10 Most Famous Apartment Buildings in NYC

New York City is home to many celebrities, and the buildings they live in have become some of the most famous apartment buildings. Many older structures have been designated city landmarks or national historic landmarks. The newer buildings trailblaze the architectural world with ground-breaking designs and set a high bar for luxury standards. Discover the iconic celebrity apartments in NYC that have become integral to the city’s culture and history.

The most famous apartment buildings in NYC and celebrity homes are:

• The Dakota
• The San Remo
• The Ansonia
• The Beresford
• The El Dorado
• Plaza Hotel
• Central Park Tower
• One57
• 53W53
• 432 Park Avenue

The Dakota

• Architectural Style: German Renaissance/Renaissance Revival
• Architect(s): Henry Janeway Hardenbergh
• Famous Residents: John Madden, Judy Garland, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Lauren Bacall, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Simon, Walter Becker, and Harlan Coben
• Address: 1 West 72^nd Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan

The Dakota is one of NYC’s most well-known apartment buildings for its iconic appearance, celebrity residents, and historical events. You can’t miss the striking German Renaissance architecture, from the peaks of the dormers and roof to the intricate terracotta detailing all over the facade. Though the Dakota is about nine floors tall, it is equivalent to a 15-story building because of the high ceilings of the residences. Amenities such as a basement gym and private rooftop space have been added for additional comfort.

With an H-shaped courtyard letting light into all the apartments, the nearly 93 condos are bright and airy. Features portraying the period the building was built in, like dark wood finishing and elegant molding, are combined with modern renovations to ensure comfort. Even though some apartments have been broken up, the dimensions are still substantially spacious. Whether it is a one- or five-bedroom apartment, each layout is unique.

The San Remo

• Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
• Architect(s): Emery Roth
• Famous Residents: Steven Spielberg, Bono, Steve Martin, and Bruce Willis
• Location: 145-146 Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan

Rising above Central Park, the twin peaks of the San Remo have become an integral part of New York City’s skyline. This stunning view is what many celebrities like Steven Spielberg, Bono, and Bruce Willis seek from the San Remo. At 27 stories, including the towers, there are 138 apartments in the U-shaped building. This allows units on any floor to receive plenty of light.

Apartments span one to two stories, with eight to eleven rooms that are spacious even by luxury standards. Detailed framing and molding capture the history of each apartment. Renovations have ensured modern comforts and convenience while keeping the place's character.

The Ansonia

• Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
• Architect(s): Paul Emile Duboy
• Famous Residents: Theodore Dreiser, Richard Dreyfus, Angelina Jolie, and Babe Ruth
• Location: 2109 Broadway, Upper West Side, Manhattan

The white brick, mansard roof, and Beaux-Arts architecture of the Ansonia have drawn in residents like Angelina Jolie and Babe Ruth. About 382 apartments are in the 17-story Ansonia, including studios, multi-bedrooms, and duplexes covering several floors. Interiors have been renovated with careful attention to keeping historical detailing like custom woodwork, restored windows, and molding. To ensure that each apartment has plenty of light, the building was created in an H-shape.

The Beresford

• Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
• Architect(s): Emery Roth
• Famous Residents: Jerry Seinfeld, Diana Ross, Alex Rodriguez, Glenn Close, and David Brown
• Location: 221 Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan

The Beresford stretches 22 stories tall as its three octagonal towers look down on the Upper West Side streets. Encircling a courtyard, the building is in a U-shape and contains 183 apartments. You’ll find multi-floor penthouse apartments in every one of the towers. Some residences resemble row houses due to the living areas being on the first floor and bedrooms on the second.

However, most units are just one story with eight to ten rooms. Each floor usually has ten apartments, but it can vary. The Beresford is highly popular among celebrities like Alex Rodriguez, Diana Ross, and Jerry Seinfeld because of its views over Central Park.

The El Dorado

• Architectural Style: Art Deco
• Architect(s): Emery Roth and Margon & Holder
• Famous Residents: Bruce Willis, Marilyn Monroe, Moby, Roby McDowell, Sinclair Lewis, Michael J. Fox, Carrie Fisher, Bono, and Alec Baldwin
• Location: 300 Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan

The El Dorado’s dual towers rise over the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir as part of the striking skyline of the Upper West Side. At 29 stories tall, 17 stories comprise the base, with the remaining 12 stories comprising the towers. 204 apartments lay within the building, with a more modern Art Deco style that attracted famous residents like Michael J. Fox, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Willis, and Marilyn Monroe.

Even though it was completed in 1932, it has been updated to include amenities such as a community center and fitness center. Various layouts can be found within, from a two-story apartment to a penthouse in one of the towers. Spacious layouts, breathtaking views, and high ceilings make each apartment an outstanding home.

Plaza Hotel

• Architectural Style: French Renaissance
• Architect(s): Henry Janeway Hardenbergh
• Famous Residents: Robert Kraft, David Barger, Doug Morris, Tommy Hilfiger, Simon Fuller, and Tim and Jenny Smucker
• Location: 768 Fifth Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan/1 Central Park South, Midtown, Manhattan

One of the most iconic hotels in NYC, the Plaza Hotel also has around 181 condos that celebrities like Tommy Hilfiger and Simon Fuller have lived in. With plenty of media centered around it, famous residents and guests, and having hosted important events, the hotel has carved itself into the legacy of New York. The 18-story, French Renaissance-inspired château-style building is made of marble brick and finished with a mansard roof.

There are 181 condos in the Plaza Hotel, primarily on the structure’s north and east. Whether a studio or a three-story penthouse, the interiors are elegant, with high ceilings, period detailing, parquet floors, and stone counters. Residents can enjoy restaurants, a gym, a spa, and a bar, as well as a private and exclusive garden and rooftop. The allure and famous status of the Plaza Hotel continue to draw in celebrities and wealthy elites from all over.

Central Park Tower

• Architectural Style: Modern
• Architect(s): Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture
• Famous Residents: the France family
• Location: 225 West 57^th Street, Midtown, Manhattan

At 98 stories tall, Central Park Tower is the second-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the tallest primarily residential building in the world. Finished in 2020, this structure has already carved its mark into the New York skyline as an iconic piece of architecture. Though there are floors occupied by New York City’s first Nordstrom and resident amenities, most floors are filled with condos, comprising the 179 total condo count.

The amenities that Central Park Tower offers residents befit the luxury price tag of the building. There are many floors of amenities, as well as a three-floor private club called “The 100^th Floor.” On Floor 16, Central Park Club has a lounge, theater, conference room, and more for relaxation. There is also plenty of fitness space as there are indoor and outdoor pools, exercise rooms, gyms, and a basketball court.

The average apartment in Central Park Tower is about 5,000 square feet, which is the size of two average homes in the US combined. Each residence has beautiful views of NYC through floor-to-ceiling windows, and some units have double-height ceilings to let in even more light and scenery. The interiors are designed to be sophisticated and elegant to match the luxuriousness of the building, with the largest condos spanning two to three floors and seven or eight bedrooms.

One57

• Architectural Style: Modern
• Architect(s): Christian de Partzamparc
• Famous Residents: Lawrence Stroll, Bill Ackman, Michael Dell, and Robert Herjavec
• Location: 157 West 57^th Street, Midtown, Manhattan

Nowadays, there are plenty of sky-high condos on Billionaires’ Row, but it all started with One57 when it was completed in 2014. The entire structure is 73 stories tall — the bottom 18 stories are the Park Hyatt New York, and the top 55 stories are the 92 condos. To resemble a waterfall and its many tiers, the top flows down to the side of the building, with setbacks at varying heights. While it is not right next to Central Park, that is no issue because, with its height, almost every apartment has a great view of the park and the rest of New York City.

As newer construction, One57 has luxurious amenities for residents, such as a library, pool overlooking Central Park, theater, yoga room, fitness room, pet washroom, arts-and-crafts space, and more. Depending on your floor, you will find varying numbers of apartments. Some have five to six units, including two-story ones, while others encompass an entire floor. The interiors are lavish, with Italian marble, custom wood furniture, rosewood flooring, white onyx, and specialized appliances and lighting.

53W53

• Architectural Style: Postmodern
• Architect(s): Jean Nouvel
• Famous Residents: Alex Blavatnik
• Location: 53 West 53^rd Street, Midtown, Manhattan

53W53 is a geometric masterpiece of interlocking metal and glass. While the building mostly consists of 145 condos, several floors contain amenities, and three floors are part of the Museum of Modern Art (but not accessible from 53W53). A private restaurant, fitness center with pool, wine-tasting room, and lounge are all available for residents. Unique to 53W53 is that those who purchase a unit receive a Museum of Modern Art benefactor-level membership.

Most apartments have one to five bedrooms, besides the six penthouses that can span two floors. Each residence has a unique layout but commonalities in the design of the interiors. Kitchens have marble countertops and glass cabinets; the bathrooms are clad in marble walls and limestone floor tiles; oak floors are spread throughout the rest of the apartment.

432 Park Avenue

• Architectural Style: Contemporary
• Architect(s): Rafael Viñoly
• Famous Residents: David Chu, Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez
• Location: 157 West 57^th Street, Midtown, Manhattan

Part of the pencil tower skyscraper category, 432 Park Avenue reaches towards the sky with its slender body of glass and white Portland cement. With 125 condos in 84 stories, it was the third-tallest building in the US when it was completed in 2015. Large windows and high ceilings make you feel like part of the sky that overlooks Central Park. The materials and finishes are simple but elegant, making each apartment feel effortlessly luxurious.

There are plenty of different layouts, from studio units to one-to-six-room apartments. The smallest is said to be 351 square feet, while the largest unit is a massive 8,255-square-foot residence with six bedrooms and seven baths. The amenities are just as expansive as the apartments, as the “club unit” fills floors 12-16. It contains golf training facilities, a private restaurant, screening rooms, a library, and a fitness center with a swimming complex that has a huge pool.

Find Your Historical Home with Apartments.com

If any of these apartment buildings have piqued your interest, look on Apartments.com to find a similar one that fits your budget! With the ability to filter apartments by price, you can find an apartment that is just as iconic but more affordable. To look for a specific kind of residence, Apartments.com has filters for unique apartment types, like Pre-War, Brownstone, and Walk-Up, to help you live in a piece of history.