The Pierre on New York City's fashionable Fifth Avenue overlooks Central Park. Photo by Sue Frause.
Several winters ago I stayed at The Pierre. As the iconic flagship of Taj Hotels on New York's Fifth Avenue, it's one of those hotels right out of a movie. In fact, it was the subject of the 2005 TV movie Cool Money, about the robbery of the hotel by Samuel Nalo and Robert Comfort on New Year's Day 1972. It was the most lucrative heist of its kind, totaling around $10 million. It was also the subject of a book by Ira Berkow, The Man Who Robbed the Pierre.
I loved my night at The Pierre, with its discreet elevator operators (what those cars could tell!) to the elegant waiter at Cafe Pierre who served me the most expensive Manhattan I'd ever had in Manhattan. It was so good, I took a friend there, and we imbibed in more.
Now The Pierre is getting a whole new look, and will re-open June 1, 2009 following a $100 million renovation. The guest rooms and bath interiors have been upgraded, and the first floor public areas reconfigured to accommodate a new restaurant, Le Caprice at The Pierre, and the lobby lounge 2 East.
I'll make sure to order a Manhattan.
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