Wellness At The Waldorf—Manhattan’s Grande Dame Unveils New Spa And Gym

Waldorf Astoria New York’s Park Avenue Entrance

Courtesy Hilton

From any vantage point along Peacock Alley, the elegant corridor that connects the hotel’s two main lobbies, it’s easy to imagine the ghost of former resident Cole Porter tickling the ivories of his high society Steinway piano and ordering up his ‘regular’ pitcher of martinis. Or, you might hear the echoes of Frank Sinatra emanating from the historic grand ballroom. But take the short elevator ride up to the 5th floor, and suddenly you’re transported straight back into the glorious present.

Retail space inside the Guerlain spa at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

Courtesy Guerlain A New Spa For a New Era

The new Guerlain Wellness Spa and fitness studio opened late October on the 5th floor as part of the hotel’s massive $2 Billion-with-a-B renovation, and it’s definitely designed to please and pamper today’s Oura ring generation. We know our circadian rhythms, we drink Erewhon smoothies, and we’ve already hit our step goals by 9am!

It’s a brand new 22,000 square foot spa with 16 treatment rooms, an infra-red sauna and steam room, Moroccan hammam, arctic snow cave (in lieu of a cold plunge) and a stunning white and gold-accented relaxation room with birds-eye views of Park Avenue bustling below. This level of luxury is expected at the Waldorf Astoria. After all, Hilton has made this hotel the new flagship of its Waldorf luxury brand.

But it’s the unexpected extra luxuries that push it over the top, such as Guerlain’s make-up artists standing at-the-ready to offer full face beautification in the retail salon space. Now, you can go in feeling holiday burnout, and come out looking like Marylin Monroe… (or at least, your best self).

A treatment room inside the new Guerlain Wellness Spa

Courtesy Guerlain

To stay on-trend, they’ve also included things like high-tech Gharieni treatment beds that use haptic vibrations to stimulate deep relaxation. There’s a full menu of non-invasive “lifting” facial treatments (ranging from $189 to $600) involving LED masks, micropeels, microdermabrasion and radiofrequency. According to staff, two cryotherapy chambers will arrive in December.

“Wellness is an essential expression of modern luxury,” said Dino Michael, senior vice president and category head, luxury brands, Hilton. “With the opening of Guerlain Wellness Spa, we bring that philosophy to life with a new level of artistry and sophistication, creating spaces where beauty and vitality are inseparable from the Waldorf Astoria experience.”

Of course, the pursuit of wellness goes beyond spa treatments. Exercise, sleep quality, and fresh, locally sourced cuisine are critical to attracting today’s health-conscious travelers.

The Fitness Studio

Also on the 5th floor is a state-of-the-art fitness center designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon. At 6am here, on any given workday, you’ll find A-type New Yorkers getting their heart rates up before the market opens. It’s the kind of place where you can book your own personal trainer to help you “shred” safely on the Technogym equipment. That’s considered table stakes. What about a trendy class collab?

As if on cue, the Waldorf just launched a partnership with the boutique studio Physique 57 to offer barre fusion classes, which already have an avid following around NYC. In these classes, you can expect a high energy combo of strength and resistance training with short bursts of cardio. Think scissors, lunges, light weights and core work set to pop music and California-girl energy. (Our instructor, Katie, is in fact a choreographer from California, and at 7am, she’s the blast of energy New Yorkers need).

“I finally found a workout that works for me. I’ve been a member for two years now,” says Racha, who lives in SoHo and takes classes at her local Physique 57 five times a week. Why did she come all the way uptown to take class at the Waldorf? “I came to support my girl!,” she says, giving Katie a sweaty hug.

It’s a good workout, but the real value for locals is that taking a Physique 57 class gets you access to the spa amenities. There is no need to book a room. You can just come in, workout, steam, sauna and shower all before heading to the office feeling refreshed, and ready.

The dining room at Lex Yard

Courtesy Hilton The Cuisine

Having originally opened in 1931 at this Park Avenue (and 49th street) location, the Waldorf Astoria was famous for decadent throwbacks: red velvet cake, mayonnaise-heavy Waldorf salads, and classic cocktails. Indulgence was equated with luxury, and that ruled the day. The concept of 24-four hour room service was invented at the Waldorf by an enterprising managing director. It was never what you’d call health conscious.

Nowadays, luxury is synonymous with longevity. So the hotel’s new restaurants must strike a balance between health and decadence. The American brasserie Lex Yard is led by chef-partner Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern, another New York institution. His produce is sourced daily from the Union Square Green Market. And, at the Japanese fine dining restaurant Yoshoku, you will find a kaiseki-inspired menu, full of in-season ingredients and locally caught fish. There are no forced pre-fixes or performative smoke-and-mirrors presentations; what you’ll find is good food, elegantly presented.

Sure, you can still order red velvet cake, and nostalgic guests will be happy to see caviar and the Waldorf Salad have returned to the menu. It’s a medley of celery, apples, grapes and walnuts, but to lighten things up Chef Anthony uses lemon dressing with olive oil, saffron and a dollop of honey instead of mayonnaise. In Autumn, he adds things like roasted pumpkin seeds and white cheddar to make it “craveable.” And this time there’s actually lettuce. “I could have fancied it up with truffles and dotted it with caviar, right? The reality is, I decided to take another route. I want it to be approachable,” said Chef Anthony, during his lunch rush last week.

Lexington Avenue King Junior Suite Living Space, Waldorf Astoria New York

Courtesy Hilton A Good Night’s Sleep

As part of the historic renovation, the hotel’s room count has been reduced from 1,400 down to just 375. So, the rooms are considered roomy by Manhattan standards, and have a private residential feel. One bedroom suites feature a foyer and separate living room, writing desks and chaise lounges, walk-in closets and marble bathrooms. But most importantly for sleep, you can control the lighting, window shades and blackout curtains at the push of a button.

The love affair between France and New York is present: interiors were designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and even the bedside chocolate is from La Maison du Chocolat. But, to his credit, the dominant aesthetic is a modern take on Gilded Age New York, with features like black onyx marble floors and gold accents. It’s a tribute to Waldorf heritage, tying seamlessly into the restoration work led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), which preserved the building’s original Art Deco architecture.

You may also notice the silence. Despite the fact that this hotel occupies an entire city block from 49th to 50th Streets in the middle of Park Avenue, all is quiet in the guest rooms, thanks to the 5,000 newly installed double-glazed windows. All in the name of a solid night’s sleep.

Though prices seem eye-wateringly high, they’re actually in line with the Manhattan luxury hotel market. Entry level rooms start from $1,500 per night, with one-bedroom suites starting from $3,800. There are 11 different guest room categories, from the base level to the top five suites: the Waldorf Astoria Suite, Empire Suite and three Manhattan Suites—which soar into the tens of thousands.

Emotional Renewal

The Waldorf’s return is a big deal to New Yorkers. I’ve lived here for 25 years. Major life milestones have occurred in NYC, and the renewal of the Waldorf feels personal. It’s the kind of hotel where special occasions are celebrated and core memories are formed. Almost everyone I know has a Waldorf story, from one time or another. And I think most of us are happy to see it reopen. Like a symbol of second chances.

Back in the mid-aughts, I was interning at 30 Rock for NBC. I was green, and terrified to be working at a big TeeVee network. Drinks with colleagues at the Waldorf were reserved only for on-camera talent and C-suite executives. Not peons like me. But eventually, I was invited. I dressed the way I thought anchors dress. And tried to keep up with their political repartée. I’m quite sure I embarrassed myself. Which is what happens when you try to be everyone but yourself… Stepping into the lobby of the storied building today, years later, I can celebrate the fact that I’m still here. Self-assured. And welcomed at the Waldorf.

Wellness At The Waldorf—Manhattan’s Grande Dame Unveils New Spa And Gym

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