The Met Gala Prep: Inside the Iconic Hotels That Set the Stage

It’s the world’s most prestigious costume gala, where every thread counts, and who you wear is as paramount as where you stay. The Met Gala has transformed from an elite fundraising event to a societal and celebrity spectacle, prompting a new question that buzzes each year: “Where are you staying?” This has thrust a selection of elite Upper East Side hotels, such as The Mark and The Carlyle, into the limelight as the pre-Gala epicenters, where stars engage in preparation rituals worthy of their own spotlight.

A Prestigious Prelude to the Gala

As the excitement of the Met Gala descends, the distinguished hotels become the arena for celebrities’ glam squads and seamstresses. These bastions of hospitality morph into pressure-cooker environments where every detail of the impending showcase is meticulously orchestrated. “On that day, coffee is king,” reflects Etienne Haro, The Mark’s general manager, reiterating the frenetic energy that ripples through this glamorous labyrinth where “every year, everything is rented out.”

The Met Monday Tradition

The Mark and The Carlyle’s contributions to the Met Gala’s aura extend beyond sheer accommodation; they host a vibrant mini-red carpet event. Since 2017, when The Mark laid out its iconic fire-truck red carpet—an homage that has captured imaginations ever since—the scene outside these hotels has gained a life of its own. The Mark’s innovative approach is an “extra press moment” that merges seamlessly with the grandeur of the main event.

A Week of Glamour and Craftsmanship

Each hotel, acting as a temporary fashion atelier, houses not only celebrities but the skilled artisans of the fashion world. With last year’s Karl Lagerfeld–themed Gala, The Mark accommodated former Chanel seamstresses, crafting emotional moments that linger on the edges of haute couture history.

Maximum Buzz: A Pre-Gala Spotlight

Where iconic fashion figures like Anna Wintour have long called The Mark home for Met Mondays, other illustrious names, including Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts, find a kindred spirit in these revered halls. Gustav Witzøe captures the charged anticipation before exiting into the whirl of flashbulbs and cheering fans: “The energy buzzing—that’s when it all becomes real.” According to GQ, the fervor outside The Mark evolves year on year, signaling its stature as “a second red carpet of the Gala.”

The Glamorous Commute

As celebrities prepare to grace the main event, their orchestrated departures offer them a calming yet electric prelude. Amid instant social media coverage and press action, The Mark proudly reaches new heights—its red carpet moment is now the “single-most-watched recurring hotel event in the world,” as Haro boasts, underlining its undisputed place in the architectural and cultural fabric of the Met Gala.

From meticulously curated suites to elaborate farewell photo ops, the array of sensory experiences within these gilded hotels set not just the fashion, but the stage for a night defined by style, opulence, and creativity. In these gleaming corridors of The Mark, The Carlyle, and beyond, the stories of textiles, personalities, and emotions weave into the grand tapestry of the Met Gala.