The Plaza Hotel in New York City is an iconic landmark 20-story luxury hotel that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza. The Plaza is the second hotel of that name on the site. The French Renaissance château-style building was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and opened to the public on October 1, 1907, the building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and was accorded landmark status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1988. It is with the Waldorf-Astoria, one of only two New York City hotels to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The Plaza has a rich cultural and artistic history as well as many famous guests over the years. In the 1950s it was the setting for Kay Thompson’s series of Eloise books. Eartha Kitt and Peggy Lee played the Persian Room while the Palm Court was favored spot for luncheons and teas by the white glove set. In 1964, The Beatles stayed at the Plaza during their first visit to the United States. In 1966, in honor of publisher Katharine Graham, Truman Capote hosted his acclaimed “Black & White Ball” in the Grand Ballroom. In September 1985, the Plaza Accord was signed at the Plaza, the Accord served as an agreement among the finance ministers of the United States, Japan, West Germany, France and Britain to bring down the price of the U.S. dollar against their currencies.
Over the years The Plaza Hotel has been prominent in many films and TV shows, its major movie debut was in the 1959 film North by Northwest. It was also a setting for Barefoot in the Park (1967), Funny Girl (1968), Plaza Suite (1971), The Way We Were (1973), Love at First Bite (1979), Arthur (1981), Cotton Club (1984), Brewster’s Millions (1985), the first two Crocodile Dundee movies, Big Business (1988), King of New York (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), It Could Happen to You (1994), Almost Famous (2000), and Inside the Osmonds (2001), and several episodes of The Sopranos. The recent Bride Wars (2008) with Kate Hudson, and Anne Hathaway was shot in the Grand ballroom, the Terrace room, and in corridors and the Palm Court.
The film also shows the lobby and exterior. The Plaza is also mentioned and shown in chic shows including Gossip Girl and Sex and the City.
The Plaza Hotel is located at Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, New York, New York 10019 phone 1 (888) 850-0909 .
