The Plaza Hotel - New York City, NY

Step into a New York icon where chandeliers sparkle, history whispers from gilded walls, and some say the spirits of the city’s elite never truly checked out. The Plaza Hotel, overlooking Central Park, is more than just a symbol of glamour and opulence—it’s a living time capsule. Between tales of lavish parties, celebrity hauntings, phantom footsteps, and lingering presences felt in its timeless hallways, The Plaza invites guests who adore elegance with an eerie edge. If you dream of a 5-star stay with a brush of the supernatural, you may find The Plaza’s past—and its possible residents—too fascinating to ignore.

Hotel History

• Opened in 1907, The Plaza Hotel quickly became one of New York City’s grandest hotels, built in French Renaissance château style. Designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh (who also designed The Dakota), it was meant to rival European palaces in luxury and stature.

• It became a hub for high society, writers, celebrities, political dignitaries, and film stars, and has hosted everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Hitchcock.

• F. Scott Fitzgerald famously partied here and even set scenes in The Great Gatsby at The Plaza, declaring it the “epicenter of elegance and indulgence.”

• The Plaza has been featured in numerous films, including Home Alone 2, Eloise, Scent of a Woman, The Way We Were, and North by Northwest.

• In 1969, The Plaza Hotel was officially designated a National Historic Landmark, preserving its status among America’s most iconic luxury hotels.

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Haunted Hot Spots & Paranormal Activity

The Fifth Floor – The “Eloise Floor”

• Home to the fictional Eloise (the mischievous little girl from the children’s books), this floor is said to be filled with odd occurrences—children laughing at odd hours, objects moving, and unexplained knocking.

• Some believe the spirit here is not Eloise, but perhaps inspired by the hotel’s past child residents and nannies.

The Palm Court & Oak Room

• Staff have reported shadowy figures moving in reflections of glass and mirrors, especially after hours.

• Glassware reportedly rattles on empty tables, and late-night piano notes have been heard when the room was closed and dark.

The Hallways Outside Former Celebrity Suites

• Suites once occupied by F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, as well as by Marilyn Monroe, are reportedly “energetically heavy” or “emotionally charged,” according to some guests.

• There have been stories of perfume scents, phantom footsteps, and sudden drafts in spots that have no vents or open windows.

The Grand Ballroom & Service Corridors

• Staff have described apparitions of well-dressed figures from the 1920s and 30s near the ballroom after events, often caught in peripheral vision.

• A former night security guard claimed to smell cigar smoke (possibly linked to famous Plaza regulars like Al Capone or Winston Churchill) late at night—despite smoking being banned for decades.

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