Photo credit: The Plaza website
The hotel, which opened in 1907, will shut from January 2027 for at least four years while crews carry out repair and preservation work on the 119-year-old building. The Plaza will close in January 2027 and remain shut for at least four years. It has appeared in films including ‘Home Alone 2’, ‘Bride Wars’, and ‘The Great Gatsby’, and it is central to Kay Thompson’s classic children’s books ‘Eloise at the Plaza’ and ‘Eloise at Christmastime’.
The Plaza said the project reflects the complexity of maintaining a property of such architectural and historical significance, with careful attention to preservation requirements, long-term care, and public safety. The New York City Department of Buildings told CBS News that its most recent inspection found the Plaza’s facade unsafe. The department also said there was nothing on the city’s end preventing the hotel from remaining open while repairs were carried out. The hotel said the significant intrusion into operations made a full closure necessary while the facade work proceeds. Officials said further considerations relating to planning and execution remain under review as the process advances.
New York City’s Plaza Hotel is preparing to close again, this time for a restoration of its landmark-protected facade. That finding is why a sidewalk shed has been required around the building. The decision to close entirely appears to be driven by the scale and intrusion of the restoration work rather than a city order to shut down. The announcement did not include a cost estimate or a detailed list of planned repairs. The Plaza is more than a hotel.
It follows the Plaza’s 2005 to 2008 shutdown for a $450 million lobby-to-roof restoration, and its more than year-long pandemic closure in 2020. The Plaza Hotel opened in 1907 at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, overlooking Central Park. The hotel has 282 rooms and remains one of New York’s most recognisable addresses.
The closure will be one of the longest in the hotel’s modern history. This time, however, the work is focused on the exterior rather than a full interior transformation. For more than a century, it has been recognised for its architectural character, exceptional craftsmanship, and enduring presence in Manhattan. The building is landmark-protected, meaning any restoration must follow historic preservation requirements. Its location beside Central Park has made it a recurring backdrop for films, television, literature, and high-profile social events.