Image courtesy of The Peninsula New York
New York is always reinventing itself — and reigniting past personalities. In 2025, the glamour we saw in the Gilded Age and Roaring 20s is back, courtesy of various hotel openings, reopenings and renovations. Subdued, hipster minimalism will never disappear, but a more-is-more aesthetic is as of-the-moment as ever. Private members’ clubs are gaining traction (just see Casa Tua, at The Surrey, and The Twenty Two below), as are ornate décor, marble, elaborate plants and swanky bars. The era of maximalism is here, and this time, it’s done the right way.
The Twenty Two
Images courtesy of The Twenty Two
The Twenty Two, the ultra-chic British members’ club, has made its way to New York’s Union Square neighborhood. The restaurant-club-hotel-lounge is housed in the former Margaret Louisa Home. In the early 20th century, single women flocked to cities looking for work and needed a safe place to stay. The Young Women’s Christian Association of New York City built the six-story home. To gain entry, young women needed to demonstrate their morality, have a referral and share which church they attended. The home could board up to 110 women.
The Twenty Two is a master of the “art of lingering.” Come for a drink in the handsome living room and garden. As daylight runs out, stay for dinner before heading up to your tastefully maximalist room. And dinner here is a must. You’ll be in great hands with Jennifer and Nicole Vitagliano, the powerhouse restaurateurs (and twins) behind beloved NYC staples like the Musket Room and Raf’s. Their ultra-talented team — namely, chef Mary Attea and pastry chef Camari Mick — will bring their enviable culinary skills to the kitchen. (Mick’s desserts, in particular, are legendary.)
Fora Perks:
Welcome drinks and amenities, breakfast daily and an upgrade whenever possible.
The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
Image courtesy of The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel
The exceptionally talented Swedish interior architect Martin Brudnizki designed this Upper East Side gem, which opened on October 25. Brudnizki’s clients have included LVMH, chef Daniel Boulud, Belmond, Thomas Keller and other big names. The Surrey is the first Corinthia Hotel in North America, and brings with it the Maltese hotel brand’s signature sophistication, elegance and residential feel.
Expect thoughtful details like handcrafted Murano chandeliers, crown moulding, textured cabinets and wall finishes, intricate armoires and curated artwork. In fact, the art here is anything but an afterthought. The hotel’s collection is the result of a collaboration with the Paris-based VISTO Gallery. The gallery’s tram helped select various pieces inspired by New York, whether works were made by Native New Yorkers, New York-based artists or artists inspired by the city in general.
Take in the art, then head to the on-site Casa Tua, an Italian restaurant and lounge, where additional art awaits. Nurse a cocktail and enjoy a bowl of fresh pasta while sitting on custom Italian furniture. Casa Tua’s second floor turns into a private members’ club. If ever there was a club you wanted to be a part of, it’s this one.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Four Seasons Hotel New York
Images courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel New York
The Four Seasons is a big part of Midtown’s resurgence. The I.M. Pei-designed hotel, on Billionaire’s Row, between the posh Park and Madison Avenues, reopened on November 15. The vibe is modern art deco, with marble floors and columns, elaborate floral arrangements and light-filled, opulent spaces.
Midtown moguls flock to Ty Bar, the neighborhood’s go-to “après-work” stop, for craft cocktails amid a moody, dimly lit atmosphere decorated with lots of red. (The bar is named after the hotel’s longtime owner Ty Warner.) The Garden was designed for power-broker breakfasts (or any meal, really). Dine on locally sourced Italian fare beneath African acacia trees and other leafy plants.
When you’re ready to retreat to your sprawling accommodations, you’ll love the dialed-up privacy. Each floor contains at most 12 suites, so you’ll have plenty of space to really stretch out and take in those city views.
Fora Perks:
When you book Four Seasons through Fora, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
The Peninsula New York
Imag courtesy of The Peninsula New York
The Peninsula New York is a study in 1920s elegance and fresh simplicity. In January 2024, the 5th Avenue icon started a major refurbishment, which wrapped up in September. The reimagined rooftop bar, Pen Top, was designed to resemble an artist’s loft, with lots of greenery and comfy sofas. The Gotham Lounge piano bar, filled with local artwork, is as happening as ever, as is the gleaming Palm Court, the hotel’s central atrium.
Take in the grand chandelier and marble double staircase in the lobby. Tastefully graffiti-esque artwork by Peter Riezebos gives the hotel a welcome bit of edge. In the rooms, expect new lighting, a thoughtful book selection and fun trinkets that make the elevated rooms feel nonetheless homey and warm. The Peninsula has also invested in technology. Bedside panels control temperature and lighting, and a digital concierge helps streamline many in-room requests.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, a guaranteed upgrade at time of booking and check-in/out anytime (as early as 6am and as late as 10pm).
Waldorf Astoria New York
Image courtesy of Waldorf Astoria New York
New York’s iconic, ever-glamorous Waldorf Astoria will reopen in the spring of 2025. The hotel underwent an extensive renovation “from sidewalk to spire,” helmed by renowned French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. (He’s behind several Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons properties, plus restaurants for the likes of Joël Robuchon, Alain Ducasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, among others.)
William Waldorf Astor built the original hotel in the late 19th century. A few years later, John Jacob Astor IV built a taller hotel just next door, on 5th Avenue. Thus the Waldorf was born. The hotel’s famous towers were built in 1931, when it officially became the world’s tallest, largest hotel. It retained its title even when it had to relocate to Madison Avenue, as its 5th Avenue location would be ceded to the forthcoming Empire State Building.
Winston Churchill was a fan, as was Grace Kelly (the hotel hosted her and Prince Rainier III’s engagement party) and Queen Elizabeth. Marilyn Monroe sublet a suite at the Waldorf from actress Leonora Corbett. Elizabeth Taylor lived at the hotel in the 80s. In 1968, The Who were reportedly kicked out of the hotel suite after their drummer, Keith Moon, set off a cherry bomb in the toilet. The Waldorf Astoria invented eggs Benedict (a guest needed a hangover cure), room service and, of course, the Waldorf Salad, a medley of apples, walnuts, celery and grapes tossed in a mayonnaise dressing.
The hotel will preserve its signature opulence — its preservationists have been hard at work restoring original clocks, pianos and statues — but with an elevated, contemporary flair.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, double Hilton Honors points and an upgrade whenever possible.
Coming soon: Faena New York
Image courtesy of Faena Miami Beach (Faena New York has yet to reveal their swanky interiors)
The 120-key Faena is coming to the High Line in spring 2025. It will be the Argentine hotel brand’s fourth hotel. There is one property in Buenos Aires, and two in Miami Beach. The brand was founded by its Argentine namesake, Alan Faena, an impeccably well-dressed hotelier, whom you’ll often find donning a tailored white suit and matching brimmed hat.
In many ways, the Meatpacking District and the Faena were meant for each other. The Faena is all about art and culture. (Faena even has a non-profit, Faena Art, which commissions pieces that incorporate philosophy, science and other disciplines while bridging North and South America.) Faena is over the top and sexy in all the best ways. Its hotels are bathed in its signature, sultry red, and you’ll find lots of wood, crystal, gold and animal print throughout.
Faena New York will have a Tierra Santa Healing House, Faena’s sprawling wellness center that emphasizes rituals inspired by shamanic healing. And just as Faena is serious about its art and wellness, it’s equally serious about its food. Rumor has it that a celebrity chef will helm the New York kitchen. We can’t say who (yet).
Bonus: Pendry Natirar, New Jersey
Image courtesy of Pendry Natirar
Sometimes you need a break from the city. A mere 45 minutes outside of Manhattan, you’ll find the Pendy Natirar, which opened on October 25. It’s a stately 1912 mansion on 500 acres in Somerset County. The pervasive English-manor vibes make it hard to believe you’re in Jersey, but here we are.
There’s a 10-acre working farm, which supplies much of the produce for Ninety Acres, the property’s flagship restaurant. The menu is hyperseasonal — as farm-to-table as it gets. Try the pillowy brioche rolls with carrot butter, fresh squid-ink pasta with Maine lobster and butterscotch-pretzel sundae with salty pretzel ice cream drizzled with salted caramel (to name but a few hits). Ninety Acres is also home to the Cooking School, where you can take live classes and learn how to transform (fresh, delectable) produce into amazing meals. During the day, stop by Ladd’s Taven for cocktails, bites or afternoon tea.
There are bike rentals and hikes, themed dinners and Paintbox, the Pendry’s kids’ club that offers activities ranging from archery to farm visits to, as the name implies, painting. After exploring the grounds, stop by the two-story spa, where a Himalayan salt room and heavenly treatments await.
