plaza hotel

The Scent of the Plaza

Looks like The Plaza Hotel in New York has been thinking some thing over and asked itself a question worthy of Scarface: why take a cut when we can have the whole thing? Instead of selling eau de parfum from from another maker, the Plaza has commissioned its own from haute parfumery Krigler. Said to remind one of "grace, beauty, elegance and style," it is an assemblage of the scents that have been doing that for centuries, such as bergamot, grapefruit and leather.

Intriguingly, the hotel has elected to call this olfactory joy "The Plaza," where we might have thought they'd give it a name a little less institutional. If nothing else, though, it gives us a good reason to move up from our other hotel fragrance, The Howard Johnson's. You can avail yourself of The Plaza at the hotel's shop in soap, candle, or eau de parfum, the last of which runs $95 for 1.7 ounces.

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Tags: candle, eau de parfum, fragrance, new york, plaza hotel, soap, the plaza, The Plaza Hotel

Nominees for Best in Entertainment

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Best Wine Bars

The first nominee offers an authentic Tuscan experience in the heart of Manhattan while the second nominee is an inviting and chic wine bar that is a favorite of San Francisco residents. The third nominee is sure to please every oenophile with its vast selection of wines from around the world while the fourth nominee offers a stunning selection and intimate ambiance with a European feel. The final nominee is a cozy, yet sophisticated establishment that attracts wine country royalty.

Accademia di Vino

Bar Bambino

The Local Vine
Mercy Wine Bar

Underwood Bar & Bistro

Best Cocktail Lounges
The first nominee is a monumental place with a magical atmosphere while the second features handcrafted liqueurs and innovative imbibables. The third nominee takes a culinary approach to the art of cocktail making while the fourth has been mixing masterpieces for Parisians and international celebrities since 1911. The final nominee is housed in a two-story barn that dates back to the 16th century England.

Best Coffeehouses
The first nominee is known for discovering unknown and exotic coffees from around the world while the second is focused on its craft of making the best coffee. The third nominee is the largest chain of coffeehouses in the world while the fourth nominee knows coffee the way oenologists know wine. The final nominee features artisan-roasted beans and single-origin coffees and teas from around the world.

Zoka

Best Hotel Bars

The first nominee offers the royal treatment and is located within one of the world's most glamorous hotels. The second nominee blends grand heritage with modern panache while the third offers spectacular service and stupendous views. The fourth nominee is a decadent, elegant and decidedly dressy bar while the final nominee is a New York landmark and iconic meeting place.

Best Brew Pubs

The first nominee is in Vemont and the only way to sample its beer is to go there yourself. The second nominee has won countless awards while the third nominee features hand-crafted beer. The fourth nominee brews its award-winning beer on the premises while many consider the beers made by the final nominee among the best in the world.

The Alchemist Pub and Brewery

Four Peaks Brewing Co.

Lost Coast Brewery

Silver City Brewery

Spuyten Duyvil

Tags: awards-main, beer, best brew pub, best cocktail lounge, best hotel bar, best wine bar, claridges, Cocktail Lounge, four seasons, Four Seasons George V, hotel, luxist-awards, Plaza Hotel, Starbucks, starbucks coffee, wine, wine bar, winners-entertainment

The Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel: Historic and Classic

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Hotel Bar.

The Oak Bar in The Oak Room, a New York landmark and iconic meeting spot is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Hotel bar.

Located on the first floor of New York's fabled landmark, The Plaza Hotel, The Oak Bar is one of the most romantic meeting spots in Manhattan. The Oak Bar serves as an informal gathering place for New York's luminaries, with distinctive cocktails and a separate bar menu along with the classic view of Central Park South from its windows.

Bringing old-world glamour to the 21st century, The Oak Room was originally designed by Henry Hardenbergh in 1907 as a bar for men only. It closed during Prohibition and re-opened in 1934 as a full service restaurant. The Oak Room is known for its detailed wood-paneled walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling. The three carved niches feature beautiful murals of German feudal castles with one mural featuring the former Cornelius Vanderbilt II mansion, which is now the location of luxury goods department store, Bergdorf Goodman.

Gallery: The Oak Room At The Plaza Hotel, New York

The Oak Bar in the Oak Room at The Plaza Hotel, New York

Tags: awards-main, best hotel bar, hotel bars, luxist-awards, Oak Bar, Oak Room, Oak Room Bar, Plaza Hotel

Continue reading “The Oak Bar at the Plaza Hotel: Historic and Classic”

Classic Cocktails Make a Comeback (with video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

At the newly renovated Plaza Hotel, which recently underwent a $450 million renovation, Luxist visited the famous Oak Room Bar where we discussed the comeback of classic cocktails with Head Bartender Orlando Rivera.

"It is almost like jazz music," says Rivera. "Classic cocktails never die.

Orlando Rivera, who has worked at the Plaza Hotel for 21 years, presides over the Oak Room Bar. During his time there, he has seen cocktails come and go, but the classic ones, such as martinis, Grey Goose martinis, dirty martinis and Bloody Mary, are very popular right now.

Rivera also told us which are the proper garnishes for different cocktails. A Sidecar is garnished with a lemon, while a Cuba Libre is served with a lime. A Bloody Mary is served with a lemon or a lime, but a Gibson must be served with an onion pearl, not an olive.

We couldn't think of a better place to learn (or a better person to learn from) about classic cocktails than at this landmark location. Built in 1907 (originally as a bar for men only), the Oak Room Bar remains an iconic meeting spot for New Yorkers and visitors to the city alike.

Tags: bloody mary, bloody marys, BloodyMary, BloodyMarys, classic cocktails, ClassicCocktails, cuba libre, CubaLibre, entertainment-pedia, gibson, luxist-awards, main-pedia, martini, martinis, oak room, oak room bar, OakRoom, OakRoomBar, orlando rivera, OrlandoRivera, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, plaza hotel, PlazaHotel, sidecar

How to Make a Classic Manhattan

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

At the newly renovated Plaza Hotel, which recently underwent a $450 million renovation, Luxist visited the famous Oak Room Bar where Head Bartender Orlando Rivera shared with us some of his secrets, including how to make one of the most classic cocktails---the Manhattan.

Orlando Rivera, who has worked at the Plaza Hotel for 21 years, presides over The Oak Bar. During his time there, he has served classic cocktails to the great and near-great, including princes, presidents, powerbrokers, politicians, Hollywood stars, musicians and professional athletes.

The Manhattan is believed to have been invented at the Manhattan Club in New York City in the 1870's. The cocktail has not diminished in its popularity over the ensuing 140 years and is referred to as the "king of cocktails." We couldn't think of a better place to learn (or a better person to learn from) how to make this classic cocktail than at this landmark location. Built in 1907 as a bar for men only, the Oak Room Bar is now an iconic meeting spot for New Yorkers and visitors to the city alike.

Tags: awards-main, classic cocktails, classic manhattan, ClassicCocktails, ClassicManhattan, cocktails, entertainment-pedia, luxist-awards, main-pedia, manhattan club, ManhattanClub, oak room, oak room bar, OakRoom, OakRoomBar, orlando rivera, OrlandoRivera, outdoor-entertainment, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, plaza hotel, PlazaHotel

Eloise Returns to the Plaza Hotel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Children

After a $450 million, three-year, lobby to roof renovation and restoration, the Plaza Hotel is welcoming back Eloise, a longtime favorite guest.

Indeed, today, the Eloise shop will open on the Concourse Level of The Shops at The Plaza. As irresistibly engaging as the fictional six-year-old heroine herself, who "moved into" The Plaza in 1955 with pet pug Weenie, turtle Skipperdee and her "mostly companion," Nanny, the 2,100 square feet Eloise shop is designed to delight both young and old.

Playfully decorated to be faithful to Eloise's indomitable spirit and distinctive color palette of "Eloise pink" and black, the 2,100-square-foot Eloise shop resembles a 'playhouse,' an homage to one of the most lovably precocious fictional characters ever. Eloise fans may re-enact their favorite vignettes from the "Eloise" books and movies. Guests can relax in the stylish living room, and plan their (mis)adventures with the concierge, just like the fictional character did in her namesake books.

In the Fashion Room guests can dress up in costumes and transform into mini-Eloises while modeling their favorite looks from a podium. In the Library Room, guests may enjoy "park views" and watch their favorite Eloise movie clips, play on the computer stations or enjoy story time with their mostly companion. And of course, fans can't leave without a visit to the Tea Room where family and friends can come together for tea and birthday parties and other celebrations. A visit to the Beauty Salon rounds out a day of living like Eloise. In Spring 2010, tea and birthday parties, beauty salon service and etiquette classes will be available too.

For shoppers, the store offers a wide variety of Madame Alexander dolls, Eloise books, Eloise-inspired bathrobes and bath towels, and exclusive product lines including the Eloise in Paris doll. The holiday debut will provide shoppers with an assortment of special holiday gift items including an exclusive Eloise ornament, Eloise at Christmas book and holiday-themed dolls.

In Spring, 2010, the Plaza's website will launch an Eloise fan club with highlights such as a section that shares Eloise's favorite things to do and see in New York. Also available are two Eloise overnight hotel offers: the 'Live Like Eloise' and 'Live Like Eloise Slumber Party' packages (for booking information visit theplaza.com). And since everyone "absolutely looooves" Eloise, The Plaza will introduce an Eloise themed suite designed by Betsey Johnson to debut 2010.

Designated a New York City Landmark in 1969, the Plaza Hotel is also the only New York City hotel to be designated as a National Historic Landmark. There are numerous additional boutiques in the Shops at the Plaza, including Ghurka, Kenneth Jay Lane, Douglas Hannant and Anna Hu.For reservations, call (888) 240-7775 or visit www.theplaza.com.

Gallery: More from Eloise

Tags: awards-main, Eloise, luxist-awards, Plaza Hotel, PlazaHotel

The Plaza Hotel's Oak Room Relaunches March 18th

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

World renowned restaurant The Oak Room at New York City's Plaza Hotel is reopening March 18th with a brand new chef, Eric Hara (right).

The legendary Oak Room has an all new menu planned, featuring classic and modern American cuisine at "prices that are appropriate for today's economy." Entrees will run from just $22 - $35.

Eric Hara was most recently executive chef of David Burke Townhouse and Fishtail.

The Oak Room and adjacent Oak Bar have been redesigned by architect Annabelle Selldorf, bringing contemporary flourishes to the historic space which first opened in 1907. Be sure and visit the new Oak Room next time you are in New York!

Tags: eric hara, EricHara, new york, new york city, NewYork, ny, nyc, oak room, OakRoom, plaza, plaza hotel, PlazaHotel, restaurant, restaurants

An Art Collector At The Plaza, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I had to show you this one as much for the furniture and art as for the apartment itself. This three-bedroom unit at New York City's famous Plaza hotel is full of some of the trendiest modern pieces of furniture and art around. Philippe Starck Ghost chairs and a Kate Moss portrait by Chuck Close, are just some of the treasures in this apartment. In fact the decor The apartment itself has great light and high ceilings and in its current incarnation is basically a large white box for the display of the owner's treasures. The apartment includes a foyer, library, modest kitchen, and baths with custom tile-work with marble mosaic floors modeled after the historic Plaza lobbies. An updated home in a New York City landmark, this apartment is listed at $13.75 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Art at the Plaza

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Tags: estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, new york city, NewYorkCity, plaza hotel, PlazaHotel

The $2,500 Cognac Shot, or $80,000 for the Whole Bottle

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

A nice one-bedroom apartment in NYC rents for about $2,500/month. And for that same price you can get a shot -- yes, just a taste -- of Louis XIII Black Pearl Magnum cognac, a limited edition, natch, kept in a glass case and then offered exclusively at NYC's Rose Club at the Plaza hotel. The spirit, produced by Remy Martin, cannot be sampled anywhere else in the State of New York. The bottle, designed by Baccarat and hand-blown from black crystal, has not yet been uncorked since it was introduced in June. A recent Rose Club patron asked if he could buy the entire bottle, one of only 358 in the world. Rose Club manager Anthony Evangelista turned him down, and the man left without even tasting it. There are about 32 pours in the 1.75 liter bottle, meaning that the decanter contains $80,000 worth of cognac.

[Via New York Daily News]

Tags: Cognac, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, Plaza, Plaza Hotel, PlazaHotel, Rose Club, RoseClub, shot, shots

Plaza Hotel Sale at Christie's

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Auctions

The sale of the remaining goods from the Plaza Hotel in New York will take place on March 15 in New York at Christie's. As we mentioned before, many of the less unique furnishings from the hotel were already sold but the choicest pieces were reserved for this auction. For the Plaza-sentimental there is everything from a pair of Eloise slippers to a bellman's uniform to this Louis XV-style, blue and clear chandelier that is estimated to sell for $5,000 to $8,000.

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Tags: furnishing, hotel sale, new york, plaza, plaza hotel, plaza hotel sale

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