Rent the perfect hotel in New York

You can’t talk about iconic NYC hotels without talking about The Plaza. The hotel’s Renaissance-inspired chateau-style exterior is a key feature of the Midtown skyline, and since its opening in 1907, it has hosted hundreds of notable guests – The Beatles, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and, of course, Eloise.

The main event spaces, The Grand Ballroom and Terrace Room, have hosted 1920s debutante balls, Truman Capote’s Black and White ball, and even a dinner honoring Marie Curie. Layered in history, both spaces compliment each other and boast Gilded Age decor. For smaller meetings, the Edwardian Room, The Oak Room & Bar, Rose Club, and the Executive Boardroom are available for both corporate outings and social events. For a fresh private dining experience, the renovated Palm Court brings Central Park indoors with garden elements and soaring palm trees alongside a classic American menu.

This venue is as grand as you can get in New York for an event. As the slogan says, nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza.

There’s a rumor that the most famous elevator ride in history took place in The Carlyle: where Princess Diana, Steve Jobs, and Michael Jackson exchanged courtesies and rode in awkward silence, until Di broke the ice and sang “Beat It”. Oh, how we wish that elevator had CCTV. Whether it’s true or not, it’s definitely believable – The Carlyle is an A-list hub, hosting everyone from Frank Sinatra and the Kennedys to George Clooney and Madonna.

As for events, The Carlyle sure knows how to entertain. Benelman’s Bar is a favorite of Upper East Siders (and is known to host a few impromptu performances from local celebrities) and Dowling’s and Cafe Carlyle are private dining spaces that honor New York glamour. If you’re looking to mix business with leisure, the Versailles and Trianon Suites are elegant settings for board meetings and presentations of up to 180 guests.

Making headlines in 2025 for its reopening after nearly a decade of expensive renovations, the Waldorf Astoria has been a centerpoint for lavish events for nearly 100 years. It has a reputation for being the preferred accommodation for presidents, kings, and queens, including Queen Elizabeth II, the Dalai Llama, and the King of Swing himself, Frank Sinatra.

Event spaces at the Waldorf Astoria make up the beating heart of the hotel. These heritage rooms honor the hotel's original Art Deco design, with lavish details and elegant finishes that will elevate any event. The Grand Ballroom is the centerpiece, which has hosted legendary events like the very first Met Gala, Grace Kelly’s engagement party, and the Paris Ball, where Elsa Maxwell rode into the space on an elephant. Its other meeting spaces include the opulent Basildon meeting rooms, which features 18th century design and imported material from England’s Basildon Manor, and eight versatile boardrooms.

World-class amenities include a dedicated event experience manager and a discreet porte-cochére (the only one in Manhattan) for event attendees. The 43,000 sq. ft. of event space can host anywhere from 10 to 1,000 guests.

If you’re looking for more of a bohemian venue, there’s nowhere more fitting than Hotel Chelsea. Though it’s been renovated to a contemporary standard,elements of its original beatnik identity remain: the bar and mural in the attached El Quijote restaurant, the fireplace in the General Manager’s office, the old front desk, and antique brass chandeliers, all restored with a light touch. The history is a key part of the space: it’s where Cohen met Joplin, where Kerouac wrote On the Road, where Warhol filmed Chelsea Girls.

Despite its grimy history (and rumored roams of the ghosts of Nancy Spungen and Dylan Thomas), the event spaces in the Hotel Chelsea are now nothing short of luxury. The Bard Room is a glamorous ballroom space for up to 100 guests, the Tea Room (once the general manager’s office) is a boardroom or private dining space for up to 20 seated guests, and the Piano Room (within the Lobby Bar) is an ornate lounge space for up to 75. You can also book private dining options in the iconic Spanish restaurant El Quijote, French bistro Cafe Chelsea, or refined Japanese restaurant Teruko.

Once brimming with socialites in mink coats, The St. Regis remains one of the most luxurious and historic hotels in the city. Look closely and you’ll spot its original brass detailing and marble staircases, interiors which witnessed residencies of guests like John Lennon, Nikola Tesla, and Salvador Dali, as well as the invention of the Bloody Mary in the King Cole Bar in 1934.

Each of the 11 event rooms are decorated to a high standard, evoking the timeless allure and luxury beloved by New York’s elite. You’ll find chandeliers in every room and ceiling murals evoking Versailles, contrasted with modern tech amenities. The largest space, The St. Regis Roof, is a glamorous ballroom that can host up to 220 guests theater or reception-style. There are also multiple conference rooms, including the wood-panelled Library, which features a collection of 3,000 leather-bound classic books.

Hotel guests will have access to the signature 24-hour St. Regis Butler service and entry into the historic King Cole Bar, where a Bloody Mary is not just necessary but required. Not your style? Try a martini, at least. Thank us later.