As the largest city in the United States, New York City has a rich history, dating back to 1624. Part of this colorful past can be seen in the many historic New York hotels. Even if you cannot stay in one of these hotels, you can still stop by to absorb the city’s unique culture through a peek into bygone days. The Waldorf Astoria, Algonquin Hotel, and Hotel Chelsea are three must-see destinations.

When you walk into the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, some people say you can feel the lingering spirit of the prestigious guests that have stayed within. Every president since Herbert Hoover has reserved a room in this hotel, and various celebrities are always on hand. The original building was torn down when the Empire State Building was erected, but the new Art Deco-style Waldorf was built in 1930, and has faithfully served guests since. The Waldorf is famous for its signature Waldorf Salad, made of walnuts, diced apples, mayonnaise, and celery, first created by the maître d’hôtel in 1893.

From Park Avenue, where the Waldorf sits, you can make your way south and west a few blocks to the Algonquin Hotel. At the Algonquin, guests and visitors might be inspired to write a poem, or start a novel, maybe send in an Op-Ed piece to the New York Times. That urge comes from the hotel’s notorious clientele, the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers who met in the establishment every day for lunch for almost ten years. Many famous names were part of the group, including George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott. Do not leave until you have said hello to the hotel’s cat, Matilda; the establishment has kept a free-range feline on its grounds since the 1930s.

You might want to take the subway for your last stop at the Chelsea. It is about twenty-one blocks south and west from the Algonquin, and though it is more of a trek, you should not miss the famous hotel. The Chelsea is home to 2001: A Space Odyssey, since the novel was entirely penned within the hotel’s confines. Besides being the site where a universal novel was written, the Chelsea is widely known to be the most star-studded location in the city. Actors, writers, singers, bands, and visual artists make this hotel their home when in town. The list is too long to enumerate, but a few of the most well-known names to frequent the rooms are Tom Waits, Ethan Hawke, Jeff Beck and Bob Dylan. If you dig around, there are plenty of historic New York hotels, but these three absolutely shine.