The Plaza Hotel plans to close in January 2027 for at least four years of restoration to its landmark-protected façade, according to Fairmont’s announcement, as reported by ABC7 New York. A reopening date has not been confirmed. For everyone wondering where to stay while The Plaza is closed, I have gathered five elegant hotels on the Upper East Side and around Central Park.

And yes, we are going to miss it terribly. The Plaza holds some of our loveliest New York memories: romantic moments with Keith, and now Mini’s third birthday. It is a place we return to with our hearts already a little ahead of us.

Why We Will Miss The Plaza So Much

Some places become part of your family’s vocabulary. The Plaza is one of ours. Say its name and I am already imagining the entrance, the gold details, the feeling of dressing for an occasion even when the occasion is simply being in New York.

Long before Mini had her own little Plaza chapter, Keith and I were collecting ours. I wrote about that love affair in Married to Him, in Love with New York. Bringing our daughter into those memories has made the hotel even more precious to me. Watching a little girl discover a place you have loved for years is a very particular kind of happiness.

We will miss the beautiful rooms, the room-service mornings, and the excuse to put on something lovely and linger. Mostly, we will miss knowing that our familiar little world is waiting at the edge of the park. I am glad it is being cared for. I am also allowed to be rather sentimental about the wait.

Where to Stay While The Plaza Hotel Is Closed

For this edit, I looked for the things that make a Plaza stay feel special: beautiful surroundings, a sense of occasion, and a location that keeps Central Park and the Upper East Side close. These are the five hotels I would consider for that next New York chapter.

• The Pierre — for grand hotel glamour beside the park.
• The Lowell — for intimate Upper East Side elegance and a beautiful afternoon tea.
• The Carlyle — for art, music and classic uptown atmosphere.
• The Sherry-Netherland — for a traditional Fifth Avenue stay at the park’s entrance.
• The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park — for polished residential luxury on Central Park South.

The Pierre: For Grand Hotel Glamour

2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue · Upper East Side

The Pierre would be my first look for that grand, dressed-up hotel feeling. Its Fifth Avenue address places you beside Central Park, while the Rotunda’s painted ceiling supplies a splendid dose of New York theatre. This is the sort of setting that makes me want to bring a beautiful dress and take my time getting ready.

I would choose it for a romantic visit when the hotel itself should feel like part of the occasion. Its location also keeps that familiar Plaza corner close enough to remain part of your walks.

The Lowell: For a Beautiful Upper East Side Escape

28 East 63rd Street · Upper East Side

The Lowell is the one I would choose for the feeling of having an exceptionally lovely home in Manhattan. Its classical interiors and intimate scale appeal to the part of me that could happily plan an entire afternoon around a beautiful room. Some accommodations have wood-burning fireplaces or terraces; request those features specifically if they are part of your dream stay.

There is a particularly pretty reason to linger: Lily of the Valley Afternoon Tea at Majorelle, created with Dior Maison. For those of us who love turning tea into a little event, it belongs on the list.

The Carlyle: For Classic Uptown New York

35 East 76th Street at Madison Avenue · Upper East Side

The Carlyle brings the mood of old New York into the conversation: art, music, elegant rooms and a neighborhood made for wandering. Bemelmans Bar’s Ludwig Bemelmans murals, piano and jazz give it a personality all its own. The Gallery also lists afternoon tea, which makes a lovely starting point for an uptown afternoon.

Farther up Madison Avenue, this would be my pick for a trip built around the park, museums and the pleasure of being on the Upper East Side. I would keep one evening for Keith and me, with somewhere lovely to sit and absolutely no hurry to leave.

The Sherry-Netherland: For That Familiar Fifth Avenue Corner

781 Fifth Avenue at 59th Street · Beside Central Park

If the location is what you will miss most, look at The Sherry-Netherland. It stands at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, right by the park’s entrance, with the kind of traditional Manhattan character that makes arriving uptown feel like an event.

Rooms and suites are individually decorated, so I would look closely at photographs of the accommodation being offered and ask about the view before choosing. For someone who loves classic furnishings and wants to keep those familiar Fifth Avenue walks, it is a very appealing address.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park: For Parkside Luxury

50 Central Park South · Midtown, directly by the park

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park offers a polished residential interpretation of luxury, with contemporary details and the park just outside. I would keep it on the shortlist for a visit built around long walks, a beautiful room and an easy return at the end of the day.

For a family trip, I would ask the hotel about the exact room configuration and any connecting options before booking. If the view is your priority, make sure the room category you choose includes it.

These are my editorial choices based on the hotels’ settings and published details. Check current room photographs, dining schedules, family arrangements and availability directly for your travel dates.

Bring a Little of The Plaza Home While We Wait

Until we can check back in, I intend to keep a little of that feeling at home. Beautiful white bedding. Flowers where I will actually see them. A proper tray for breakfast. A small girl in a very pretty dress, making an entirely ordinary day feel rather important.

For the bedroom, I love the Eastern Accents Adrienne cotton sham. Add the Williams Sonoma faux white rose arrangement for flowers that keep their composure, even when I do not. The Michael Aram Silver Orchid large tray brings a little ceremony to coffee and breakfast, and Matouk’s Cairo Scallop bath sheet in Sand supplies the finishing touch.

For Mini, there is the wonderfully pink Eloise accessories gift set by Bits & Bows, with bows and bracelets for little adventures. And the Rachel Riley Eloise dropped-waist couture dress feels made for a small girl with very grand plans.

For my own Plaza-inspired look, shop the Susanna Chow Mimi cashmere shearling coat in White and the Le Trap Paris hat in White, both featured in our illustration above.

For the full room-service mood, revisit my Plaza-inspired home edit, then explore Charlotte’s Home for more little luxuries.

Until We Meet Again

New York will still be New York. There will be beautiful rooms, lovely teas, and plenty of reasons to dress up. But The Plaza will leave a space in our visits while its doors are closed.

We will be making new memories in the meantime, with a few Plaza-inspired comforts at home and our favorite corner of the city firmly in our hearts. And when the hotel is ready to welcome us back, I have a feeling Mini and I will already be deciding what to wear.

Xoxo, Charlotte

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