Inside the New York Hotels Where A-Listers Get Ready for the Met Gala
These hotels combine proximity, privacy and polish for celebrities ahead of the biggest night in fashion.
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Fashion's biggest night is just around the corner. On the first Monday of May, the who's who of the fashion world will descend upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the annual Met Gala, dressed to impress in their most glamorous ensembles as attendees do their very best to embody the year's theme, which corresponds with the Costume Institute's annual spring exhibition. The 2025 exhibit is "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," and the dress code for the Met Gala is "Tailored for You."
While attendees often begin prepping for the Met Gala far ahead of the actual evening, from planning out outfits with designers to scheduling beauty treatments, it's the 24 hours leading up to the extravaganza when everything really kicks into high gear. Those who score a coveted invitation to the gala tend to hole up in their hotel rooms for a full day of preparations, typically joined by a team of makeup artists, hairdressers and stylists, as they embark on the hours-long race to the oh-so-stylish finish line that is the Met Gala red carpet. But where, exactly, do the most fashionable guests get ready for the Met Gala? More specifically—what are there hotels of choice?
While New York City is home to an abundance of rather grandiose accommodations, an elite selection of hotels tends to stand out for Met Gala-goers. These are all five-star hotels, but it's not just about a plush bed and elite room service menu; these properties are not only exclusive, but, in the most practical sense, tend to be in located in relatively close proximity to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This geographical asset is perhaps the most important criteria, considering the notoriously nightmare-inducing traffic that accompanies the festivities of the first Monday in May.
If you're feeling a touch curious as to where those who were lucky enough to receive an elusive Met Gala invitation choose to get ready—and retire—for the evening, we've got you covered. Below, see the crème de la crème of the New York hotel scene, where Met Gala attendees get ready for the biggest night in fashion.
Where Celebrities Get Ready for the Met Gala
The Mark Hotel
- 25 E 77th St, New York, NY 10075
The Mark is one of the most celeb-adored spots in New York City at any time of year, not just the first Monday in May. But on that particular date, this Upper East Side Hotel gets even glitzier and more alluring. It has long been perhaps the most popular of hotels for Met Gala attendees; every single year, photographers camp out outside the 106-room property, eagerly awaiting a first look at celebs in all their finery. The Mark is not only a pre-Met Gala hotspot, but it also typically plays host to one of the biggest afterparties of the evening.
Gigi Hadid, Cardi B, Anne Hathaway, Kylie Jenner, Zendaya, Charlie XCX, Phoebe Dynevor, Bad Bunny, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are just a few of the major names to get ready at the Mark, but it's Anna Wintour's repeated patronage that just might be the biggest stamp of approval. The Vogue editor-in-chief, who has helmed the Met Gala since the '90s, has chosen the Mark as her go-to pre-Met spot at least nine times.
The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel
- 35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021
The Mark and The Carlyle are arguably the two most popular pre-Met Gala hotels. The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, is an Upper East Side icon that, over the years, has hosted everyone from Prince William and Kate Middleton to John F. Kennedy and Princess Diana. The Art Deco-inspired, 192-room property first opened its doors in 1930, and is home to the iconic Bemelmans Bar.
It gets a little buzzier on the first Monday in May; Rihanna is a repeat guest for pre-Met Gala prep, as is Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell, Priyanka Chopra and Miranda Kerr. Nicole Kidman, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sarah Paulson, Sydney Sweeney, Brie Larson and Penelope Cruz are among the A-list visitors who have chosen this Madison Avenue property as their Met Gala home base. Similarly to the Mark, the Carlyle is also usually the setting of one of the biggest Met Gala afterparties; in 2024, Cartier hosted the fête at Bemelmans.
The Lowell Hotel
- 28 E 63rd St, New York, NY 10065
Slightly further downtown on 63rd Street, the Lowell Hotel is a more boutique options for Met Gala attendees. The 74-room property, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, has a more understated vibe, and that's a good thing—it's typically less of a total mob scene outside. Fittingly, the Lowell debuted a very fashionable collaboration last year—an afternoon tea in partnership with Dior Maison, served at the hotel's Majorelle restaurant.
Designer Stella McCartney has made the Lowell her home base for the Met Gala on multiple occasions, along with Pamela Anderson, FKA Twigs, Ed Sheeran, Madelyn Cline, Regé-Jean Page and Aubrey Plaza.
The Surrey, a Corinthia Hotel
- 20 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021
After a four-year closure that included a massive renovation—complete with fresh interiors courtesy of Martin Brudnizki—and a change in ownership, the Surrey, now a Corinthia Hotel, has returned to the Upper East Side. The 100-room is home to the new Casa Tua, and just in time for the Met Gala, the Sisley Spa debuted the "Prestige Glow: Met Gala Rejuvenation Facial," which includes sculpting massage, LED light therapy and an eye treatment. So even if you didn't score an invite, perhaps a fresh glow will do.
Even though the hotel hasn't been open to host any Met Gala attendees for the past few years, the Surrey will surely welcome A-listers this year—past pre-Met Gala guests include Hailey Bieber, Ashley Graham, Celine Dion and Serena Williams.
The Pierre, a Taj Hotel
- 2 E 61st St, New York, NY 10065
For a dose of old world glam, look no further than the Pierre. The classic Fifth Avenue hotel, composed of 189 sumptuous guest rooms and suites, has been a cornerstone of the New York luxury hotel scene since it opened in 1930, with guests including Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. More recently, it's played Met Gala dressing room host to Rachel Zegler, Pedro Pascal, Emily Blunt, Jack Harlow, Kerry Washington, Emily Ratajkowski, Lady Gaga and Julianne Moore. It's a touch further downtown than the previous entries on this list, but is right on Fifth.
The Plaza Hotel
- 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Just a couple blocks from the Pierre, the Plaza remains a star-studded spot for a pre-Met Gala day, even though it is a bit further downtown than the other Upper East Side accommodations. The 282-room property in Midtown, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, is still a New York City icon, and over the years, has hosted Maria Sharapova, Simone Ashley and Demi Lovato (all were dressed by Prabal Gurung), along with Lea Michele, Rebecca Hall and Taylor Hill ahead of the Costume Institute Gala.
