by Howard Morrel & Leslie Hirsch
57th Street Report
The historic Park Avenue hotel reopens after nearly a decade, debuting Lex Yard by Michael Anthony, refined kaiseki dining at Yoshoku, and the full-service return of Peacock Alley.
301 Park Avenue, Midtown East: After nearly eight years of renovations, the legendary Waldorf Astoria has reopened with a trio of high-profile restaurants, signaling its return as a centerpiece of New York luxury.
The $1.95 billion overhaul, led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, reduced the hotel from 1,600 rooms to 375, with 372 new residences above. The transformation restores the property’s historic grandeur while updating it for a new era.
Lex Yard: A Landmark Brasserie
Gramercy Tavern’s Michael Anthony opens his first new restaurant in two decades with Lex Yard, a two-story brasserie designed by AvroKO. The menu offers elevated classics like beef-fat fries, leek ravioli, and a seasonal Waldorf salad. Prices range from $18 to $40 for starters, with mains starting at $34. Pastry chef Jennie Chiu reimagines the hotel’s famed red velvet dessert.
Yoshoku: Kaiseki on Park Avenue
Located in the lobby, Yoshoku brings refined Japanese kaiseki to Midtown. Chef Ry Nitzkowski serves dishes like toro tartare and grilled lobster in a minimalist setting anchored by the hotel’s 1939 “Wheel of Life” mosaic. The drinks menu includes sake, Japanese whisky, and signature cocktails.
Peacock Alley: A Reinvented Classic
The beloved Peacock Alley returns as a full-service restaurant, reimagined by Jeff Bell of PDT. Classic cocktails and raw bar towers meet updated favorites like caviar-topped lobster rolls and the original Waldorf salad. The Cole Porter Steinway returns, with live piano nightly.
Lex Yard and Peacock Alley are now open daily; Yoshoku serves dinner Tuesday–Saturday. Reservations available via Resy and the Waldorf Astoria website.
All the best,
Howard Morrel & Leslie Hirsch
Christie’s International Real Estate Group
(212) 956-4823
mha@christiesrealestategroup.com
