Grand dame ... the century-old Plaza hotel, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, reopened its doors this month after a three-year renovation Photograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceCosting more than $400m the revamp split the iconic hotel into private residences and luxury $1,000-a-night hotel roomsPhotograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceNot only is the hotel famous for featuring in Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, it also played host to Truman Capote's black and white ball and the Beatles on their first New York visitPhotograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceLuxury doesn't come cheap though - even a pot of tea will lighten your wallet by $12 (£5.96)Photograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceDazzling chandeliers hang in the lobby and carpets have been removed to reveal beautiful floor mosaics Photograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceFur coverlets grace the beds and a butler service is provided on every floorPhotograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceA bedroom touchscreen brings the ease of technology into hotel livingPhotograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelanceFor most of us the Plaza's charms will have to be viewed from the outside - before catching a taxi back to our more modest accommodationPhotograph: Lisa Carpenter/freelance
