10/10
Amazing hotel
New York · head to head
Waldorf Astoria New York vs Mandarin Oriental
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-10: Mandarin Oriental is $1,877 a night less. They are 1.6 km apart.
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The honest take
The Mandarin Oriental comes in cheaper at $1,474 against the Waldorf's $1,585, and it has a pool and breakfast the Waldorf lacks on this listing, plus a strong 9.1 guest rating over 442 reviews. The Waldorf has no guest rating data here and far fewer reviews, though its Park Anyone comparing on facilities and value should book the Mandarin Oriental. Book the Waldorf instead if the Art Deco landmark itself, and Park Avenue over Columbus Circle, matters more to you than the extra amenities.
The look and the feel
Waldorf Astoria New York
The Waldorf Astoria occupies its 1931 Art Deco tower on Park Avenue, all setback massing and a lobby anchored by the Wheel of Life mosaic under the clock, brass elevator doors, and a hush that comes from decades of old New York money passing through. The recent restoration kept the bones - the starburst ceiling, the marble corridors - while modernising the rooms behind them. It draws people who want the name and the history as much as the bed, and the address alone (steps from Rockefeller Center) does a lot of the work.
Right for people who want to stay inside a piece of New York history and don't mind trading a pool for period detail and a Park Avenue address.
Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental sits high up in the Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle, so the defining feature is the glass: floor-to-ceiling windows looking down Central Park or out over the Hudson, a sensation the Waldorf's lower Park Avenue rooms cannot offer. Interiors lean quiet and contemporary - pale stone, soft wood, restrained Asian-inflected detailing rather than the Waldorf's dense Deco ornament. The 75-foot indoor pool and spa give it a resort-like calm that a midtown landmark hotel doesn't attempt.
Right for people who want the view, the pool, and a quieter, more contemporary register, with Lincoln Center and Central Park's western edge on the doorstep.
The Waldorf, despite costing more here, gives up a pool and complimentary breakfast that the Mandarin Oriental includes - an odd inversion where the pricier stay is the one with fewer listed amenities.
The Waldorf is the more characterful room to stand in - that lobby is unrepeatable - but the Mandarin Oriental is the more beautiful place to actually live in for a night, because the light and the view do something the Deco detailing, however fine, cannot.
The numbers
| Waldorf Astoria New York | Mandarin Oriental | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $3,707 | $1,830 |
| Guest rating | — | 9.1/10 |
| Reviews | 73 | 442 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 5 | 7 |
| Distance apart | 1.6 km |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Waldorf Astoria New York has
Nothing on our list that Mandarin Oriental lacks.
Only Mandarin Oriental has
- Pool
- Breakfast
What guests actually say
Waldorf Astoria New York
- attentive, helpful staff
- attention to detail
- exciting, clean experience
“The staff were exceptional and were very helpful throughout my stay.”
Mandarin Oriental
- stunning views over Central Park
- excellent breakfast and pastries
- attentive, first-class service
- needs room renovations
- unhelpful concierge service
“the worst concierge service I ever met at 5-stars hotels”
Waldorf Astoria guests come away happier, as reviews are uniformly glowing with no complaints, while Mandarin Oriental guests, though impressed by views and food, note renovation needs and poor concierge service.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-10
Waldorf Astoria New York
- Deluxe Room, 1 King BedRoom Only$2,532
- Deluxe Room, 1 King BedRoom Only · free cancellation$2,539
- Deluxe Room, 2 Double BedsRoom Only$2,599
Mandarin Oriental
- Room, 1 King Bed (Hudson View)Room Only$1,830
- Room, 2 Twin Beds, Accessible, View (Bathtub with Grab Handles)Room Only$1,830
- Room, 1 King Bed (Hudson View)Room Only · free cancellation$1,834
In guests' own words
Waldorf Astoria New York
10/10
“Exciting! Fun! Clean!”
The staff were exceptional and were very helpful throughout my stay. Thank you to Barbara at the front desk and Melanie at the restaurant for going above and beyond for us.
Mandarin Oriental
8/10
“Awsome location & views!”
Need some rennovations in double rooms. Awsome views The night cleaning shift in rooms had to be requested again and again
10/10
“AAA+ rated French Chef Nordine Lahssini”
Chef Nordine Lahssini and team has supervised/ designed /cooked / created best , super tasty , healthy food with best culinary presentation to make us feel greatest with his experience from Europe , and Middle East with support Service at MO Lounge by Daniel Villanueva and team with best wine from Italian sommelier Thomas at speakeasy bar and Unique DJ music from Jack & Daniel
10/10
“One the best breakfast in Manhattan”
This is a review for the breakfast only. Service is first class, coffee is very good and the pastries are outstanding. The view, well, one of the best in the City.
About each
Waldorf Astoria New York
Waldorf Astoria New York is a landmark hotel that offers luxurious rooms, 5-star dining and a boutique spa on storied Park Avenue in New York, 1148 feet from Rockefeller Center. Free WiFi access is available in the hotel’s iconic Art Deco lobby. Each room at this historic hotel features luxury bedding and flat-screen cable TVs. Every room has a private…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Mandarin Oriental
Luxurious Accommodations with Stunning Views Located in Columbus Circle’s Deutsche Bank Center, this hotel offers rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing panoramic views of Central Park, the Manhattan skyline, and the Hudson River. Each room features a 55-inch flat-screen TV, a mini-bar restocked daily, and complimentary treats. Relaxation…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
Waldorf Astoria New York
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Express check-in/check-out
Mandarin Oriental
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Pets allowed
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
Where they are
301 Park Avenue80 Columbus Circle
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Rates are live for 2026-10-10, 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