The historic Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City reopened on Thursday on the corner of 42nd St. and Broadway more than a century after it was established.
The iconic Beaux-Arts landmark was built by John Jacob Astor IV in 1906 but closed in 1921. Since then, there have been several ownership changes, morphing from an office building to the headquarters of Newsweek magazine before being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and being declared a New York City landmark in 1988.
The hotel’s interior has been completely redone and modern venues and amenities have been added, but—given its classification as a Historic Place—certain timeless features were preserved, such as the copper lion heads around the rooftop terrace.
“We’re embracing the hotel’s original DNA, while simultaneously offering guests intuitive service and relevant luxury,” Knickerbocker managing director Jeff David said in a statement, via CNN. “The Knickerbocker’s history is something that most luxury hotels cannot offer.”
The Knickerbocker, which is also a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, now features 330 luxurious rooms, including 27 Junior Suites and four Tribune Suites, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center, a 2,200-square-foot event space, top-notch food and dining options such as Charlie Palmer at The Knick, a coffeehouse and artisanal café called JAKES @ The Knick and a 7,500-square-foot rooftop bar dubbed St. Cloud overlooking New York City’s skyline in the heart of Times Square. St. Cloud will also include a signature Nat Sherman-inspired cigar lounge. Priority access will be offered to guests at Palmer’s flagship restaurant Aureole across the street.
Beyond that, the hotel features bath amenities and in-room salon services from celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson and former New York Knicks star Larry Johnson will serve as the property’s fitness buff.
The Knickerbocker was a favorite among celebrities and dignitaries back in the day, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso and John D. Rockefeller. The hotel is also rumored to be the birthplace of the original martini.
The Knickerbocker was purchased by FelCor Lodging Trust and is operated by Highgate Hotels. To learn more, visit www.TheKnickerbocker.com
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