Book takes you to the exact room at that rate on HotelDupe's booking partner. Confirmation arrives by email; manage or cancel any time from Find your booking.
The honest take
Book the Mandarin Oriental. It rates higher (9.1 vs 8.4 over a smaller but still substantial review base), costs less per night ($1,474 vs $1,562), and has a 75-foot indoor pool and spa that the Plaza's listing doesn't mention. The Plaza wins on pure history and address if that matters more to you than the numbers.
The look and the feel
The Plaza
The Plaza is 1907 Beaux-Arts, all limestone and mansard roof, sitting at the corner of Central Park like a wedding cake that has seen a century of weddings. Inside, the Palm Court still does its palm-fronded, chandelier-lit afternoon tea, and the gold-plated bathroom fixtures the listing pushes are very much the point: this is old New York money aesthetics, not restraint. The lobby is marble and gilt and loud with tourists and cocktail hour; you come here for the theatre of it, not for quiet.
Right for someone who wants the New York of old films and doesn't mind paying a premium for the address and the theatre of the lobby.
Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental sits high up in the Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle, and the whole pitch is the view: floor-to-ceiling windows over Central Park, the skyline, the Hudson. It reads as contemporary rather than historic, calmer and more anonymous in its public spaces, with a 75-foot indoor pool and full spa doing the work the Plaza gives to a tea room. Rooms lean toward hushed, minimal luxury, mini-bars restocked daily, big flat-screens, the sort of comfort that doesn't ask you to look at it.
Right for someone who wants a quieter, view-driven stay with a proper pool and spa to actually use.
Nothing on the facility list favours the Plaza over the Mandarin; the gap runs the other way, with the Plaza's guests giving up an indoor pool that the Mandarin has.
The Plaza is the more beautiful room to stand in, all Beaux-Arts gilt and Palm Court chandeliers, but the Mandarin is the better place to actually live for a few days, given the view and the pool.
The numbers
The Plaza
Mandarin Oriental
Price, same night
$1,618
$1,502
Guest rating
8.4/10
9.1/10
Reviews
781
442
Stars
★★★★★
★★★★★
Facilities on our list
6
7
Distance apart
889 m
What one has that the other doesn't
Only The Plaza has
Nothing on our list that Mandarin Oriental lacks.
Only Mandarin Oriental has
Pool
What guests actually say
The Plaza
excellent five-star service
clean, big rooms
great location
expensive for what it offers
pricey drinks at the bar
Mandarin Oriental
stunning views of Central Park
outstanding breakfast and pastries
attentive, high-class staff
rooms need renovation
unhelpful concierge service
“This is a review for the breakfast only.”
Mandarin Oriental guests come away happier overall, praising the breakfast, views and staff, while The Plaza reviews focus mainly on price without much substantive service detail.
“There are hotels that offer five-star service, and then there is The Plaza!!!”
There are hotels that offer five-star service, and then there is The Plaza. My recent stay was one of the most memorable hotel experiences I have ever had.
I wanted to surprise my wife during our stay, as I had purchased a beautiful Cartier piece of jewelry for our anniversary on the day we arrived. I reached out to the Guest Experience team a few days before our arrival, and from that moment on, they went above and
10/10
“Excellent stay, would definitely stay here again.”
Everything! Clean rooms, big rooms, excellent service.
Not much - double espressos at the bar were quite pricey (2 for $50) , however perhaps expected at a nice hotel.
Need some rennovations in double rooms. Awsome views
The night cleaning shift in rooms had to be requested again and again
10/10
“AAA+ rated French Chef Nordine Lahssini”
Chef Nordine Lahssini and team has supervised/ designed /cooked / created best , super tasty , healthy food with best culinary presentation to make us feel greatest with his experience from Europe , and Middle East with support Service at MO Lounge by Daniel Villanueva and team with best wine from Italian sommelier Thomas at speakeasy bar and Unique DJ music from Jack & Daniel
10/10
“One the best breakfast in Manhattan”
This is a review for the breakfast only.
Service is first class, coffee is very good and the pastries are outstanding. The view, well, one of the best in the City.
Luxurious Manhattan Hotel at Central Park and 5th Avenue Opulent Rooms with 24-Karat Gold-Plated Fixtures Indulge in the lavish modern bathrooms at The Plaza, complete with exquisite 24-karat gold-plated fixtures and rejuvenating rain showers. The spacious and luxurious rooms offer a truly opulent experience for guests seeking the finest accommodations in…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Mandarin Oriental
Luxurious Accommodations with Stunning Views Located in Columbus Circle’s Deutsche Bank Center, this hotel offers rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing panoramic views of Central Park, the Manhattan skyline, and the Hudson River. Each room features a 55-inch flat-screen TV, a mini-bar restocked daily, and complimentary treats. Relaxation…
Rates are live for 2026-10-25, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons
