The Empire Hotel (New York City)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | December 5, 1923 in Manhattan, New York City, United States |
| Headquarters | Manhattan , United States |
| Products | Hotel accommodation, suites, rooftop bar |
The Empire Hotel is a boutique hotel situated at the intersection of West 63rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. It offers a total of 426 guest rooms, which include 50 suites.
The Empire Rooftop bar
Perched atop the hotel, The Empire Rooftop spans 8,000 square feet and is celebrated for its panoramic views of the city skyline.
History
Originally, the location featured a seven-story structure built in 1889, which Herbert DuPuy purchased in 1908. In 1922, DuPuy demolished this building to erect the present 15-story Empire Hotel.
The hotel officially began operations on December 5, 1923, showcasing its distinctive red neon "Hotel Empire" sign on the rooftop. By 1935, daily room rates were between $2.00 and $5.00, with garage amenities offered. At that time, Edward B. Bell held the position of general manager.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, the hotel's management underwent several transitions. Ownership transferred to Daniel H. McCarriagher in 1943, followed by Leslie L. Paul—owner of the Plymouth Hotel—in the 1950s. Paul was responsible for refurbishments that introduced a dining room, cocktail lounge, and coffee shop.
The basement of the hotel was home to the well-known Iridium Jazz Club, renowned for weekly performances by legendary guitarist Les Paul.
The Empire Hotel maintained much of its original 1922 architectural character until a comprehensive renovation took place in 2007, led by interior design firm Goodman Charlton.
In popular culture
The Empire Hotel gained significant recognition through its appearance in The CW's teen drama series Gossip Girl, where it was depicted as owned by the character Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick). This exposure reportedly increased hotel reservations by approximately 5 to 10 percent during early 2010. A special cocktail menu themed around the show was also introduced to leverage this popularity.
Additionally, the hotel was featured in the pilot episode of the Starz crime drama Power, highlighting a pivotal encounter between Ghost (Omari Hardwick) and Felipe Lobos (Enrique Murciano). The venue also appeared in several "letter hoisting" segments produced for Sesame Street during the 1970s.
Its signature red neon rooftop sign inspired a similar illuminated sign visible from Kramer's apartment in the Seinfeld episode titled The Chicken Roaster.