Hotel Elysee by Library Hotel Collection

To the Management of Élysée's Hotel & Spa,
We are writing this review with profound disappointment to detail the complete failure of your establishment in delivering the premium experience we paid for, which resulted in the ruin of my daughter’s 40th birthday celebration on Saturday, October 18th. This formal complaint follows an entirely insufficient phone call from your team that offered no solution, no genuine apology, and no action.
Our expectation for a significant family milestone was met with an experience that was unprofessional, medically concerning, and financially exploitative.
The specific failures were egregious:
1. Dismissive and Incompetent Reception: We were immediately made to feel like an inconvenience from the moment we arrived, setting a negative tone for the entire day.
2. Unprofessional and Harmful Spa Treatment: The so-called "massage" was a rudimentary application of oil and sugar that caused an uncomfortable, allergic skin reaction. This is not a luxury treatment; it is a neglect of basic professional standards.
3. Exploitative Billing Practices: The mandatory 20% gratuity added to a bill for subpar and rude service is an insult. It forces guests to subsidize their own dissatisfaction, revealing a policy that prioritizes profit over customer experience.
4. Neglect of a Special Occasion and Poor Service: Despite clear communication of our celebratory purpose, it was entirely ignored. The restaurant service was disorganized, with a salad served inexplicably late alongside the main course.
5. Predatory Waiver: The most alarming practice was being forced to sign a document waiving our right to legal action over poor service. This is not standard practice; it is an admission of guilt and a preemptive strategy to avoid accountability for the low quality you knowingly deliver.
The subsequent lack of a meaningful response confirms that our unsatisfactory experience is not an anomaly but a direct result of your management's culture. The insensitive staff member in question appears to face no consequences, and the hotel continues to profit from these deceptive practices.
Therefore, a simple apology is no longer sufficient. We formally demand:
1. A full refund of all charges incurred for the spa and restaurant services on October 18th.
2. Additional compensation for the complete ruin of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration and the distress caused.
We expect a written response within 48 hours detailing your plan to resolve this matter. Failure to address this appropriately will leave us no choice but to escalate this complaint to the New York State Department of Consumer Protection, the Better Business Bureau, and pursue a chargeback through our credit card company, citing the services not rendered as described.
This was not just poor service; it was a systematic failure that exploited our trust. We trusted you with a milestone, and you broke it. Now, we expect you to make it right.

Great restaurant next door. Close to best shopping.

Great location, friendly staff, very nice breakfast lounge.

We will miss this hotel during their 2 year renovation

Excellent staff, loved our suite and the Monkey Room and breakfast.

We stayed at the Hotel Elysee for four nights in June 2025. The beds were rock hard and the rooms old and shabby. Smelled and looked like a grandmas closet. They are shutting down for remodeling and so to be fair, we got the worst of it. Run down and smelly. Robes were thread bear, shower barely worked, thermostat was analog. Do not recommend.

Fabulous location, lovely place to stay

Very well located close to Central Park, 5th Ave and Rockfeller Center.
Check-in was fast and they accommodated us with an early check in without charge.
Parking (valet) for $40, decent.
Room is old, but decently spacious. Shower was great. Mini fridge was not working but they immediately brought a replacement.
Lighting at the room was poor (especially inside bathroom).
Breakfast was included and it was good enough.
Overall a good stay, but as most hotels in Manhattan, too overpriced for what you get.

Everything was great except the pillows

We really enjoyed our 5 night stay at the Hotel Elysee. Our last couple of visits to Manhattan we stayed at the Royalton, which has a very hip, modern vibe. It was nice, but we wanted something a little homier this time, and Hotel Elysee was just right. It's charming, feels like there's a history to it. No, the furniture wasn't brand new, but the bed was very comfortable, the bathroom spotless, the service good. Very good location for visiting museums, the park, and 5th ave, without being too noisy or bustling. We will stay there again and recommend to others.

The hotel is well-located, the staff is professional and the breakfast/snack room and library are fine. Our room had old stained furniture with broken hardware and peeling wallpaper - and while clean it did not feel spotless. This is unlike the other Library Collection hotels which are more updated.

Very helpful staff.

Great sitting room for all day snacks and breakfast. Room was clean, well appointed, and staff was very friendly and helpful

Excellent staff, very professional, prompt, and courteous. Very comfortable rooms, quiet and clean. Excellent location. Very highly recommended.

Charming, clean, private

This is an older property in fairly good condition. The rooms had enough space. Everything in the bathroom worked well, although there was not enough room for all of our cosmetics and medicines. Climate control worked, but was difficult to set for the desired temperature. The room was serviced every day, which was nice. The breakfast was a continental breakfast, with no protein, other than hard boiled eggs. The machine for espresso and cappuccino worked really well. Overall, there was nothing inadequate, but at $450 per night, it was very expensive for what we got.

Old world charm but updated and spotless. Don’t close and change to another modern hotel!

Very very disappointed. My sister had stayed here on and off for years on business and was always promoting their excellence. Such a disappointing place to stay. Needs many updates including room working card keys, air/heat working and staying on and not making big noises in the room, breakfast options - pathetic unless you want sweets, pathetic handling of above mentioned problems by front desk and management. Would NOT recommend at this time. Perhaps they will take care of problems which they said they are looking into - should have told us about all the problems when we checked in. We could have then gone elsewhere. Our one compliment would be to Gary, the doorman who gave excellent service in a friendly manner. Thank you Gary!

Perfect location

We love the Elysee and sorry it will be closed for at least 2 years for renovations. We will miss it!