Hotel
The Carlyle Hotel
The Upper East Side's legendary luxury hotel, the other essential address for celebrity guests in Manhattan.
Cultural Significance
The Plaza Hotel opened on October 1, 1907, at the southeast corner of Central Park, and within years had established itself as the most glamorous address in New York City. Designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in the French Renaissance chateau style, The Plaza was immediately embraced by the Gilded Age elite and has since hosted presidents, royalty, literary figures, Hollywood stars, and cultural icons of every era. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, The Plaza is not merely a hotel but an enduring symbol of New York ambition and luxury.
The hotel's cultural significance extends deep into American literature and cinema. F. Scott Fitzgerald set a pivotal confrontation in "The Great Gatsby" within a Plaza suite, and the author himself was famously ejected from the hotel for unruly behavior. Kay Thompson's beloved "Eloise" children's books are set entirely at The Plaza, creating a fictional character so beloved that the hotel maintains an "Eloise Suite" and a portrait in the lobby to this day. The Beatles stayed at The Plaza during their historic 1964 American visit, and the hotel has been the backdrop for countless society galas, charity benefits, and landmark social events throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Plaza's Grand Ballroom has witnessed some of the most extravagant celebrations in New York history, from Truman Capote's legendary Black and White Ball in 1966, which drew a guest list that read like a roll call of mid-century American fame, to celebrity wedding receptions that continue to fill society pages. The Palm Court, with its stained-glass ceiling, remains one of the most photographed dining rooms in the world, and the hotel's Oak Room was a legendary power-lunch destination for decades before its closure.
Notable Celebrity Appearances
1964
The Beatles Arrive at The Plaza
The Beatles check into The Plaza during their first American visit, with thousands of screaming fans surrounding the hotel. Their stay coincides with their historic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Plaza becomes the epicenter of Beatlemania in America.
1966
Truman Capote's Black and White Ball
Truman Capote hosts his legendary Black and White Ball in The Plaza's Grand Ballroom, inviting 540 of the most famous people in the world. Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow, Andy Warhol, Norman Mailer, and Lauren Bacall attend what becomes known as "the party of the century."
1992
Home Alone 2 Films at The Plaza
Macaulay Culkin films scenes at The Plaza for "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," introducing the hotel to a global audience of millions. The film's scenes in the lobby and at the front desk become some of the most recognizable hotel moments in cinema history.
2000
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones Reception
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones host their star-studded wedding reception at The Plaza, with a guest list including Sean Connery, Goldie Hawn, and Kirk Douglas. The event reinforces The Plaza's status as the ultimate venue for celebrity celebrations.
2013
The Great Gatsby Film Premiere Tie-In
Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" starring Leonardo DiCaprio renews global interest in The Plaza's literary heritage, with the hotel hosting themed events that celebrate its connection to Fitzgerald's masterwork and the Jazz Age glamour it represents.
In Film & Television
The Plaza Hotel may be the most filmed hotel in cinema history. Beyond "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (1992), which introduced the hotel to a generation of moviegoers, The Plaza features prominently in "The Great Gatsby" in both the 1974 Robert Redford and 2013 Leonardo DiCaprio adaptations, where Fitzgerald's confrontation scene plays out in a sweltering Plaza suite.
Alfred Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" (1959) features Cary Grant at The Plaza's Oak Bar, and the hotel appears in "Crocodile Dundee" (1986), "Bride Wars" (2009), and numerous other productions. The Plaza's exterior, with its distinctive French chateau silhouette against Central Park, is one of the most recognizable establishing shots in New York filmmaking.
Related Venues
Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Home of the Met Gala, located along the same Central Park stretch as The Plaza.
Restaurant
Balthazar
Keith McNally's iconic SoHo brasserie, another essential stop on New York's celebrity dining circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
About The Plaza Hotel
Yes, The Plaza Hotel is prominently featured in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (1992). Macaulay Culkin's character Kevin McCallister checks into The Plaza and explores the hotel's grand lobby, Palm Court, and other public spaces. The movie cemented The Plaza's status as one of the most recognizable hotels in cinema history.
The Plaza Hotel has hosted some of the most lavish celebrity celebrations in history, including Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones' wedding reception in 2000, and Truman Capote's legendary Black and White Ball in 1966, often called "the party of the century." The Grand Ballroom continues to host high-profile events and society weddings.
The Plaza Hotel plays a pivotal role in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" (1925), where a crucial confrontation between Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan takes place in a hotel suite. This scene has been recreated in both major film adaptations, making The Plaza forever associated with the novel's themes of wealth, ambition, and the American Dream.