Review: The Pierre hotel New York

Searching for a New York luxury hotel? I splashed out and went 5-star, so here’s my review: The Pierre hotel

It may sound French and be the USA flagship of the luxury Indian Taj hotel brand, but The Pierre hotel is quintessential New York. No, wait. Let me clarify. The Pierre is quintessential insider New York. No, wait! Let me clarify again. The Pierre is quintessential insider luxury New York.

Lobby

If you want to rub shoulders with Billionaires Who Will Remain Nameless, this is the place to do it. Because this is where they live. In The Pierre hotel. Only it’s not a hotel to gawk in because everything is DISCREET and when you stay here you quickly get swept up in the hushed elegance of it all, and start believing deep in your heart that you are 1) a New Yorker and 2) very rich, even if you are neither.

The history of The Pierre Hotel New York

Located at the prime intersection of East 61st Street and 5th Avenue right across from Central Park south, The Pierre was a grand hotel from the get go, attracting the cream of the elite (hello, Coco Chanel!) when it opened in 1930. And then it went broke soon after. Then gazillionaire John Paul Getty bought it in 1938 and it became elegant all over again.

The Cotillion Ballroom

Why do billionaires live at The Pierre?

The reason Billionaires Who Will Remain Nameless live at The Pierre is because in 1959 it became a co-op and then wealthy investors and A-Listers such as Elizabeth Taylor and Yves Saint Laurent were able to snap up some of the best apartments with the most smashing views of Central Park while the rest of the space remained a hotel.

Today, in addition to private apartments, The Pierre has 189 hotel rooms, including 49 suites, which is a huge relief for visiting celebs and dignitaries such as Prince Philip and the Rolling Stones who need a hotel to stay in when they come to New York.

The Pierre from Central Park

This is a review of The Pierre hotel so let’s talk about the building!

The Pierre, a Taj hotel, is a classic part of the upper east side skyline, its granite and pale brick exterior rising up like some glamorous New York needle.

Simplicity and refinement

The lobby isn’t large or flashy, but chic and tasteful with black and white tiles and all kinds of helpful concierges and receptionists and doormen.

All of the concierges at The Pierre are Clefs d’Or, which means they can arrange just about anything, such as having your name written in the sky over the Statue of Liberty, getting you an immediate appointment with a plastic surgeon or, perhaps most importantly, a personal shopper at Bergdorf Goodman, the swanky department store just down the street.

I, however, was boring and just asked for a map.

View of Central Park from the Tata Suite at The Pierre

Note to self: Next time when staying at The Pierre dream up some challenging tasks for the concierges, such as ‘teach me how to walk 40 New York blocks in 5-inch heels’ or ‘please get me 100K new followers on Instagram.’ (PS: Follow me on Instagram @WanderingCarol)

Two E Bar

Back to my review: The Pierre hotel, New York

Just off the lobby is the Two E lounge. It’s named for the address of the hotel, which, quite obviously, is 2 East 61 ^st Street. There are no windows in the lounge, but it’s very luxe and intimate, with original columns and mouldings and a gleamy bronze bar. (High tea recommended.)

Nice day for a stroll in Central Park

Why did I stay in The Pierre?

1. I wanted to stay at The Pierre after I read it was the only hotel in New York that still employs gloved elevator operators, because pressing elevator buttons is just such a trial. (Probably all the Billionaires Who Will Remain Nameless feel the same.) I’ve since heard the Carlyle has elevator operators, too, so if having an elevator person is a deal breaker for you and The Pierre is full, you won’t have to go home crying.
2. I’d also read The Pierre hotel has a car you can get complimentary rides in. (A Jaguar.) I really wanted to take it to my late father’s art opening in Chelsea, which is why I was visiting New York in the first place, but someone else beat me to it.

My father, William Perehudoff, at Berry Campbell Gallery

About The Pierre hotel car

You can’t reserve a ride, which I kind of love because it’s so democratic and means that if Mick Jagger is three seconds behind you he can’t cut ahead of you in line. (Then again, he probably has his own car.) If the car is there the driver will take you almost anywhere in Manhattan (certain boundaries apply). But. Because you can’t reserve The Pierre hotel car, you either have to sit around and wait for it, or give up and take a taxi or the subway.

That’s what happened to me. In fact, that Jag must be the most elusive car in New York, because I tried and tried but never even saw it much less caught a ride in it. And if I ever open a hotel I’m going to discreetly mention that there are 87 Rolls for guests to use, and then tell everyone they just missed them.

PS: The Pierre doesn’t make stuff like this up. I fully believe there really is a car. I also believe I am blessed with bad timing.

Review: The Pierre hotel’s Rotunda, the centrepiece of the hotel

Not to exaggerate but The Pierre has the most beautiful rotunda in the world. It’s completely covered in trompe l’oeil murals and has floaty clouds in the sky. It’s very Renaissance looking, although it was actually only painted in 1967, which is why, in addition to classical visions of Neptune, Venus and Minerva, you’ll find Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Erik Estrada (masquerading as the biblical Adam) and the artist’s cat.

Gossip alert: I read that Aristotle Onassis had an apartment at The Pierre.

The Rotunda

What do you do in the Rotunda?

Until recently the Pierre Rotunda was an event space or a place to walk through to get to the ballroom or to the hotel’s Perrine Restaurant but now it’s back to it’s former glory and you can stop there for selfies cocktails and all-day dining.

Gossip alert: Speaking of event spaces, Mary Tyler Moore and Barbara Walters held their wedding receptions at The Pierre.

Fine fixtures

Perrine New York

The Perrine Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant that pairs seasonal dishes with classic favourites and has a menu that ranges from French fare such as Chicken Paillard with arugula and baby artichokes to vintage picks such as The Pierre Burger with  grass-fed beef, grilled onion spicy remoulade and Rupert cheese.

Tata Suite

Rooms at The Pierre

After a $100 million renovation, you can imagine that the guest rooms and suites at The Pierre are very nice. Designed with the hotel’s signature ‘quiet luxury’ in mind, colour schemes are muted ivories and taupes with soft accents of green or coral, tufted leather headboards and lots of silk and brocade.

While my room wasn’t large, not like the Tata Suite above, it was certainly comfortable.

My room

And I didn’t have a view of Central Park. Not like the Tata Suite does.

My view

Nor did I run into Mary Tyler Moore, Victoria Beckham, Mick Jagger or any Billionaires Who Will Remain Nameless at all, but, just like the elusive hotel car, deep in my heart I felt certain they were all there.