The Historic Landmark Algonquin Hotel Boasts $4.5 Million Renovation

May 16, 2008 - PRLog -- The Algonquin Hotel has unveiled a $4.5 million renovation that touches virtually every aspect of the historic hotel.  The refurbishment of this literary landmark, which opened in 1902 and was home to the famous Algonquin Round Table and the birthplace of the New Yorker magazine, includes upgrades of the historic lobby’s furnishings, the famed Oak Room, Blue Bar, renowned Round Table Room and all suites and guestrooms. (For more info about The Algonquin Hotel, visit http://tinyurl.com/5r46ak)

The lobby, one of the most legendary in New York City, has undergone understated changes that have maintained its look and updated the feel of the space.  Changes include subtle recessed lighting, new pendant lighting and new furniture in soft fabrics that feature deep hues of hunter green, midnight blue, squash and burgundy. A magnet for legends of stage, film and literature, the lobby was frequented by the likes of the Barrymores, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and William Faulkner (who wrote his 1950 Nobel Prize address in his suite), among many others.  

The work includes a new Yamaha baby grand piano and new speakers in the Oak Room cabaret, which has showcased legendary musical talents such as Harry Connick, Jr., Andrea Marcovicci, Diana Krall and Peter Cincotti.  The Round Table Room restaurant, where Dorothy Parker and her witty companions met, offers new furniture, and new banquettes will line the outer walls creating a more convivial atmosphere.  Restaurant seating will also be extended into the lobby as it was historically.

The guestroom décor has been updated with contemporary colors and fabrics for window treatments, furniture, bedding and carpet.  Also, the artwork gracing the rooms has been reframed, giving a fresh new look while preserving the character of each guestroom and themed suite (including the Vanity Fair Suite, Playbill Suite, Thurber Suite, Wits End Suite, Dorothy Parker Suite and more).  

“We are delighted with the results of this renovation,” commented director of sales Jenna Arin.  “Each detail will help restore the hotel to a pivotal position in the city’s arts and cultural scene.  We have succeeded in providing guests with a refreshed property that retains the same charm and feel that this historic literary landmark has always offered its guests.”

What was not changed?  The “bones” of the lobby were unchanged. The original and exclusive New Yorker wallpaper, custom-designed by New Yorker cartoon editor Robert Mankoff, remains a point of interest to guests as they stroll the corridors.  Also, Matilda, the hotel’s resident cat, continues to roam the lobby and check out incoming guests and visitors from her various vantage points, making friends with guests (adults and children alike) and making sure to keep solo visitors company while they read or sip a signature Algonquin cocktail in the lobby.  

For reservations and information please call 1-866-363-9011 or visit http://www.algonquinhotel.com.


A New York City landmark recently named to the National Trust Historic Hotels of America, the Algonquin Hotel is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan at 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, just steps from Broadway’s Theatres and world-class shopping.  Home to Dorothy Parker’s famous Round Table and birthplace of the New Yorker magazine, the Algonquin Hotel is highly regarded by travelers the world over.  

The recent $4.5 million renovation effort focused on refreshing the hotel lobby, upgrading all guest rooms, laying new guestroom carpet and introducing new bedding to the 174-guestroom hotel – creating a new era of elegance at the historically significant hotel.

The hotel’s popular Oak Room, which has showcased musical talents such as Harry Connick, Jr., Andrea Marcovicci, Diana Krall and Peter Cincotti, serves dinner and offers cabaret performances Tuesday through Saturday.  The legendary Algonquin Round Table of the 1920s is the inspiration for the current Round Table Room serving traditional American cuisine breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The Blue Bar and Lobby also serve cocktails and other beverages throughout the day.  The hotel features a fully equipped fitness center and five meeting and function rooms, which accommodate groups from 10 to 175.