{"id":100448,"date":"2025-03-21T16:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=100448"},"modified":"2025-03-25T20:34:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T20:34:21","slug":"the-carlyle-hotel-grazia-usa-spring-2025","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/the-carlyle-hotel-grazia-usa-spring-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The Carlyle Hotel: A Glittering Legacy on Manhattan\u2019s Upper East Side"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Carlyle Hotel\/Justin Bare<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As The Carlyle<\/a> blows out 95 candles in 2025, this iconic Upper East Side jewel is as much a star as the A-listers, royals, and presidents who\u2019ve graced its halls. Since its grand opening in 1930, The Carlyle has sparkled as the ultimate mix of old- school luxury, cultural magnetism, and big city swagger. This storied hotel knows how to keep its legacy alive\u2014and keep everyone talking with jaw-dropping anecdotes and a guestbook that reads like the Hollywood\u2019s Walk of Fame.<\/p>\n

Real estate mastermind Moses Ginsberg dreamed big when he envisioned creating a residential hotel where European sophistication would meet New York flair, and boy, did he deliver. Designed by Sylvan Bien and Harry M. Prince, the 35-story Art Deco beauty opened its doors toward the start of the Great Depression. But no economic downturn could dim The Carlyle\u2019s glow. Word spread, and soon the elite\u2014those who valued discretion wrapped in world-class service\u2014flocked to this new oasis of refinement.<\/p>\n

\"Princess
Princess Diana at The Carlyle\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\u201cThe Carlyle is an extraordinary Upper East Side destination that has been a defining part of New York\u2019s cultural and social fabric for almost a century,\u201d reflects Marlene Poynder, managing director of The Carlyle. \u201cSince we opened our doors in 1930, we\u2019ve hosted every American president since Harry Truman, and royals from Prince Charles and Princess Diana to the kings and queens of Denmark, Greece, Spain, and Sweden. While we\u2019re celebrated for our discretion, some stories have become part of our legend\u2014 like the elevator ride with Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, and Steve Jobs, where Princess Diana broke the silence by singing Michael Jackson\u2019s \u2018Beat It.\u2019 Magical moments like that, and Bill Murray\u2019s impromptu serenade at Bemelmans Bar, live on in our walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, the stories those walls could tell! Over the decades, The Carlyle, now part of the Rosewood Hotel group, has played host to the who\u2019s who of politics, royalty, and Hollywood. President John F. Kennedy? Yep, he had an apartment here and held private meetings away from prying eyes. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis even called The Carlyle home for 10 months after JFK\u2019s assassination. Iconic meeting alert: Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O. reportedly first crossed paths right here.<\/p>\n

\"Jacqueline
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at The Carlyle\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Carlyle\u2019s 192 rooms aren\u2019t just places to rest\u2014they\u2019re all a piece of New York history. Every suite is tastefully designed, blending classic elegance with modern luxury. Guests are treated to custom fabrics, rich wood paneling, and Art Deco flourishes that pay homage to the hotel\u2019s early days. For the ultimate indulgence, the lavish Central Park view suites offer sweeping vistas of Manhattan\u2019s skyline, while the Royal Suite is fit for, well, royalty. It\u2019s no wonder the hotel has become a home away from home for so many luminaries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Princess Diana was a regular, so naturally, Prince William and Kate Middleton followed in her footsteps during their 2014 visit. \u201cTo actually see the duke and the duchess was like goosebumps to me,\u201d The Carlyle concierge Waldo Hernandez revealed in Matthew Miele\u2019s 2018 documentary Always at The Carlyle. \u201cKate even said hi to me, which was kind of cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"David
David Bowie at The Carlyle\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hollywood royalty is just as smitten with The Carlyle as political and British royalty. This is where legends come to live\u2014and love. Rumor has it that Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy shared some secret moments here, adding a dash of intrigue to the hotel\u2019s storied history. Elizabeth Taylor and Greta Garbo? Practically regulars. Ingrid Bergman even called it home for a while. And the nights were anything but quiet, with Frank Sinatra, Truman Capote, and the Beatles\u2019 guitarist George Harrison all once caught up in the hotel\u2019s glittering whirl.<\/p>\n

Over the years, some celebrities have taken up full-time residence, transforming their suites into private sanctuaries. Fashion icon Vera Wang, for instance, called The Carlyle home for a decade\u2014at least, her brand did, as it was the first location of her bridal salon, which debuted in 1990. Designer Diane von Fu\u0308rstenberg also made The Carlyle her residence, blending timeless luxury with her signature style, while Mick Jagger, who maintained a pied-a\u0300-terre at The Carlyle, added a touch of rock \u2019n\u2019 roll to the hotel\u2019s storied history.<\/p>\n

The Carlyle Hotel has cemented its status as the ultimate destination for fashion\u2019s elite, particularly during New York Fashion Week. The iconic Upper East Side landmark serves as both a discreet hideaway and glamorous hub for designers, models, and celebrities. With its luxurious suites and legendary Bemelmans Bar, The Carlyle offers a chic haven where fashionistas prep for the runway or relax after a whirlwind of events.<\/p>\n

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The Carlyle Hotel has also become a de facto clubhouse and pre-show for many celebrities and fashion icons on the iconic first Monday in May: the Met Gala. Regulars include Rihanna<\/a>, who\u2019s known to leave from The Carlyle in jaw-dropping couture moments, and Kim Kardashian, often photographed exiting in her latest Met Gala look. Naomi Campbell, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Zendaya, and Harry Styles have also been spotted there, using the hotel as their glam headquarters, and each exit has become a de facto pre-carpet show of its own. Designers like Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs are frequently seen arriving to assist their muses with final touches. With its private, glamorous ambiance, The Carlyle has become synonymous with pre-Gala prep.<\/p>\n

\"Rihanna
Rihanna and ASAP Rocky at The Carlyle \/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As for Hollywood? Forget \u201cstuffy Upper East Side\u201d stereotypes. Modern stars like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga have all made appearances, while icons like David Bowie, Andy Warhol, and Hunter S. Thompson proved the hotel\u2019s cool factor years ago.<\/p>\n

When it comes to food and drink, The Carlyle serves more than just meals\u2014it dishes out experiences. Bemelmans Bar is pure New York glamour, named after Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans. His whimsical murals pair perfectly with expertly crafted cocktails and live jazz. Don\u2019t be surprised if a celebrity suddenly takes the stage. \u201cMariah Carey\u2019s even sung here after the Rockefeller Christmas lighting. Bono\u2019s done it too,\u201d Hernandez shared. The vibe? A little bit classic, a little bit \u201cNew York after dark.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And speaking of New York magic, The Carlyle and Bemelmans Bar star alongside Bill Murray in Sofia Coppola\u2019s holiday favorite A Very Murray Christmas. Like Nowhere did for the Chateau Marmont, Coppola\u2019s film turns The Carlyle into more than just a backdrop\u2014it\u2019s practically a lead character. Between the cozy holiday vibe, Murray\u2019s laid-back charm, and the hotel\u2019s old-school sophistication, it\u2019s the perfect way to toast a New York Christmas.<\/p>\n

\"Bobby
Bobby Short at Cafe Carlyle\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Then there\u2019s Cafe\u0301 Carlyle, the city\u2019s cabaret crown jewel since 1955. Legendary performers like Bobby Short, Eartha Kitt, and Elaine Stritch put it on the map, and today\u2019s stars\u2014think Blondie\u2019s Debbie Harry, Rita Wilson, Katharine McPhee, and an annual residency with Isaac Mizrahi\u2014keep its intimate stage alive with music. Woody Allen and his clarinet were practically part of the furniture after he played with the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band for over 35 years. Monday nights became a scene, with devoted fans and curious on- lookers packing into the legendary Upper East Side spot for a little live jazz and a lot of nostalgia. The residency wrapped in 2020, following the passing of bandleader Eddy Davis, but Woody\u2019s clarinet solos are forever part of The Carlyle\u2019s charm- filled legacy. Cafe\u0301 Carlyle manager Allal Gogo\u2014better known as Gogo to regulars\u2014is the heart and soul of the venue, and it\u2019s thanks to his warm hospitality and exceptional service that guests, and performers, keep coming back.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe know more than half of our guests really, really well,\u201d Hernandez revealed. \u201cA lot of our guests are like family to us. We know their likes, their dislikes. If there\u2019s a new restaurant or show in town, we\u2019re the first to send them.\u201d<\/p>\n

After nearly a century, The Carlyle isn\u2019t just a hotel\u2014it\u2019s a mood. It\u2019s sipping martinis at Bemelmans, soaking in the romance of a cabaret show, and walking the same halls as legends. Whether you\u2019re a history buff, a luxury lover, or just someone who wants to feel like a star for a night, The Carlyle is your New York moment waiting to happen. Here\u2019s to the next 95 years of magic, memories, and a little bit of mystery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Read GRAZIA USA\u2019<\/em>s Spring Issue<\/a> featuring cover star Paris Hilton<\/a>:<\/strong><\/h4>\n