The honest review of Four Seasons Hotel New York
We only cover serious luxury hotels, and this is one — it just didn't clear our 16.0/20 bar, so it isn't in the collection. The dimension scores below show where it fell short.
Fat Score
Doormen, bellmen and concierge get named and praised constantly, though a few guests describe a rude phone call or restroom encounter that never got resolved.
Reports since the reopening keep calling the rooms beige and dated for the price, with one sink centered oddly in an otherwise long counter.
Steps from Central Park and Madison Avenue in Midtown, which almost nobody disputes even when they're complaining about everything else.
The Garden and the TY Bar draw real praise, but room service has landed as a sad club sandwich and the Red Lounge as tiny portions for the price.
The spa and pool exist but barely come up next to the rooms and restaurants in what people actually write about.
The Verdict
The I.M. Pei tower and that 52-storey lobby still stop people mid-step, and on Central Park South that alone buys a lot of goodwill. Guests write in about a bellman named Eddie who made a birthday stay feel personal, and a bartender named Olga who quietly remade an over-salted appetizer and remembered a returning guest years later. The staff is what people come back talking about, and it's the strongest, most consistent thing this hotel has going for it: the concierge team in particular gets singled out for landing reservations at restaurants that were supposedly full.
The rooms are the catch. This reopened in late 2024 after years closed, and plenty of longtime Four Seasons guests expected a full overhaul that didn't arrive: furniture, fixtures and even the artificial flowers read closer to a 1990s hotel than a 2020s Four Seasons, and more than one regular has called it a step down from the brand's other flagships. The bathrooms and finishes are the specific complaint that won't go away, and it sits alongside occasional housekeeping slips (hair left in a bathroom, a room service club sandwich one guest compared unfavorably to a child's cooking) and a front desk that isn't always as gracious as the doormen. The spa is also still limited while a refresh is pending, so don't book this one for wellness.
Book it for the location, the lobby, and a team that still performs like it's the 1990s in the best sense: walking distance to the park, Fifth Avenue, and Midtown's best tables, with people who go out of their way for you. Anyone chasing the newest rooms in this category has other options in the city (the Carlyle comes up often in comparison), but anyone who wants the classic New York hotel experience, run by people who still care, should book a higher floor, ask for a Central Park view, 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.
Kept current
Scores are re-gathered and re-calculated from scratch, continuously — no score is ever more than a quarter old. Last re-scored July 26, 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.
How do I book Four Seasons Hotel New York?
Two routes, and both end with the reservation sitting at the hotel in your name. Direct on the hotel's own site is the fastest — the Reserve button on this page goes straight to it. The other is through a travel advisor with consortia access: you pay the same rate the hotel is charging publicly, the hotel pays the advisor's commission instead of you, and an amenity package comes attached — breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 hotel credit — $200 on suites and private retreats, room upgrade to the next category, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. We handle that side ourselves for readers who ask.
What is the smartest way to book Four Seasons Hotel New York?
Through a travel advisor with consortia access, for almost everyone. You pay the hotel's own public rate and an amenity package comes on top that direct booking doesn't include — typically breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 hotel credit — $200 on suites and private retreats, room upgrade to the next category, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. It costs nothing extra, because the hotel pays the commission rather than you. The one real exception is brand loyalty: advisor rates don't always earn nights toward status, so if you're chasing a tier or points, book direct. Short of that, there's no version of booking direct that leaves you better off. We're advisors ourselves, so you can just ask us.
Can I get a free room upgrade at Four Seasons Hotel New York?
Never guaranteed — it depends on what's still unsold the day you arrive, and anyone promising one is guessing. Two things move the odds. The reliable one is booking through a consortia programme, where a room upgrade is written into the amenity package subject to availability; it costs nothing extra and it is the closest thing to a lever that exists. The other is telling the hotel in advance that you're celebrating something, which works more often than people expect. The first part is already handled if you book it with us.
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Key Details
Brand
Four Seasons · luxury
Fat Score
Not in collection
Scored, but below our 16.0/20 bar
Tags
From the desk
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When something worth knowing happens in fat travel — a verdict that shifted, an opening worth waiting for, a hotel that earned its place — we write. Never a paid placement.
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