SmarterTravel Spotlight: The Pierre Hotel, a Taj Hotel Review

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Few hotels embody New York City’s timeless elegance and grandeur quite like The Pierre. Gracing the corner of Fifth Avenue and 61st Street in Manhattan, The Pierre has hosted discerning celebrities, royalty, and dignitaries since 1930.

As you step into the gilded lobby, you can see the property’s design inspiration—the hotel’s architects modeled The Pierre after King Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles. Since then, numerous renovations have kept The Pierre up to the standards of modern travelers, but the hotel’s historic opulence remains—right down to the friendly old-fashioned elevator operators. 

In 2005, The Pierre was acquired by Taj, an iconic hotel group, and now the property is officially known as The Pierre, a Taj Hotel. 

The Location

The Pierre Hotel occupies prime real estate on the Upper East Side, directly across from Central Park. Its convenient and central Manhattan location puts guests just steps away from many of New York City’s most famous landmarks and attractions. 

The Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Hall, and Rockefeller Center are all within easy walking distance. Numerous subway stations are within a few blocks of the hotel should you wish to explore further afield, or the courteous doorman is always happy to hail guests a cab. 

Dining

The Pierre has two eateries onsite, Perrine and Two E Bar and Lounge. If you’re feeling indulgent, room service is also available for hotel guests.

Perrine, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This upscale spot serves a farm-to-table menu that changes depending on what’s in season.  

The Rose Terrace, Perrine’s open-air terrace, is the place to be in warmer months when guests can dine and people-watch on the busy Manhattan streets. 

For lighter fare and drinks, guests can visit Two E Lounge (named for the hotel’s address at 2 East 61st Street). The elegant bar offers cocktails, light bites, and small plates and is open in the late afternoon through the evening. 

Reserve a table at Two E Wednesday through Saturday between 6 – 9pm, when The Pierre offers free jazz performances by the artist-in-residence Antonio Ciacca and other notable musicians. 

Although it’s not open to the public for dining, make sure you take a peek inside the Rotunda, The Pierre’s private event space. This circular room has garden scenes hand-painted across the walls, a vibrant blue-sky fresco-covered ceiling, and a grand winding staircase that would be perfect for a wedding or big celebration. 

Amenities

The Pierre charges a daily facility fee of $34.43 which covers the following amenities: 

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• Press reader access to electronic newspapers and magazines
• Complimentary tea and coffee service in the lobby from 7 am to 9:30 am
• Free WiFi
• Bottled water

Other available amenities at The Pierre include:

• Les Clefs d’Or Concierge
• Valet parking
• Laundry and dry cleaning services 
• Overnight shoeshine
• Turndown service

A fairly well-sized gym is located on the third floor of The Pierre and is fully stocked with cardio equipment, free weights, and chilled bottled water. 

The Pierre welcomes pets up to 15 pounds and will provide dog-friendly amenities for any canine guests. A daily fee of $75 per dog applies, and dogs are not allowed to be left unattended in rooms. The concierge can arrange pet-sitting services if needed. 

The Rooms

Accommodations at The Pierre range from superior rooms to grand multi-room suites, all featuring the hotel’s signature comforts: Etro toiletries, Bose speakers, plush bathrobes, and custom slippers. 

We stayed in a Pierre Deluxe room, which was surprisingly spacious for Manhattan at 300 square feet. This room type has an interior view overlooking city buildings, high ceilings, Turkish marble bathrooms, and (in another uncommon New York City hotel amenity) windows that actually open for a bit of fresh air. 

If you’re looking for a view of Central Park, book a Park View room, Signature Park View room, Metropolitan Suite, or Deluxe Grand Suite, Park Suite, Getty Suite, Tata Suite, or Hutton Suite.

Grand Suites are the most luxurious in the hotel and are designed to feel like a residential apartment, with multiple rooms and custom furnishings. 

Groups traveling together may want to consider the Tata Suite. This suite can be connected to four additional park view rooms and suites, making the 39th floor completely private and offering up to six bedrooms over 4,786 square feet. 

Price and How to Book

Room rates start at around $850 per night for superior guestrooms and can be booked on Expedia. Packages are available that include continental breakfast at Perrine.

Editor’s Note: The Pierre Hotel hosted the writer of this story. 

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