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The honest take
The Carlyle is cheaper at $1,378 versus $1,562, rates higher with guests (9.2 vs 8.4), and sits on a quieter Upper East Side block near the Met and Central Park. The Plaza has the bigger name, more facilities on paper including pet allowance, parking and a bar, and a much larger review base at 781 versus 154. If you want a hotel that behaves like a private club, book The Carlyle; if you want the landmark everyone recognises and the full hotel machinery around it, book The Plaza.
The look and the feel
The Carlyle
The Carlyle occupies an Art Deco tower from 1930, and its interiors still carry that hush of old New York money: dark wood panelling, low lighting, a lobby that feels more like the entrance to an embassy than a hotel. Bemelmans Bar, with its murals by Ludwig Bemelmans himself, is the reason half the city has been through those doors, all navy walls and piano jazz after dark. Rooms lean toward chintz and gilt-edged calm rather than spectacle, and the crowd is Upper East Side regulars, visiting diplomats, people who have been coming for decades.
Guests who want discretion, jazz, and the feeling of staying somewhere lived-in rather than performed.
The Plaza
The Plaza is the 1907 Beaux-Arts pile on the corner of Central Park and Fifth Avenue, all mansard roofs and marble lobby with a scale meant to be seen from the street. Inside it trades subtlety for gilt: the Palm Court under its stained-glass ceiling, the Champagne Bar, rooms fitted with 24-karat gold-plated bathroom fixtures. It is a hotel built to be photographed, and it draws tourists, wedding parties and anyone who wants the New York of old films rather than a quiet retreat.
Guests who want the postcard version of Manhattan luxury, with the crowds and ceremony that come with it.
The Carlyle, despite being the cheaper of the two, does without the pet allowance, on-site parking and dedicated bar that The Plaza lists, so anyone travelling with an animal or a car, or wanting a big hotel bar scene, will feel the gap.
The Plaza wins on sheer architectural theatre, but The Carlyle is the more beautiful place to actually sit in for an evening, because its rooms were built for people, not photographs.
The numbers
The Carlyle
The Plaza
Price, same night
$1,372
$1,626
Guest rating
9.2/10
8.4/10
Reviews
154
781
Stars
★★★★★
★★★★★
Facilities on our list
3
6
Distance apart
1.5 km
What one has that the other doesn't
Only The Carlyle has
Nothing on our list that The Plaza lacks.
Only The Plaza has
Pet
Parking
Bar
What guests actually say
The Carlyle
kind and attentive staff
going above and beyond
central Upper East Side location
unfriendly front desk staff
long wait past check-in time
no proper lobby to relax in
“Two and a half weeks after our visit I noticed red bumps on my body an”
The Plaza
excellent, above and beyond service
clean, big rooms
great location
expensive with few facilities
pricey drinks at the bar
“There are hotels that offer five-star service, and then there is The Plaza.”
The Plaza's guests generally come away happier, praising near-uniform five-star service and clean, spacious rooms, whereas The Carlyle's reviews are more mixed, citing inconsistent front-desk attitudes and check-in delays alongside genuine warmth.
“Kind and attentive staff during the visit, cold room, scabies following visit”
I came here for two nights with my daughter and stayed in a room on the 12th floor with two twin beds. The room would not warm up due to the cold temperatures outside. The staff was very responsive and sent up a very kind technician immediately to make sure the heat was working correctly. They told us that due to the building being so old, there wasn't more they could do besides provide space heaters, which helped s
10/10
“Wonderful hotel”
I have stayed multiple times at the Carlyle for pleasure, but this stay was different as I needed to be near the hospital where my husband was having surgery. The entire staff was kind, patient, and extraordinarily accommodating. Every morning at breakfast they would even make a special bag of the daily papers and pastries to bring to him at the hospital without my even asking. This is just a small example of how the
8/10
“Good but not great”
There are “hotel people” and Air BnB people. We are definitely hotel people, especially iconic hotels like the Carlyle, which is Rosewood branded. We have been fortunate to stay at top hotels around the world, like The Imperial Hotel in Vienna, the Peninsula in Paris and Bangkok, and Four Seasons around the globe, among many others.
Our initial impression of the Carlyle was unfortunately not great, due to the lady
“There are hotels that offer five-star service, and then there is The Plaza!!!”
There are hotels that offer five-star service, and then there is The Plaza. My recent stay was one of the most memorable hotel experiences I have ever had.
I wanted to surprise my wife during our stay, as I had purchased a beautiful Cartier piece of jewelry for our anniversary on the day we arrived. I reached out to the Guest Experience team a few days before our arrival, and from that moment on, they went above and
10/10
“Excellent stay, would definitely stay here again.”
Everything! Clean rooms, big rooms, excellent service.
Not much - double espressos at the bar were quite pricey (2 for $50) , however perhaps expected at a nice hotel.
Luxurious Spa Experience Indulge in a relaxing time at the full-service spa, offering a range of treatments to pamper yourself. Gourmet Dining Options Savor delightful culinary experiences at the hotel's 2 restaurants and coffee shop/cafe, followed by a drink at the stylish bar/lounge. Convenient Location & Nearby Attractions Experience the convenience of…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
The Plaza
Luxurious Manhattan Hotel at Central Park and 5th Avenue Opulent Rooms with 24-Karat Gold-Plated Fixtures Indulge in the lavish modern bathrooms at The Plaza, complete with exquisite 24-karat gold-plated fixtures and rejuvenating rain showers. The spacious and luxurious rooms offer a truly opulent experience for guests seeking the finest accommodations in…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
The Carlyle
Elevator
Fitness facilities
Gift shops or newsstand
Shopping on site
Bicycle rentals nearby
Fireplace in lobby
Breakfast available (surcharge)
Health club
Safe-deposit box at front desk
Multilingual staff
Free newspapers in lobby
Porter/bellhop
Express check-out
Limo or town car service available
Full-service spa
Internet access in public areas - high speed
The Plaza
Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Business center
Heating
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Laundry
Where they are
35 E 76th St, New York, New York, 10021768 5th Avenue
Rates are live for 2026-10-25, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons
