<P> The Waldorf Astoria New York is a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan , New York City . The hotel has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York . The first , bearing the same name , was built in two stages , as the Waldorf Hotel and the Astoria Hotel , which accounts for its dual name . That original site was situated on Astor family properties along Fifth Avenue , opened in 1893 , and designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh . It was demolished in 1929 to make way for the construction of the Empire State Building . The present building , at 301 Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets in Midtown Manhattan , is a 47 - story 190.5 m ( 625 ft ) Art Deco landmark designed by architects Schultze and Weaver , which was completed in 1931 . The current hotel was the world 's tallest hotel from 1931 until 1963 , when it was surpassed by Moscow 's Hotel Ukraina by 7 metres ( 23 ft ) . An icon of glamour and luxury , the current Waldorf Astoria is one of the world 's most prestigious and best known hotels . Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts is a division of Hilton Hotels , and a portfolio of high - end properties around the world now operate under the name , including in New York City . </P>
which replaced the original waldorf astoria building in new york in 1931
the Empire State Building