The Lexington Hotel NYC
A historic 27-story hotel in Midtown Manhattan, currently operating as The Lexington Hotel, Autograph Collection.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Lexington Hotel NYC is a historic hotel at 509 Lexington Avenue, on the southeast corner of East 48th Street in Midtown Manhattan. It occupies a prominent site within the former Terminal City district that developed around Grand Central Terminal after the terminal's reconstruction and electrification in the early twentieth century. The hotel opened on October 15, 1929, during the final phase of New York's 1920s hotel-building boom and shortly before the Wall Street crash and Great Depression reshaped the city's hospitality market. Designed by Schultze & Weaver, the building is a large Romanesque Revival structure with a facade combining red brick, limestone, and architectural terracotta. Setbacks, light courts, towers, arcades, sculptural details, and a narrow roofline tower reflect both the hotel's period architecture and the requirements of New York City's 1916 zoning resolution. The building is recognized as a New York City designated landmark. Its principal entrance is on 48th Street, while the Lexington Avenue elevation includes a large round-arched opening that was originally an entrance and later became a storefront. The property was developed by the Lexington Hotel Corporation, associated with the American Hotel Corporation, and was initially managed under the leadership of J. Leslie Kincaid. It was one of several major hotels built near Grand Central Terminal, alongside the Barclay, Commodore, Roosevelt, and Biltmore. The hotel began with more than 800 guestrooms, although the room count changed over time through renovations and reconfiguration. In its current form, the property is generally described as having 725 rooms. The Lexington experienced financial and operational difficulties during the Depression. It defaulted on its mortgages and entered foreclosure proceedings in the early 1930s. Ralph Hitz's National Hotel Management Company operated the property for several years, after which Hotel Lexington Inc. assumed control. The hotel's public identity was strengthened by its restaurants and entertainment spaces, especially the Silver Grill and the Hawaiian Room. The Hawaiian Room, opened in 1937 after a redesign by Jac Lessman, became known for Polynesian-themed interiors, live entertainment, and cuisine, and remained one of the hotel's most prominent attractions into the early 1940s. Ownership and brand affiliations changed repeatedly. Lawrence Wien acquired the property in 1954 and leased it to a syndicate led by Saul Hertzig. Tata Group acquired the hotel in 1981 and operated it for several years. In 1999, the property joined Radisson Hotels and adopted the name Radisson Hotel New York-East Side. DiamondRock Hospitality acquired the hotel in 2011. It subsequently left the Radisson system and joined Marriott International's Autograph Collection, a collection of independently distinctive hotels marketed through Marriott's distribution platform. A major modernization of the public rooms took place in 2016. The redesign introduced a two-story lobby, period-inspired furnishings and artwork, a bar called the Mixing Room, and event spaces named the Speakeasy and the Interlude, connected by a pre-function area called the Swing Room. The hotel also retained its role as a lodging, dining, and event venue in Midtown. One suite associated with Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe has been presented with a baseball-oriented theme, reflecting the property's celebrity and cultural associations. Since 2021, the hotel has been owned through a joint venture involving MCR Hotels, Three Wall Capital, and Island Capital Group, with MCR operating the property. Its current positioning combines historic New York architecture, a Midtown location near Grand Central Terminal, full-service hotel accommodation, restaurants and bars, and meeting and event facilities under the Autograph Collection affiliation.
History
The Lexington was developed during the transformation of the area around Grand Central Terminal into Terminal City. Before the terminal's modernization, steam locomotives created smoke and safety problems in the Park Avenue approach. New York Central's electrification project and the construction of the present Grand Central Terminal encouraged dense commercial development above and around the rail infrastructure. Hotels became a major component of this new district, and the Lexington joined a group of large properties built along or near Lexington Avenue. In the late 1920s, Tishman Realty & Construction assembled and then transferred the Lexington Avenue and 48th Street site to the Lexington Hotel Corporation. The development was associated with the American Hotel Corporation and its president, General J. Leslie Kincaid. Schultze & Weaver designed the building, with Turner Construction serving as general contractor. Construction took place during the hotel boom of the 1920s, and the Hotel Lexington opened on October 15, 1929. Its Romanesque Revival design used brick, limestone, and terracotta, with setbacks and light courts shaped by New York's zoning rules. The original property had more than 800 guestrooms and included retail space at street level rather than the large meeting areas common in later hotel layouts. The opening coincided with the onset of the Great Depression, which made it difficult for the hotel to sustain its debt and operating model. The property defaulted on its first and second mortgages and became involved in foreclosure and reorganization proceedings. Ralph Hitz's National Hotel Management Company took over management in 1932, while Reliance Property Management handled day-to-day operations. A federal receiver was appointed during the foreclosure process, and bondholders organized around the reorganization of the Lexington Hotel Corporation. The corporation was reorganized in the middle of the decade. The hotel's entertainment identity developed during this period. The basement Silver Grill opened in 1932 and became a popular venue for live music at lunch and dinner. In 1937 it was transformed into the Hawaiian Room by designer Jac Lessman, with a mural by Carl Koeck and a strongly Polynesian decorative scheme. The restaurant was promoted for its cuisine and entertainment and remained particularly successful during the late 1930s and early 1940s. National Hotel Management stopped operating the property in 1937, after which Hotel Lexington Inc. took over. The company also introduced other dining concepts, including the Paul Revere Tavern. Later decades brought changes in management and ownership. Lawrence Wien bought the hotel in 1954 and leased it to a syndicate led by Saul Hertzig. Tata Group acquired the property in 1981 and operated it for a period. In 1999 the hotel became a Radisson franchise and was renamed Radisson Hotel New York-East Side. A renovation in 2001 reconfigured the accommodation inventory into regular rooms, deluxe rooms, and suites. By the early 2010s the property again had more than 700 rooms and had adopted a Jazz Age-inspired guestroom design using Art Deco patterns and furniture. DiamondRock Hospitality acquired the hotel in 2011. The property later left Radisson and joined Marriott International's Autograph Collection, preserving an individual hotel identity while gaining access to Marriott's reservation and loyalty ecosystem. A 2016 renovation by dash design modernized the lobby and public rooms. The updated spaces included the Mixing Room bar and a group of meeting and event rooms with names such as the Speakeasy, Interlude, and Swing Room. The Lexington is also associated with popular culture through a suite linked to baseball player Joe DiMaggio and actress Marilyn Monroe. The hotel building was designated a New York City landmark, reinforcing its architectural and historical significance. Since 2021, ownership has rested with a joint venture of MCR Hotels, Three Wall Capital, and Island Capital Group. The operating hotel continues to present itself as a 725-room Midtown property within Marriott's Autograph Collection, combining landmark architecture with accommodation, food and beverage, and meetings business.
- 2021
MCR-led ownership begins
[1]A joint venture of MCR Hotels, Three Wall Capital, and Island Capital Group acquired the property.
- 2016
Public-space renovation
[1]dash design renovated the lobby, bar, meeting rooms, and event areas.
- 2011
DiamondRock acquisition
[1]DiamondRock Hospitality acquired the hotel.
- 2001
Guestroom renovation
[1]A renovation reconfigured the accommodation inventory into regular rooms, deluxe rooms, and suites.
- 1999
Radisson rebranding
[1]The hotel became the Radisson Hotel New York-East Side as a Radisson franchise.
- 1981
Tata Group acquisition
[1]India's Tata Group acquired and operated the hotel for several years.
- 1954
Lawrence Wien acquires the property
[1]Lawrence Wien bought the hotel and leased it to a syndicate led by Saul Hertzig.
- 1937
Hawaiian Room launches
[1]The Silver Grill was redesigned as the Hawaiian Room, creating one of the hotel's best-known historical dining and entertainment venues.
- 1932
Silver Grill opens and financial restructuring begins
[1]The basement restaurant opened, while mortgage defaults and foreclosure proceedings led to new management and corporate reorganization.
- 1929
Hotel Lexington opens
[1]The property opened on October 15 as a large Terminal City hotel designed by Schultze & Weaver.
Products and positioning
A landmark Midtown Manhattan hotel that combines historic 1920s architecture, proximity to Grand Central Terminal, contemporary full-service hospitality, dining, and event facilities.
Hotel accommodation · 1929
Guestrooms and suites
The Lexington provides a large inventory of Midtown Manhattan guestrooms and suites. The property originally opened with more than 800 guestrooms and has been reconfigured through successive renovations. Contemporary accommodation is presented in a Jazz Age- and Art Deco-influenced setting, with a mix of standard rooms, upgraded rooms, and suites. A suite associated with Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe has been given a baseball-themed treatment.
Bar and hospitality venue · 2016
The Mixing Room
The Mixing Room is the hotel's contemporary bar and a component of its renovated public-space program. It sits within the modernized lobby environment and supports the property's food, beverage, and social-hospitality offering.
Meetings and events · 2016
Speakeasy and Interlude
The Speakeasy and Interlude are Art Deco-style meeting rooms created as part of the 2016 renovation. Together they can accommodate approximately 120 people and connect to the Swing Room pre-function area, providing flexible space for meetings, receptions, and private events.
Historical restaurant and entertainment venue · 1937
Hawaiian Room
The Hawaiian Room was the hotel's best-known historical restaurant concept. It replaced the Silver Grill in 1937 and used Polynesian-inspired decoration, including a mural, blue ceiling, and palm-tree motifs. The venue became popular for dining and live entertainment, particularly in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Brand decisions
2021
MCR-led joint venture acquisitionM&ABackground
Ownership changed again as the hotel continued operating as a historic, full-service Midtown property.
Action taken
MCR Hotels, Three Wall Capital, and Island Capital Group acquired the property through a joint venture, with MCR operating it.
Aftermath
The Lexington continued under the Autograph Collection affiliation and was described as a 725-room hotel.
2016
Modernize public spacesStrategyBackground
The hotel sought to refresh its guest-facing areas while retaining a historical and Art Deco-oriented identity.
Action taken
dash design renovated the lobby, bar, meeting rooms, and event circulation areas.
Aftermath
The redesigned property added the Mixing Room and the Speakeasy, Interlude, and Swing Room event spaces.
2011
DiamondRock Hospitality acquisitionM&ABackground
The hotel changed ownership as part of DiamondRock Hospitality's acquisition of the property.
Action taken
DiamondRock Hospitality acquired the Lexington.
Aftermath
The hotel subsequently departed the Radisson system and became affiliated with Marriott's Autograph Collection.
1999
Join the Radisson systemStrategyBackground
The independent hotel entered a franchise relationship with Radisson Hotels as part of a change in brand affiliation.
Action taken
The property was renamed Radisson Hotel New York-East Side.
Aftermath
The Radisson identity remained in place until the hotel later left the chain and joined Marriott's Autograph Collection.
Recent events
- 2021
MCR-led joint venture takes ownership[1]
M&A
A joint venture involving MCR Hotels, Three Wall Capital, and Island Capital Group became the property's owner, with MCR operating the hotel.
- 2016
Lexington public spaces receive a major redesign[1]
Other
A renovation by dash design refreshed the lobby, bar, meeting rooms, and event circulation areas, including the Speakeasy, Interlude, and Swing Room spaces.
- 2011
DiamondRock Hospitality acquires the hotel[1]
M&A
DiamondRock Hospitality acquired the Lexington, preceding its departure from the Radisson system and later affiliation with Marriott's Autograph Collection.
- 1999
Lexington joins Radisson Hotels[1]
M&A · Other
The property adopted the name Radisson Hotel New York-East Side after becoming a Radisson franchise.
- 1937
Hawaiian Room opens at the Lexington[1]
Product launch
The former Silver Grill space was redesigned and reopened as the Hawaiian Room, a Polynesian-themed restaurant and entertainment venue that became a notable attraction.
- 1932
Lexington Hotel enters foreclosure and new management[1]
Other
The hotel encountered Depression-era financial problems, defaulted on its mortgages, and came under the operation of Ralph Hitz's National Hotel Management Company during foreclosure proceedings.
- 1929
Lexington Hotel opens in Midtown Manhattan[1]
Other
The newly built Hotel Lexington opened at Lexington Avenue and 48th Street as one of the large hotels developed around Grand Central Terminal.
Sources3 sources
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