The Pierre, a Taj Hotel

Today we are going to tour New York’s iconic Pierre Hotel, located in my favorite area of New York City. First, a little historical perspective. Because the backstories are always juicy. The 41 story hotel was  built in 1929 where a mansion once resided on 61st/5th (the Gerry Home). This new $15-million hotel was a joint venture between Charles Pierre Casalasco of Corsica and a group of Wall Street investors, most notably Otto Kahn, E.F. Hutton and Walter P. Chrysler. It opened for business in 1930, with 700 rooms. The opening gala was attended by everyone prominent in business and society… and the guest chef in the early years was none other than Auguste Escoffier, the father of French cuisine. Wow.

Sadly, the Great Depression took its toll, bankruptcy was filed, then foreclosure, and the hotel was sold at public auction. In 1938, Standard Oil Tycoon John Paul Getty bought the hotel for a mere $2.5 million and owned the hotel until it became a cooperative.

Fast forward to today:  Several owners and many renovations later, The Pierre is now the iconic US flagship of Taj Hotels on New York’s Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street, offering 189 redesigned residential-style guest rooms, including 49 suites, all featuring a quiet feeling of luxury and the most modern of comforts in designs by James Park Associates. Let’s take a look at this gorgeous property…

The Pierre is a true 5 Star hotel with the service to match. The staff efficiently jump through hoops to graciously make your reservations and plans seem effortless.

 The hospitality continues throughout your stay… always with a personal touch that begins when you first step into your room.

Classic rooms feature high ceilings with a residential style décor. King bed, 40-inch flat screen high-definition TV, high-speed wireless internet access, Bose Wave Studio & I-Pod docking station.

Did you know:

That in 1950 The Pierre was the first hotel to install radio and television sets in all the guest rooms?

If you are a regular at Taj properties, the subtle couture nods to the Indian heritage of Taj Hotels- as seen in this bedding, will not surprise you.

After a night ensconced in the luxurious Eyptian Cotton Fili D’oro sheets and cloud-like bedding , you may find yourself calling down to the front desk to see how you can order some of this bliss for home.

The rooms feel like your luxurious home away from home with fine fabrics, luxurious trims, and classic antique reproductions, modified to accommodate current technology. The result is an extremely comfortable kind of formal.

 Marble-clad bathrooms feature glass showers with oversized showerheads & soaking tubs.

This is the breath-taking view from a Central Park Side room.

Before you ask the front desk to book your dinner reservations, it is important to know what lies in your own back yard… a noteworthy destination for Contemporary Italian Cuisine. The Pierre is home to Sirio Ristorante, the new namesake restaurant from famed Le Cirque restaurateur, Sirio Maccioni. Their chef is Chef Massimo Bebber and his food is has a definite following of locals. The design recalls the classic Italian ristorante and casual elegance of Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,”  often likened to a runway because of its long and slender proportions. Sirio is popular with the Upper East Side set, and always good for people watching… why leave the hotel when this gem is within reach.

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Tea at The Pierre

Afternoon tea is served daily at Two E Bar/Lounge, from 3:30-5:00 pm.

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The  Two E Bar

This same lounge opens at 10:30 am daily to serve pastries and coffee throughout the day as well as light bites and cocktails in the evening. There is even a children’s menu.

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Meeting Facilities

There are three new state of the art spaces that can accommodate up to 75 people.

This is a partial view of the bathroom of the  1,980 sq foot Tata Suite, The Pierre’s Presidential Suite. One entire wall features a series of paneled, mirrored closets lined in cedar and sandalwood with valet drawers and electronic safes.  This suite may be combined with others to provide up to six bedrooms under one key, ideal for heads of state, or anyone traveling with an entourage or extended family.

The elegant mix of color, texture and pattern – signature Taj.

A double bedroom in The Charles Pierre Suite, perfect for family travel. The architectural and interior design project of this suite was entrusted to the architect Piero Lissoni. “I wanted to conceive and design a new experience of hospitality, carrying the spirit of the past through a design which is modern, sophisticated and silent,” states the architect.

Premier Suites with high ceilings and natural abundant light offer a separate living room from master bedroom and bathroom. Premier Suites average 900 sq ft and most include a marbled topped pantry with a microwave oven, wet-bar and refrigerator. Entertainment ready!

The initial history lesson does circle back to present day: The Getty Suite is one of The Pierre’s 11 Grand Suites. The 1,015 sq ft Getty  Suite is one of two that offer a private terrace (pictured above), landscaped with outdoor entertaining in mind. This suite honors the history of the hotel, paying tribute to John Paul Getty, the oil company scion who purchased The Pierre in 1938. The Getty Suite offers a master bedroom with bath, a living room and dining area with service pantry, second bathroom and the hotel’s second grand terrace.

The one and two bedroom Grand Suites are designed with custom furnishings, hand-crafted finishes and elegant details, such as rich silk and brocade fabrics, Murano glass chandeliers and hand-knotted carpets, and carefully integrated technology.

Bonus: The Pierre’s 11 residential-style Grand Suites come with a private Taj Royal Attaché trained in the palaces of India to flawlessly fulfill every guest request. Hello.

The Pierre offers an unparalleled location, literally a ring side seat to Central Park. Located on Fifth Avenue, The Pierre, A Taj Hotel is an exclusive Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond property and a member of Leading Hotels of the World, the only such affiliated hotel in the elite intersection of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York

795 Fifth Avenue at 61^st Street

New York, NY 10065

212.940.8195

Scoop: There are some wonderful upcoming seasonal specials as well as a fabulous Pampered Pierre Pups amenity that can be added to any room rate/category…plus a new Children’s Closet at The Pierre launching next month. Check the specials and book your stay at The Pierre here.