5. Beekeeping on the Roof of the Waldorf Astoria

Photo by Corey William Schneider, NY Adventure Club

When Executive Chef David Garcelon came to the Waldorf Astoria, beekeeping had just been legalized in New York. This was honey to his ears, since he ran a similar rooftop garden and apiary in the hotel in Toronto where he came from. Chef Garcelon contacted Andrew Cote’, who wrote the best-practices guide to New York beekeeping, and founded the New York Beekeepers Association – and they created a home for bees on the twentieth floor of the iconic hotel.

More than 300,000 bees in six active hives make honey on the rooftop deck. So successful was this venture, and so popular is beekeeping among the hotels, restauranteurs and companies in the City, that the Waldorf hosted the first “The Battle of the Bees” in 2013. This honey–tasting event pitted the Waldorf against four other organizations that housed beehives on their New York City rooftops, and included Brooks Brothers, The High Line, York Preparatory School and The Durst Organization. The “top of the Waldorf” rooftop honey is not just used for their Afternoon Tea in Peacock Alley. You’ll find it being used everywhere in the hotel from the Guerlain Spa to honey-infused cocktails at the bar.