Cover A$AP Rocky and Rihanna depart from The Carlyle for the Met Gala, 2023
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna depart from The Carlyle for the Met Gala, 2023
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The magic behind the Met Gala begins at these iconic New York hotels where celebrities stay, get ready and party the night away
The red carpet at the Met Gala may be the main event, but it’s in hotel rooms across New York that the magic really happens—where A-listers and their glam squads put together the iconic looks that make headlines and, at times, history.
It's at these hotels where fans and fashion lovers get a first glimpse of what their favourite celebrities are wearing to the coveted event, and where ultra-exclusive Met Gala after parties keep the party going until the early hours of the morning.
As the first Monday of May approaches, we round up the New York hotels that celebrities like to call home during the annual Met Gala.
See also: Everything to know about this year’s Met Gala, from the hosts to the best dressed guests
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel
Margot Robbie
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The Carlyle is more than a hotel, it is something of a legend. Since it opened in 1930, it has welcomed everyone from royalty to A-list stars to Hollywood misfits, who fall in love with the hotel's charming quirks and reputation for discretion.
Once upon a time, Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn were spotted having a heart-to-heart in the lobby. The late Anthony Bourdain called it “completely nuts” in the best way possible. Rumour has it there was even a hidden entrance to facilitate Marilyn Monroe's secret rendezvouses with John F. Kennedy. Long story short, anything can happen at The Carlyle.
During the Met Gala, The Carlyle's monochrome marble lobby comes alive as the likes of Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Margot Robbie, Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell and a seemingly endless parade of fashion royalty, emerge in their Monday best.
Read more about the iconic hotel here when we had the pleasure of staying at The Carlyle.
The Mark
Anna Wintour
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Facing The Carlyle across Madison Avenue at 77th Street, The Mark and the Met Gala have gone hand-in-hand since the soiree’s inception. In fact, many designers have held their Met Gala after-parties at The Mark, including Michael Kors in 2015 and Donatella Versace in 2018.
Even the queen of the Met Gala, Anna Wintour, has been snapped en route to the event from The Mark.
The hotel also counts the likes of Kendall Jenner, Kerry Washington, Emma Watson, Tom Brady, and Gisele Bündchen as former guests. But the real question is, which celebrity has secured The Mark Penthouse for this year’s Met Gala?
Costing a cool US$75,000 a night, it’s the largest penthouse suite in the US at 10,000 square feet spread over two floors, plus a 2,500 square foot rooftop terrace overlooking Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art—how convenient.
Designed by French interior designer Jacques Grange, it includes five bedrooms, four fireplaces, six bathrooms, two powder rooms and two wet bars. We imagine the after party here would be quite something.
The Standard, High Line
Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Florence Pugh and Ashley Park (Photo: Nina Westervelt for The New York Times)
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On that subject, one of the most coveted Met Gala after party invitations is for the annual bash at The Standard, High Line. Hosted at The Top of the Standard, the 18th-floor rooftop bar with 360-degree views of New York City.
Previous and regular guests include Jay-Z and Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Janelle Monae, Lil Nas X, Zendaya, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Madonna to name only a few.
Located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, The Standard, High Line is a work of futuristic minimalism—particularly in the guest rooms, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views of either the Hudson River or the city.
A hub for art lovers, it has an outdoor public plaza with rotating art installations and activations, and is just steps away from the Whitney Museum of American Art and the many world-renowned galleries that call Chelsea home.
The Pierre, A Taj Hotel
Pedro Pascal
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Housed in a gorgeous 1930s Georgian-style building, The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, boasts one of New York City's most enviable addresses on East 61st and Fifth Avenue.
Some truly iconic Met Gala moments have been made here. In 2019, Lady Gaga slipped into her flowy, fuschia Brandon Maxwell cape dress, which required a full entourage to carry its dramatic 25-foot train. That same year, Dame Joan Collins walked out arm-in-arm with then-Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli.
In another Piccioli moment, actor Pedro Pascal stepped out from The Pierre in a headline-making custom red Valentino suit by the designer for last year’s Met Gala.
Whew. Did we forget anyone? Well, yes. Emily Ratajkowski, Gigi Hadid, Kate Bosworth, Zoe Saldana, Jenna Ortega and Jack Harlow have also gotten ready for the Met Gala at this five-star hotel.
The Mercer
New York’s sister hotel to Los Angeles’ iconic celebrity hideous, Chateau Marmont, it’s no surprise that A-listers feel right at home at The Mercer - where famous guests have included the late Karl Lagerfeld, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Cindy Crawford and daughter Kaia Gerber.
It’s also a firm favourite among the Kardashian-Jenner clan, who made The Mercer their hotel of choice when attending the 2019 Met Gala.
Last year, Chanel hosted 2023’s most exclusive Met Gala after party at the hotel in what used to be the Mercer Kitchen. Guests including Penelope Cruz, Cara Delevingne, Dua Lipa and Jeremy Strong descended to the basement venue which was set aglow with candles and adorned with floral bouquets.
Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
Above Taylor Swift leaves Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
Taylor Swift leaves Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
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This is a new addition to the list, but hear us out. Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s has been a celebrity favourite since the Parisian hotel brand opened its New York outpost in September 2022.
Located in the heart of Tribeca, it’s here that Taylor Swift and Sophie Turner were famously snapped on a girls’ night out. The hotel has also welcomed the likes of supermodel Elsa Hosk and comedian Chris Rock.
Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York features French Art Deco–inspired interiors within a classic post-industrial brick structure, with 97 pastel-hued guest rooms—including a selection of spacious suites that offer plenty of room to host a Met Gala-sized glam squad.
We anticipate this chic Tribeca hideaway will be a Met Gala celebrity hotspot in no time.
Coco Marett is a writer and editor who grew up between Hong Kong and Melbourne. She currently heads the travel section for Tatler Asia, and manages the Tatler Travel account on Instagram. She is known for her features on unique, under-the-radar properties and destinations. She's also known for her in-depth interviews that paint a refreshingly candid portrait of influential figures across various industries —from artists to political figures, CEOs to celebrity chefs. Follow her on Instagram @cocomarett
