The Algonquin Hotel – NYC (52302250011) · Ajay Suresh · CC BY 2.0 · cropped
The Algonquin Hotel in New York has completed the renovation of all 181 guestrooms and suites, along with its elevators and corridors, giving travelers a refreshed option near Times Square. The hotel announced completion September 8, but this is not a reopening: it remained in operation while the work was carried out in phases.
The practical distinction is that the project changes the look and feel of a stay without expanding the historic building’s footprint. For travelers comparing Midtown hotels, room category still matters as much as the redesign, and Deep Arrival’s New York airport comparison can help match the flight and ground journey to this West 44th Street address.
- What changed: All 181 rooms and suites, corridors, and elevators have been renovated.
- What did not: The hotel’s historic footprint was retained.
- Location: 59 West 44th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
- Design focus: A residential feel and Al Hirschfeld artwork throughout the property.
- Booking distinction: Refreshed interiors do not mean every room has the same space or layout.
A Completed Renovation, Not a New Opening Date
The hotel’s September 8 announcement describes a completed, multiyear project led by CRÈME / Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design with Highgate’s LUCID team. It does not announce a new grand-opening date, a limited booking window, or an introductory room rate tied to the renovation.
Meetings & Conventions reported the completed work September 1, including the unchanged footprint and refreshed dining offering. That earlier coverage matters for chronology: the official notice is current confirmation of the finished project, not evidence that rooms suddenly became available for the first time this week.
The Room Categories Still Make a Difference
The hotel’s current room descriptions list a Queen Guest Room at 165 square feet and a King Guest Room at 240 square feet. The king category also lists a walk-in shower and dedicated work area, while a Deluxe One Bedroom Suite offers 440 square feet, a separate living room, and a sofa bed.
Those published sizes give the renovation a useful booking context. A traveler choosing the smallest category for a theater weekend is making a different space decision from someone planning to work in the room or share a suite, so compare the exact room type rather than assuming a full renovation has made the original building’s rooms larger.
The Barrymore Suite is separately described as accommodating up to five guests, but that capacity should not be applied to ordinary king or queen rooms. Enter the actual party size when pricing the stay and check the selected category’s occupancy rules instead of treating a suite’s published capacity as a hotel-wide allowance.
Hirschfeld Art Becomes Part of the Stay
The redesign places Al Hirschfeld works in guest accommodations and corridors through a collaboration with the Al Hirschfeld Foundation and its director, David Leopold. Rooms feature three-part artwork arrangements, while the corridor selection draws on the illustrator’s long career and includes material sourced from the foundation’s archives.
For guests, that makes the art part of the hotel experience rather than a separate attraction to add to a sightseeing day. It does not establish a public gallery schedule or permission for non-guests to explore guestroom floors, so visitors interested only in the collection should ask the hotel what can be seen without an overnight reservation.
The reported design uses brass, layered lighting, marble-topped furnishings, and darker wood finishes to give rooms a residential character. Those details explain the new visual direction, but they are not evidence of a new acoustic standard, larger bathrooms across every category, or accessibility changes that the renovation announcement does not specify.
The Blue Bar Has Changed Too
The independent report says the Blue Bar Restaurant & Lounge has introduced menu items and cocktails alongside the redesign. The hotel’s own website also highlights an updated all-day dining menu, making the bar a second part of the property to evaluate even for returning guests familiar with the earlier experience.
A room booking and a dining reservation remain different decisions. The renovation notice does not promise that dinner, drinks, or a particular table are included in the room price, so travelers pairing the stay with a Broadway evening should check the restaurant’s current availability and allow for the performance time separately.
What to Compare Before Reserving
| Published category | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Queen Guest Room | 165 square feet; compact overnight option. |
| King Guest Room | 240 square feet; walk-in shower and dedicated work area. |
| Deluxe One Bedroom Suite | 440 square feet; separate living room and sofa bed. |
| Barrymore Suite | Listed for up to five guests; verify the exact booking conditions. |
The immediate traveler takeaway is a finished room product at an existing Midtown hotel, not a reason to rush into an unspecified opening sale. Compare the refreshed category with other rooms available for the same dates, including the full stay price and cancellation conditions, before deciding how much the design and location are worth to your trip.
