The Pierre

Central Park

Renowned throughout the world for its immense skyscrapers, its varied quarters like Greenwich Village, theatres, museums and its legendary financial area around Wall Street, Manhattan is the heart of New York City, the richest and most visited part of the Big Apple. In the midst of this beehive of activity, of the never-ending ballet of yellow taxis and people in a hurry and the screaming sirens of fire trucks, there is Central Park, 341 hectares of vegetation, paths and numerous lakes and ponds. This huge breath of fresh air in the center of the city is a favorite strolling area for New Yorkers who want to feel far from the madding crowds and the noise of Manhattan while still being in the “very heart of it.” It’s the domain of joggers who run along its numerous lanes and a unique site for sports activities, picnics, family outings as soon as the good weather arrives and the venue for numerous open-air concerts. Central Park’s largest lake, the Reservoir, covers an area of 43 hectares!

On the east side of the park, Fifth Avenue becomes the “Museum Mile” thanks to the great concentration of some the world’s most beautiful museums including The Metropolitan, better known as the Met with an incredibly diverse collection of masterpieces, the spiral shaped Guggenheim and the celebrated MOMA, New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

As a décor for a host of films and television series, Central Park has played an important role in the history of the city. Opened in 1873, it received survivors of the crash of 1929 and the hippy manifestations of the 1970s. It is also home to Strawberry Fields, a monument to John Lennon, the Scottish Belvedere Castle, a skating rink, sports fields and an abundance of fauna. Many bird species, a host of squirrels and even some marmots have decided to make it their home.

A veritable icon

The Pierre is on Central Park South, known for its skyscrapers and some of Manhattan’s most prestigious hotels. Its 41 floors crowned by a copper tower is easily recognizable by its elegant granite and cream colored brick façade. More than a hotel, The Pierre is a veritable icon. Built in 1929 by a Corsican émigré, Charles-Pierre Casalaco and designed by Pei, the celebrated architect who built the Louvre Pyramid. Ever since it opened, The Pierre has been a favorite place to stay for the rich and famous. Closed after the Depression, it was sold, protected and then renovated, conserving its old New York palace atmosphere and a slightly over the top classical style.

In its 189 rooms, the high ceilings, thick carpets, walnut or cherry wood furniture and the numerous works of art, create a feeling of established luxury. The rich silk fabrics, brocade curtains, throw cushions on the bed in soft colors such as straw yellow, taupe and pale blue are in contrast with the beige leather head boards and matching benches. The bathrooms are in Turkish marble.

What differentiates The Pierre however, is the service. After crossing the neo-Georgian hall, an elevator operator welcomes you to the gilded elevators and butlers greet you as if you were entering a house. From the concierges to the waiters, the service is impeccable, diligent and efficient. Guests choose their room according the floor. Those with a view begin on the 6^th floor, and if you don’t want to face Central Park, you have to go up to the 11^th floor. The suites are located on all different levels. You can choose between the Charles-Pierre named after the hotel’s founder, which has a fireplace and magnificent French doors, the Getty, named after the heir to the famous oil company with its fabulous terrace, the Park which of course faces Central Park, the Escoffier, dedicated to the renowned French Chef, who resumed his activities for the opening of The Pierre and the sumptuous Tata, a tribute to the present owner, which is located on the 39^th floor with a superb view of Central Park in an ultra luxurious atmosphere.

Breakfast is served in the rococo décor of the Rotonda with its trompe l’oeil of the floor and the ceiling. Lunch can be taken at the Caprice with David Bailey photographs and a black and white Martin Brudnizki décor, and cocktails or tea is available at the Two E Lounge Bar. In the evening, male guests might want to put on a jacket before having dinner at the very popular Café Pierre.

Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Chanel, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Audrey Hepburn and Yves Saint-Laurent were among the many regular guests at the Pierre.