InterContinental New York Barclay Celebrates 100 Years

InterContinental® New York Barclay, owned by 111 East 48th Street Holdings, LLC and managed by IHG, celebrates 100 years of welcoming travelers to the heart of New York City. The Midtown Manhattan landmark, known to generations of New Yorkers as The Barclay, reaches the milestone after a year-long Journey to 100 that brought its history to life. Recognized as a winner of this year’s Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence in the Best Historic Hotel (Over 400 Guestrooms) category, the hotel continues to honor its storied past while looking ahead to its next chapter through thoughtfully curated design enhancements as part of The Barclay Reimagined.

“One hundred years ago, The Barclay opened its doors to an ever-changing city, and it has been part of New York’s story ever since,” said Sofia L. Vandaele, General Manager and Regional Director of Operations. “Today we celebrate the guests, colleagues and neighbors who have contributed to this remarkable hotel’s legacy, and we look ahead to the next century of service, warmth, hospitality and luxury.”

A Century in the Heart of Manhattan

The Barclay rose from the transformation of Midtown East, opening as one of the original railroad hotels in Grand Central’s Terminal City. Designed by Cross & Cross, the firm behind the Tiffany & Co. building on Fifth Avenue, the 1926 hotel was built in the neo-Federal, American Colonial style; notable architectural elements include the intricate lobby ceiling and grand staircase, two pieces of The Barclay that greet every guest who walks through its doors.

The hotel’s grand opening was a discreet affair: a private dinner-dance for New York’s old-money elite, with no ribbon-cuttings or celebrity fanfare. Relying primarily on word of mouth, the hotel quickly developed an image as an exclusive, desirable destination, which sparked demand so quickly that 100 additional rooms were converted within weeks of opening. Caswell-Massey, America’s original apothecary, became The Barclay’s first tenant that same year, opening a flagship store that would remain for 84 years. A century later, the two reunited to create Barclay 1926, a signature fragrance commemorating the hotel’s centennial.

Over the decades, The Barclay became a retreat for writers, socialites and statesmen. In 1940, Ernest Hemingway made the hotel his temporary home and completed the final revisions of For Whom the Bell Tolls while in residence. Socialite Perle Mesta, the “Hostess with the Mostess,” occupied an entire floor and entertained guests including Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. In 1945, the hotel introduced the first lobby birdcage in a hotel, and in 1992 and 1996 it served as Bill Clinton’s New York campaign headquarters. InterContinental acquired the hotel in the 1970s, and renovations in 1995 and 2016 restored and refreshed its public spaces and guestrooms. In 2009, The Barclay became an early leader in hotel sustainability, a commitment that continues today and is symbolized by its rooftop apiary. In 2025, it was welcomed into Historic Hotels of America.

The Journey to 100

Throughout its centennial year, The Barclay has invited guests to experience its history through all five senses:

• Taste: The Parlour Through the Decades featured monthly menus and cocktails inspired by defining eras of the past century at the hotel’s signature restaurant. The culinary journey through time began in January with the Lobster Thermidor and Oysters Rockefeller of the 1920s, and culminated in a creative, casual, globally inspired menu reflecting modern-day New York dining.
• Sound: The Barclay Playlist, a monthly, era-inspired mix available on Spotify and Apple Music, carried the soundtrack of each decade from the 1920s to today. From Harlem jazz and big bands of the roaring twenties to the genre-blending, viral hits of the 2010s, the sounds of The Barclay soundtracked the year.
• Sight: The Barclay Times, a monthly newspaper, revisited notable moments from the hotel’s history, from headline-making events to everyday stories. The publication was complemented by the IC Barclay app, offering archival imagery, behind-the-scenes insights and #MyBarclay stories shared by guests.
• Touch: The Barclay Residence, an immersive room package highlighting a new decade each month, offered overnight guests a keepsake, a themed welcome amenity and a dinner at The Parlour. Keepsakes including Barclay the Bear, the hotel’s new mascot; Barclay ornaments; and The Bark-lay dog bone ensured the Barclay memories would continue well beyond check-out.
• Smell: Barclay 1926, a signature fragrance in collaboration with the hotel’s first tenant Caswell-Massey, was introduced in September. Opening with lemon and bitter orange notes before settling into warm honey, a tribute to the rooftop apiary, the scent honors the century-old connection between two iconic New York names.

The Barclay Reimagined: The Next Century Begins

The centennial marks a turning point for the property itself. In July, the hotel previewed the first of its redesigned guestrooms, an early look at The Barclay Reimagined, a long-term vision to enhance the hotel while preserving its historic character.

The ongoing transformation will encompass additional guestrooms, event spaces, and public areas. Each area’s reimagination is guided by the hotel’s dedication to honoring its heritage while continuously elevating and evolving the guest experience to meet the expectations of modern travelers.

Where the Journey to 100 celebrated The Barclay’s past, The Barclay Reimagined looks ahead, and the two come together this November as the hotel enters its second century of unparalleled service and hospitality.

For more information, please visit www.icbarclay.com.