Take a second to think up a “typical” historic hotel. It’s likely that the sloping lines and industrial concrete of the TWA Hotel are not what came to mind. Throw in the fact that the hotel is located just outside of Terminal 5 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, and the mind continues to reel.
Yet, the TWA Hotel is indeed historic—at least, the building it’s housed in certainly is. A mid-century architectural marvel originally designed in 1962 by Eero Saarinen, it occupies the former Trans World Airlines Flight Center. Saarinen envisaged the former flight terminal to evoke a bird in flight, and what resulted was a unique expression of what came to be known as the Jet Age, when the jet engine revolutionized flight.
I think I speak for many frequent fliers today when I say there’s a real sense of mourning for this golden age of air travel, especially when I find myself wedged time and time again into a cramped economy seat.
TWA sadly closed in 2001, and after years of dormancy, the space was painstakingly restored and reopened as a hotel in 2019. Guests walking into the hotel today can still see Saarinen’s vision come to life, with the property doubling as a sort of living museum of 1960s travel culture.
For mid-century design enthusiasts, the TWA is a total masterclass in the style, with retro-futuristic, tube-shaped tunnels carpeted in a striking red, as well as an iconic sunken lounge that once served as a waiting area for TWA passengers. Today, both guests and visitors can hit the bar and enjoy their beverage there.
In the guest rooms and suites, vintage rotary phones, custom walnut martini bars, and mid-century furnishings sit alongside modern comforts like blackout shades and high-speed Wi-Fi.
But perhaps the most unique amenity of the TWA has to be the former Connie Lockheed Constellation airplane, which has been repurposed as a cocktail lounge, Connie, parked on the tarmac behind the hotel. Inside, guests sip martinis in a piece of aviation history. This particular journalist has even had the honor of shooting a series of cocktail-making videos for Cosmopolitan within Connie, and countless chic events have been hosted there, such as the recent launch of NYC-based travel collective, Le Chéile.
Hungry guests can pay a visit to the informal food court by the hotel’s main entrance, or head up the stairs to the Paris Cafe by Chef Jean-Georges for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For those with a long layover at JFK who don’t feel like battling it out with other travelers for a table within the airport, the Paris Cafe can yield better results (and better food), with dinner entree options such as Sesame Crusted Salmon and Parmesan Mushroom Risotto.
One of TWA’s amenities available only to overnight guests is the rooftop pool, which is heated and open year round. As one might imagine, it’s not exactly a lap pool—but that isn’t the point. The true draw of this particular hotel pool is the ability to watch the planes fly, land, and take off overhead. It’s an aptly unique experience to have at an entirely unusual, and equally delightful, airport hotel.
Top Takeaways
Location: Terminal 5, JFK Airport, New York City, USA
Rating: Three-star
The vibe: Retro-futuristic nostalgia meets airport hotel convenience, like Mad Men in a departure lounge kind of way.
Food + Drink: Cocktails at the Sunken Lounge, fancy-ish food at the Paris Cafe, and fast casual fare at the food hall. Don’t miss a drink at Connie, their bar within a vintage airplane.
Amenities: Rooftop pool with runway views, Wi-Fi, fitness center, cocktail bar, event spaces, museum-style exhibits, a gift shop.
Our Favourite Thing About the Hotel: The unique design. Staying here feels like stepping onto a mid-century movie set, and you should accordingly plan to bring your best camera along.
What’s Nearby? JFK Airport, obviously (and every destination you can fly to from there).
Any personal neighbourhood recs? You’re basically at the airport, so not really, but make sure to take advantage of all of TWA’s formerly mentioned amenities. One we haven’t brought up yet: their exhibition of vintage TWA flight attendant uniforms.
Rooms: 512 rooms and suites, including two Presidential Suites: The Howard Hughes Presidential Suite and the Eero Saarinen Presidential Suite.
Pricing: From $279 per night, depending on season and room type.
Closest Airport: You’re already in it! JFK Terminal 5.
