Last Christmas before closing: the Plaza hotel in New York relives “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”

This is the Plaza’s last Christmas for a long while: the Fifth Avenue hotel will close for at least four years from January 2027. For its final festive season, the château on Central Park is pulling out all the stops, from a stay inspired by “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” to a New Year’s Eve party beneath the Palm Court’s glass roof. The hard part is finding a room: on 30 October, not a single December night was available online.

☰Contents

1. Closing from January 2027 for at least 4 years
2. The Kevin stay: limousine, pizza and 16 scoops
3. Trees, Santa and suites with their own tree
4. Palm Court tea and Christmas Day dinner
5. New Year’s Eve under glass, a toast at midnight
6. A night in December? Sold out online

Closing from January 2027 for at least 4 years

The announcement came on 14 October 2026. In a statement, The Plaza Hotel said it needs to repair and restore its landmarked façade, and that it will close for at least four years from January 2027, given the complexity of the work and its impact on operations. It also cited the safety of guests, staff and neighbours.

Neither the date of the final night, nor the reopening date, nor the cost of the works has been published. The hotel’s offers do give a clue: holiday stays run until 6 January 2027, and the Palm Court’s Christmas tea until 12 January. We covered the announcement in our article on the Plaza’s closure.

The Kevin stay: limousine, pizza and 16 scoops

Released in 1992, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”, the sequel to “Home Alone”, sends Kevin McCallister to New York on his own, where he checks into the Plaza with his father’s credit card. Filming began in the lobby in December 1991, and Donald Trump, who owned the hotel at the time, makes a brief cameo. More film hotels feature in our selection of real hotels from the movies.

For this final winter, the hotel is bringing back its “Home Alone: Fun in New York” package. It includes a private limousine for four hours to the film’s locations, from the Empire State Building to Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, a large cheese pizza to eat on the way, just like Kevin, then a 16-scoop ice cream sundae served in bed. The price depends on the room and is not displayed; the package must be booked at least three days before arrival, directly with the hotel only.

Not to be confused with the former “Live Like Kevin” package launched in 2017 for the film’s 25th anniversary, from 895 dollars a night: that was an anniversary offer and is no longer available.

Trees, Santa and suites with their own tree

The decorations go up on 11 November in the lobby and salons, and the Plaza’s great tree is lit on 12 November, at an evening reserved for hotel guests and diners with a table booking. Father Christmas visits the Palm Court and the Champagne Bar and reads stories to guests’ children; on some evenings, tap dancer Sarafina hosts “Tappy Hour”.

For families, the “Suitest Season of All” package installs a decorated tree over two metres tall in the suite, with a bouquet and a welcome gift from the chef, for stays from 12 November to 6 January 2027 (bookings until 26 December, one night’s deposit, price not published). The pink and black Eloise Suite, designed by Betsey Johnson, can also be booked with the tea named after the young heroine of Kay Thompson’s books.

Palm Court tea and Christmas Day dinner

Beneath its glass roof, the Palm Court serves a Christmas afternoon tea from 11 November to 12 January, from 11am to 4pm. On 25 December, a special tea adds a caviar service, then Christmas dinner, from 5pm to 10pm, features braised beef cheek with seared foie gras, mash and baby carrots. The same dish is served in the Champagne Bar and in-room, for hotel guests only.

Prices are not published. Tables open 60 days in advance for the public, 90 days for hotel guests: for Christmas, that means now. Regular menu prices are in our complete guide to the Plaza hotel.

New Year’s Eve under glass, a toast at midnight

On 31 December, the evening starts in the Champagne Bar, from 5pm to 7pm, with a seafood bar on an ice sculpture, Royal Osetra caviar and a glass of Perrier-Jouët. From 9pm to 1am, the Palm Court’s Grand Fête brings together a show, buffet, open bar and a midnight toast with Louis Roederer champagne, to ring in 2027 in a Plaza that is still open.

A night in December? Sold out online

On 30 October 2026, we checked the official booking engine of Accor, owner of the Fairmont brand that operates the hotel, for two adults, taxes and fees included. Every night from 20 November 2026 to 11 January 2027 was shown as unavailable, for stays of one, two or three nights, including 19 December, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The rare rooms that come free go within minutes.

November prices include a €66.61 “Urban Experience Fee”, a charge billed by the hotel on top of the room. For December, the options are to call reservations on +1 212 759 3000 or to watch for a cancellation; otherwise, the Christmas tea or a drink at the Champagne Bar offer one last look at the Plaza.