![\"Lobby](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784986104_593_0x0.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reimagined lobby of the St. Regis New York City with Tiffany windows uncovered during the renovation<\/p>\n
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts<\/p>\n
Gazing at the 18-story Beaux-Arts limestone facade and ornate iron balconies of The St. Regis New York City<\/a> before entering the original gold-plated revolving doors, a guest might feel like they\u2019ve time-traveled to the Gilded Age.<\/p>\n For more than a century, this timeless hotel has remained a standout in a city with no shortage of five-star properties. Due largely to the efforts of preservationists and its uncompromising stewardship, The St. Regis has successfully balanced respect for the past with a commitment to contemporary relevance. \u201cWe are the caretakers of the dreams, hopes and aspirations that have endured since our opening,\u201d said Chef Concierge Regena Falling in an email.<\/p>\n This month (July 2026), the hotel announced the completion of the extensive property-wide renovation begun two years ago, rolling out its redesigned 171 guest rooms and 67 bespoke suites following the unveiling of its reimagined public spaces.<\/p>\n A Modern Hotel With An Old Soul <\/p>\n Facade of The St. Regis New York<\/p>\n St. Regis Hotels & Resorts<\/p>\n Developed by John Jacob Astor IV, The St. Regis made a splash when it opened in 1904 in what was then largely a residential street. Its dazzling design, inside and out, reflected a fresh blend of European and American luxury.<\/p>\n The property was considered one of the most elegant and sophisticated of its era among the early steel-frame “skyscraper hotels.” Upon opening, it set a new standard for luxury hotels in the city and later achieved New York City Landmark designation in 1988.<\/p>\n John Jacob Astor IV inherited a vast family fortune. His name was taken from his great-grandfather, a prominent real estate investor and fur trader who died as the wealthiest individual in America. But the great-grandson became wealthy in his own right as a magnate and pioneer in the New York hotel industry. Three generations later, he was among the richest people in the world before his untimely death aboard the RMS Titanic in 1912 at age 47.<\/p>\n John Jacob Astor IV built the Astor House hotel in lower Manhattan, one of the city\u2019s first modern hotels, and went on to create the legendary Waldorf Astoria with his cousin William Waldorf Astor. But his most ambitious project was creating The St. Regis, built to rival the finest hotels in Europe. <\/p>\n The 1904 Real Estate Record and Guide<\/a> observed, “Literally no expense has been spared to make the hotel (The St. Regis)\u2026as luxurious as the most expensive private house in the city.”<\/p>\n The St. Regis New York City: A Marvel Of Its Time<\/p>\n Located in an ideal midtown location, The St. Regis featured marble floors, crystal chandeliers, oriental rugs, antique Louis XV furniture and a library of 100 leather-bound, gold-tooled books. <\/p>\n Ahead of its time, the new hotel introduced many still-uncommon conveniences: a telephone in every room, a mail chute on every floor leading to a mailbox in the lobby, a fire alarm system, a central vacuum system, and central heating and air cooling (predating air conditioning).<\/p>\n Its decor, personalized service and refined ambiance attracted guests from around the world, arriving to see and be seen. Soon after opening, it became a gathering place for the social elite led by Astor\u2019s mother, Caroline Schermerhorn Astor (played by Donna Murphy on the HBO series, The Gilded Age)<\/a>. As matriarch of the American Astors, Mrs. Astor created the \u201cAstor 400,\u201d serving as the doyenne of upper-crust \u201cOld Money\u201d families.<\/p>\n Keeping Up With the Times<\/p>\n Living area in one of the hotel’s Grand Suites<\/p>\n St. Regis Hotels & Resorts<\/p>\n As one might expect, the hotel\u2019s owners and management changed hands multiple times over the years. The building was enlarged in the 1920s, in a style consistent with the original design. <\/p>\n While the hotel\u2019s \u201cbones\u201d are largely the same as they were more than a century ago, a series of interior and structural restorations has helped it maintain its luster and loyal following among novelists, artists, royalty, and celebrities.<\/p>\n Coinciding with the hotel\u2019s 120th anniversary in 2024, the New York property underwent an extensive renovation estimated to cost $100 million, refreshing public spaces. Led by Champalimaud Design<\/a>, The St. Regis introduced a lighter, more modern aesthetic while meticulously preserving the property\u2019s rich architectural heritage.<\/p>\n The designers retained many of the hotel\u2019s original architectural elements, including the wrought-iron work behind the front desk, Waterford crystal chandeliers, elegant crown moldings and cornices, and the original King Cole oak bar. In addition, the renovation uncovered two previously hidden Tiffany glass skylights now visible over the reception desk. <\/p>\n The redesign of the guestrooms and suites transformed each of these accommodations into the type of luxury urban residences that the Astor family might live in today. The jewel-like color palette of the custom velvet upholstery reflects Caroline Astor\u2019s sensibilities. Marble surfaces and soft seating silhouettes add to the rooms\u2019 elegance. Gold-tone brass and metal detailing mirror the gilded ornamentation of the building\u2019s exterior. <\/p>\n One of the renovated guest rooms<\/p>\n St. Regis Hotels & ResortsExperiencing History at The St. Regis New York City<\/p>\n After they enter through the gilded doors and are regaled by the comforts of the spacious and stylish hotel interior, including its revitalized lobby, King Cole Bar, The Drawing Room and La Maisonette, guests would be remiss not to experience some of the hotel\u2019s most iconic spaces and traditions.<\/p>\n Legendary King Cole Bar Mural<\/p>\n The King Cole mural hanging over the bar at The St. Regis New York City<\/p>\n St. Regis Hotels & Resorts<\/p>\n The larger-than-life, thirty-foot Old King Cole mural<\/a> behind the bar and salon of the same name has a history of its own. Astor commissioned it in 1906 for his Knickerbocker hotel and asked the painter to have his face depicted on the body of the nursery rhyme character, King Cole. According to legend, the artist\u2019s painting shows the King sitting high amid flatulence.<\/p>\n When the old hotel closed, the mural made a brief appearance at a Chicago museum before being reinstalled at The St. Regis, where it has remained for more than nine decades. Restored to its vibrant details and colors at a cost of $100,000, it is considered a centerpiece of the hotel.<\/a><\/p>\n Not only does it overhang the popular bar, but it can also be seen from the renovated adjacent The Drawing Room restaurant. It is said that Salvador Dali, Marilyn Monroe and Ernest Hemingway are among the luminaries who have sipped drinks at the King Cole Bar and Salon.<\/p>\n Birthplace of the Bloody Mary<\/p>\n St. Regis bartender Fernand Petiot, who previously worked at Harry\u2019s New York Bar in Paris, is credited with introducing a new cocktail called the \u201cRed Snapper\u201d at The St. Regis in 1934. Although the popular cocktail was originally called the Bloody Mary<\/a>, legend has it that the Astors asked for the name change to avoid offending their refined guests.<\/p>\n The vodka and tomato cocktail has become the brand\u2019s beloved signature drink,<\/a> with each hotel location reimagining it with a different name and local ingredients.<\/p>\n Evening Saber Ritual<\/p>\n