Four Seasons Hotel New York
Below our 16.0/20 editorial floor, so it's not in our curated collection — you found it by searching for it directly. We keep the honest score on the page.
Fat Score
The Verdict
The I.M. Pei limestone tower and the 52-storey lobby still stop people in their tracks, and on Central Park South that setting alone justifies a lot. The staff, over and over, is what guests remember — a bellman named Eddie, a concierge who got someone into every restaurant on their list, a bartender named Olga who adjusted an over-salted appetizer without being asked twice. That kind of consistent, unprompted staff-naming across unrelated stays doesn't happen at a hotel that's coasting.
The rooms are the catch, and travelers who know the brand elsewhere say so plainly: this reopened in late 2024 after a long closure and the guest rooms did not get the full overhaul some expected. Multiple stays describe furniture, fixtures and artificial flowers that read more 1990s hotel than 2020s Four Seasons, and more than one longtime FS guest has called it a noticeable step down from the brand's other flagships. The bathrooms and finishes are the specific complaint that keeps surfacing, alongside occasional housekeeping and room-service misses that feel out of step with the price.
Book it for the location, the lobby, and a staff that still performs like it's 1993 in the best sense — walking distance to the park, Fifth Avenue and Midtown's best restaurants, with a team that will genuinely go out of its way. Anyone chasing the newest rooms in the category has other options in the city; anyone who wants the classic New York hotel experience, done by people who still care, should book the higher floors and not worry about the decor.
76 signals from multiple independent sourcesReports span Nov 2024 – Dec 2025Refreshed Jul 2026Next refresh Sep 2026How this works
Strengths
Considerations
Photos
What People Say
I wasn't even a guest — just stopped in with a quick question — and they treated me like I was staying in the penthouse.
My friend and I popped into the lobby with a question on a Saturday and a staff member named Joel went so far beyond what was needed that it stuck with me. He chatted with us, made us feel genuinely welcome, and even let us take photos by the tree in the lobby. If that's how they treat people who aren't even checked in, I can only imagine what actual guests get.
Joel is an amazing and genuine human!in their words
Three nights in and everything was on track until room service delivered a club sandwich I could have made better myself.
I generally got the quality and service I expect from a hotel at this level, but the room service club sandwich last night was shockingly bad, well below basic standard. For a hotel that prides itself on luxury, that's the kind of miss that shouldn't happen.
Coming back after the long closure felt like watching an old friend return in better shape than before.
The lobby's elegance is exactly as I remembered, maybe more so. Reconnecting with staff who remembered me from years ago made the whole thing feel personal rather than transactional.
Some of the biggest rooms in Manhattan, paired with a team that clearly enjoys the work.
The 52-storey tower has one of the more striking arrival sequences in the city, and the rooms are noticeably larger than most competitors here. Service across the stay was consistently friendly and attentive, and the cocktail scene downstairs held its own against the city's better hotel bars.
They made me feel like I got what I paid for, from top to bottom.
Every staff member I dealt with, from arrival to departure, was helpful and genuinely friendly. That's rare to find consistently in a big city hotel, and it's the reason I'd come back.
They make you feel "worth it"in their words
A five-hour flight delay could have ruined the whole trip, but the staff turned it around fast.
Our flight was delayed over five hours thanks to an equipment problem, and the team here got us into our room quickly and had room service dinner ready without a fuss. Nothing we asked for went unanswered — housekeeping, bellmen, doormen, all of it. Our room on the 44th floor had fabulous views, a very comfortable bed, and the in-app request system for things like ice was genuinely fast. Breakfast at The Garden Restaurant, served by someone who'd been there since opening, was a highlight of the whole week.
The entire staff at the Four Seasons made our 7 night stay perfect.in their words
After giving up on the Carlyle, this became my New York default without much hesitation.
Second stay, first since the reopening, and I booked a Junior Suite on the 27th floor. The carpet looked new, the bed was extremely comfortable, and the HVAC actually worked properly, which shouldn't be notable but often is. Every staff member I encountered was so friendly I had to remind myself I was in New York. I didn't try the restaurant this trip but I'll be back regardless.
Nicely done.in their words
The concierge team here knows the city like locals, not tourist-brochure writers.
I had a high floor room with views running for miles, generously sized by New York standards, with a desk facing the skyline that worked perfectly for a business trip. When I asked where to get good coffee, the concierge steered me somewhere I'd never have found on my own and it's become my go-to now. They packed and unpacked for me without being asked. This is a level of service that's genuinely hard to find elsewhere.
A simple question about a room's TV turned into the most condescending customer service call I've had in a while.
I just wanted to know if a room had a TV before booking, and instead I got attitude from the person on the phone. He randomly brought up the $85,000-a-night penthouse suite, which felt like a dig implying I couldn't afford to stay there. I wasn't rude or demanding, just asking a basic question, and it left such a bad taste that I'm reconsidering the brand entirely.
The birthday cake and warm staff were lovely, but finding old hair in the bathroom took the shine off.
We stayed here for a birthday and the front desk, plus a bellman named Eddie, were genuinely warm throughout. The suite itself was great. But we found hair from previous guests in a few spots in the bathroom, which shouldn't happen at this price. When I raised it with the manager, he said he'd follow up personally and never did, two weeks on.
The concierge team here worked what felt like actual miracles getting me into fully booked restaurants.
Coming back to this property after the reopening, I needed a minute just to take in the lobby's scale, the Garden restaurant and the TY Bar again. Meals were consistently good and the cocktails held up well. My room was clean and comfortable, but the concierge team was the real standout, getting me reservations I genuinely didn't think were possible.
How we score
The 11 signals above are a handpicked editorial selection from 76 signals we gathered across dedicated luxury communities, guest reviews, and editorial publications. Every signal we gathered — not just the ones shown — feeds into the Fat Score and verdict above.
Credibility-weighted
Detailed trip reports from luxury communities and major editorial reviews carry the most weight. Brief ratings add context, not conviction.
Recency-adjusted
Recent experiences matter more. Renovations, management changes, and staff turnover all surface in fresh signals.
Consensus-driven
When independent sources agree on a strength or weakness, that signal gets amplified. One bad night doesn't tank a score.
Refreshed quarterly
Scores are re-gathered and re-calculated from scratch each quarter. Last updated Q3 2026.
About Four Seasons Hotel New York
The Four Seasons Hotel New York occupies an I.M. Pei-designed limestone tower on East 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan, a few minutes' walk from Central Park and Fifth Avenue. The 52-storey building reopened in November 2024 after an extended closure, with a phased return to around 219 rooms and suites, including a number of floors converted into longer-term residential units by owner Ty Warner. The lobby, with its soaring ceilings and honey-toned stone, is one of the most recognized hotel interiors in the city.
On property, dining centers on The Garden restaurant and the TY Bar, both located off the main lobby. The hotel has an updated fitness center and mechanical systems following the recent renovation, with a spa refresh planned. Rooms run large by Manhattan standards, many with Central Park or skyline views on higher floors. The location puts Fifth Avenue shopping, Midtown's theater and restaurant scene, and Central Park within walking distance.
Luxury amenities
- I.M. Pei-designed lobby
- The Garden Restaurant
- TY Bar
- Central Park-facing suites
- In-app service requests
- Multi-bedroom residential floors
Social Vibe
What guests are sharing
@hoetels
@travelandleisuremag
@luxestaydeals
@kaila.yu
@wander.with.mesh
@hotel_diaries
Videos from TikTok creators — tap to watch
What fat travellers ask
Is Four Seasons Hotel New York worth it?
For the location and the staff, most guests say yes — the concierge team and front-of-house service are repeatedly singled out. Where it gets shakier is the rooms: several longtime Four Seasons guests feel the finishes lag behind the brand's other flagships for a comparable rate, so it's worth pricing that in rather than expecting a fully modernized product.
How does Four Seasons Hotel New York compare to Four Seasons New York Downtown?
Guests who've done both frequently note the Downtown property has newer, more polished rooms, while the Midtown flagship wins on location and that landmark lobby. Neither is a clean sweep; it comes down to whether you'd rather be near Central Park or in Lower Manhattan with a spa on site.
What's the best time to visit Four Seasons Hotel New York?
The hotel reopened in phases through late 2024 and into 2025, with a spa refresh reportedly still to come, so more recent stays reflect a more settled operation than the first months post-reopening.
Who is Four Seasons Hotel New York best for?
Travelers who want the classic Midtown Four Seasons experience — that lobby, a Central Park-adjacent address, and staff who remember your name — and who aren't chasing the newest rooms in the category. Guests fixated on fully renovated interiors may be happier elsewhere in the city.
Similar Hotels
Key Details
Brand
Four Seasons · luxury
Fat Score
15/20
From the desk
Most weeks, we leave you alone
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