Ritz-Carlton New York appears in Andy Warhol’s diary as a hotel residence Jean-Michel Basquiat returned to despite its expense and despite trying other places. A room costing about $250 a night, a large Jacuzzi, and the hotel’s appeal as a luxurious setting made it more than a temporary stop in the account: it became a recurring point of reference in Basquiat’s changing arrangements.

A Costly Place to Stay

At one point, Basquiat was staying at Ritz-Carlton New York much of the time rather than at Great Jones Street carriage house. The diary notes the room rate—about $250 a night—making the hotel’s expense part of the picture from the outset. His frequent presence there also marks a shift in where he was living, from his downtown base toward a more polished hotel setting.

The Return from the Mayfair Regent

Basquiat later had rooms at both Ritz-Carlton New York and the Mayfair Regent on 65th Street. Warhol speculated that he was competing to live in the fashionable East 60s, but the diary also gives a practical reason for his return: the television at the Mayfair Regent could not provide Showtime. Basquiat went back to Ritz-Carlton New York, where he had a large Jacuzzi. The contrast makes the hotel’s appeal a blend of status and everyday comfort, rather than status alone.

Reluctance to Leave

When Warhol accompanied Basquiat to check out of his Ritz-Carlton room, Basquiat changed his mind after arriving, deciding the hotel was too beautiful to leave. By Halloween, however, he had given up the room and had also stopped taking limousines, changes Warhol regarded as an improvement in his spending. The diary thus records both the hotel’s persistent attraction and the eventual end of this particular stay.