark character. It has been widely referenced in literature and film and remains an active hotel and events venue.

The building sits immediately adjacent to the southeast corner of Central Park, at the convergence of Midtown neighbourhoods including Midtown Manhattan and the Upper Plaza area, and is served by numerous subway and road links.

  • Opening and architect: The hotel opened in 1907 and was designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in a Beaux-Arts/Parisian style, positioned at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South.
  • Location advantage: The location faces the southeast corner of Central Park and sits at a major nexus in Midtown Manhattan, making it a common meeting point for visitors and locals.

What to See#

  • Palm Court: The Palm Court - a grand public lounge and tea room historically used for afternoon tea and public events, located adjacent to the main lobby.
  • Ballroom and public rooms: The Grand Ballroom and main public rooms - notable for ornate decoration and for hosting high-profile social events since the hotel opened in the early 20th century.

How to Get to Plaza Hotel#

The Plaza Hotel sits on Fifth Avenue at Central Park South (59th Street) in Manhattan. The nearest subway is 5th Ave-59th St (N, R, W); Columbus Circle (A, B, C, D, 1) is a 5-10 minute walk west.

By car it’s on 5th Avenue at 59th Street in Midtown Manhattan; taxis and ride‑shares can drop you at the hotel entrance on Central Park South.

Tips for Visiting Plaza Hotel#

  • Visit the Plaza mid‑afternoon on a weekday when the lobby and Palm Court are least crowded; booking the hotel's afternoon tea in advance is the most reliable way to guarantee access to the famous interior spaces.
  • Enter from the Fifth Avenue/59th Street lobby to reach the main public areas quickly and check ahead for private events that can close off parts of the hotel to non‑guests.

Best Time to Visit Plaza Hotel#

For fewer crowds and better rates at this famous NYC hotel, aim for spring or fall; expect heavy crowds in summer and around the winter holidays.

Peak / Holiday season
November-December · -5-10°C (winter in NYC)
Very busy and expensive due to holidays and events; high demand for rooms and restaurants.
Summer (high tourist season)
June-August · 20-30°C
Busy with tourists and conventions; rates are high and hotel common areas can be crowded.
Shoulder seasons (best balance)
March-May & September-October · 8-20°C
Fewer tourists and more moderate rates; pleasant weather for walking the city and using hotel facilities without peak crowds.

Weather & Climate near Plaza Hotel#

Climate

Plaza Hotel's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1215 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 36 Good
Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
39°
Warmest Month
-24°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -4° - 4° -5° 96 mm partly cloudy 87% 4.8 m/s 0.2 low 9.5h
February Poor -3° - 5° -4° 78 mm partly cloudy 85% 4.9 m/s 0.4 low 10.5h
March Acceptable 1° - 10° 1° 107 mm partly cloudy 82% 5.0 m/s 0.7 moderate 11.8h
April Good 6° - 15° 10° 105 mm partly cloudy 79% 4.8 m/s 1.2 high 13.1h
May Very Good 11° - 22° 16° 112 mm partly cloudy 80% 4.2 m/s 1.5 very high 14.3h
June Excellent 16° - 26° 21° 93 mm partly cloudy 79% 4.0 m/s 1.8 very high 14.8h
July Excellent 19° - 29° 24° 114 mm some cloud 74% 3.7 m/s 1.8 very high 14.6h
August Excellent 19° - 28° 24° 109 mm some cloud 73% 3.5 m/s 1.6 very high 13.6h
September Excellent 15° - 24° 20° 104 mm some cloud 74% 3.8 m/s 1.2 high 12.3h
October Very Good 9° - 18° 14° 94 mm partly cloudy 78% 4.0 m/s 0.7 moderate 11.0h
November Acceptable 4° - 12° 6° 107 mm partly cloudy 82% 4.5 m/s 0.3 low 9.8h
December Poor -1° - 7° -1° 96 mm partly cloudy 86% 4.6 m/s 0.2 low 9.2h

Nearby Attractions to Plaza Hotel#