10/10
Amazing hotel
New York · head to head
Waldorf Astoria New York vs The Plaza
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-25: The Plaza is $144 a night less. They are 850 metres apart.
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The honest take
At $1,562 versus $1,585 a night, The Plaza is marginally cheaper than the Waldorf Astoria and comes with breakfast included, plus a public track record of 781 reviews averaging 8.4 out of 10, against the Waldorf's much thinner 73 reviews with no score given. Both sit in Midtown Manhattan within a kilometre of each other, so location is a wash. Book The Plaza if you want the reassurance of a large, strongly rated review base and a free breakfast; book the Waldorf if the Art Deco pedigree and Park Avenue address matter more to you than that data gap.
The look and the feel
Waldorf Astoria New York
The Waldorf Astoria's Park Avenue lobby is one of the great Art Deco set pieces in America: the Wheel of Life mosaic underfoot, the clock tower at the centre, bronze and marble throughout, a hush that comes from decades of old-money transit through the space. The building dates to 1931, its interiors shaped by Schultze & Weaver's original design, all geometric ornament and gilded trim rather than fuss. Rooms lean on luxury bedding and marble bathrooms rather than novelty. It draws a guest who wants New York's grandest hotel history rather than its newest spectacle, and after a long renovation the place trades partly on that reputation as much as current amenity.
Right for someone who wants Art Deco pedigree and a quieter, more corporate Park Avenue setting over ceremony.
The Plaza
The Plaza sits at the southeast corner of Central Park, its French Renaissance chateau exterior and gilded roofline instantly recognisable from a century of film cameos. Inside, the Palm Court still runs its afternoon tea under a stained-glass ceiling, a Gilded Age ritual that hasn't been retired for irony. Rooms now push a more contemporary opulence, with 24-karat gold-plated bathroom fixtures and rain showers layered onto the old bones. It's a hotel that suits someone who wants the postcard version of New York luxury, tea service and all, delivered with a bit of showmanship.
Right for someone who wants the Central Park address, afternoon tea theatre and a hotel with a long public review record backing it up.
The Waldorf's listing shows no breakfast included and only 73 reviews with no aggregate score, so a guest choosing it over The Plaza gives up both a free morning meal and the reassurance of a large, well-rated review history.
The Waldorf's Art Deco lobby is the more architecturally serious room in the city, but The Plaza is the more theatrical place to actually sit and have tea, and for most visitors that theatre is what they came for.
The numbers
| Waldorf Astoria New York | The Plaza | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $1,762 | $1,618 |
| Guest rating | — | 8.4/10 |
| Reviews | 73 | 781 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 5 | 6 |
| Distance apart | 850 m |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Waldorf Astoria New York has
Nothing on our list that The Plaza lacks.
Only The Plaza has
- Breakfast
What guests actually say
Waldorf Astoria New York
- attentive, helpful staff
- attention to detail
- great location
“The staff were exceptional and were very helpful throughout my stay.”
The Plaza
- exceptional guest experience service
- clean, spacious rooms
- good location
- expensive with few facilities
- pricey drinks at the bar
“There are hotels that offer five-star service, and then there is The Plaza.”
Waldorf Astoria guests come away happier, as their reviews focus purely on staff care and detail with no complaints, while Plaza guests, though impressed by service, note high prices and thin facilities.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-25
Waldorf Astoria New York
- Deluxe King RoomRoom Only$1,762
- Deluxe Two Doubles RoomRoom Only$1,762
- Deluxe King Room Mobility Accessible Ri ShwrRoom Only$1,762
The Plaza
- Plaza, King BedRoom Only$1,618
- Deluxe, King BedRoom Only$1,644
- Deluxe, King Bed, AccessibleRoom Only$1,644
In guests' own words
Waldorf Astoria New York
10/10
“Exciting! Fun! Clean!”
The staff were exceptional and were very helpful throughout my stay. Thank you to Barbara at the front desk and Melanie at the restaurant for going above and beyond for us.
The Plaza
10/10
“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.
5/10
“Far to much money for what it is”
Location
To expensive no facilities
About each
Waldorf Astoria New York
Waldorf Astoria New York is a landmark hotel that offers luxurious rooms, 5-star dining and a boutique spa on storied Park Avenue in New York, 1148 feet from Rockefeller Center. Free WiFi access is available in the hotel’s iconic Art Deco lobby. Each room at this historic hotel features luxury bedding and flat-screen cable TVs. Every room has a private…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
The Plaza
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
Facilities, in full
Waldorf Astoria New York
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Express check-in/check-out
The Plaza
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
Where they are
301 Park Avenue768 5th Avenue
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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