$17,950,000 $18,810,000
Updated a year ago
Off Market

48 East 81st Street

Upper East Side, Manhattan | Madison Ave & Park Ave

13 Rooms6 Beds7.5 Baths7,400 Square FeetSingle Family

$17,950,000 $18,810,000
floors / apts5 / 1
Lot Size20'x102'
Built Size20'x75'
ZoneR8B
Building TypeTownhouse
RE Taxes$146,935
Price Per SF
$2,426

Listing Features

  • Architectural Dtls
  • Beamed Ceilings
  • High Ceilings
  • Moldings
  • New Windows
  • Original Details
  • Oversized Windows
  • Restored Details
  • Skylights
  • WBFP
  • Central AC

Outdoor space and views

  • Deck
  • Garden
  • Private Roof
  • Terrace
  • City Views
  • Garden Views
  • Skyline Views

Building Amenities

  • Video Intercom
  • Alarm System
  • Garden
  • Laundry Room
  • Roof Deck
  • Screening Room
  • Wine Cellar

Property Description for 48 East 81st Street

You’re at 81st and Madison. A Neo-Georgian townhouse with a prestigious address. Steps from Central Park and the MET Museum. Direct access via 81st Street. Surrounded by luxury boutiques, fine dining, and galleries. The center of New York’s cultural scene.

Built in 1924. A 20-foot-wide red brick and stone townhouse blending history and modern luxury. South African wood floors, Venetian stucco walls, hand-run plaster moldings, copper roof and downspouts, double-thick mahogany doors, and bespoke leather elements throughout. Parquet floors enhance the elegance. A grand parlor, formal salon, and dining conservatory. A teak-clad cinema room that doubles as a meditation space. A Napoleon-inspired wine room. The magnificent details are endless.

Completely gutted and renovated in 2019. Updated mechanical, electrical, and AV — Lutron lighting, Sonos sound systems, and a 21-camera closed-circuit security system. The facade is not only adorned with custom wrought iron doors but also bulletproof security glass and MAG locks that can withstand 3,000+ lbs of pressure. Each bedroom is equipped with an individually controlled pad-lock; the security is top notch.

Five stories and 7,400 square feet, plus a full basement and roof-deck. Offers exclusivity and independence—free from condo board constraints. Personalize your space without bureaucratic hurdles. Five bedrooms—can be six, including a primary suite with a soft cream colored embossed alligator leather walls, as well as leather floors, two bathrooms and two closets. The closets replicate department store display quality and space. Seven full bathrooms, plus two half-baths. Two living rooms, two offices, and two kitchens, including a European gourmet chef’s kitchen and a butler’s kitchen on the entertaining level for convenience. The conservatory style solarium boasts leather and custom wood walls. The townhouse is turnkey — an option to buy fully furnished with brand-new designer pieces from B&B Italia.

The outdoor space throughout is a personal sanctuary — the enclosed south-facing Zen Garden offers a peaceful escape. The bi-level roof deck with a planted terrace provides a private retreat and the deck off one of the bedroom sites aids in indoor/ outdoor living experience — all of which amounts to 750SF of outdoor space.

Cozy up by the seven marble fireplaces. Heated floors in the foyer and a heated sidewalk prevent snow buildup. A professional laundry room, staff quarters, and a dog-washing station add convenience. An open-air basement with a pet grooming station and ample storage. Option for to hire the current caretaker / doorman services. Your privacy and autonomy are guaranteed.

Competitively priced, culturally driven. A rare find in Manhattan’s luxury market. Demand rises for homes that blend historical value with modern convenience. Unique features make this property stand out.

Listing History for 48 East 81st Street

Now
04/02/2025
$17,950,000 [-$860,000] [4.6%]
Price Drop by Sarah R. Williams
Societe Real Estate
2025

Building Details for 48 East 81st Street

OwnershipSingle Family
Building TypeTownhouse
Service LevelVideo Intercom
AgePre-War
AccessWalk-up
Year Built1924
Floors/Apts5/1
Learn More About the Building

Transit and Citi Bike

Subway

77 St
0.26 miles
86 St
0.31 miles
86 St
0.47 miles

Citi Bike

Madison Ave & E 82 St
0.06 miles
E 84 St & Park Ave
0.18 miles

Co-exclusive agents

Co-exclusive agents

Sarah Williams
Societe Real Estate
George Vanderploeg
Douglas Elliman

Show Media

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Upper East Side | Manhattan

Quick Profile

Exuding a cosmopolitan, refined air that is reminiscent of Paris or other European cities, the Upper East Side (the UES, to local cognoscenti) has a reputation as being a bastion of wealth and privilege. Even though it was built by American “royalty” families like the Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, Kennedys, Carnegies and Rockefellers, whose elaborate mansions once anchored Fifth Avenue, there are affordable housing options throughout the neighborhood. The further east you move, away from Central Park and the more commercial avenues, the more likely you are to find quiet, tree-lined streets with historic townhouses and brownstones. Keep your eye out for reasonably priced apartments in pre-war low-rise and even a few high-rise buildings.

With abundant, beautifully landscaped green spaces, including the oasis of Central Park acting like a backyard, the area is quiet and lushly green. You can relax and unwind in John Jay Park, Carl Schurz Park or take a stroll along the East River Promenade. The whole neighborhood seems isolated from the workaday chaos of the city at large. Add to that the history of the neighborhood and the abundance of cultural institutions, and you have a uniquely welcoming neighborhood.

Known for its abundance of high-end retail shopping, especially on Madison Avenue, the Upper East Side is host to the Barneys New York flagship department store. Here you can find upscale goods, fashion and home decor items. You will also find the edgy runway-inspired Alexander McQueen collections. If you are dying to treat your feet to red-soled opulence, be sure to visit the Christian Louboutin boutique. These are only a small sampling of this high-end shopper’s paradise that features everything from designer boutiques that offer the ultimate in haute couture to resale shops where you can find last season’s best on sale at hefty discounts .

There are many unique dining experiences, from fine dining to the casual bite-on-the-go, awaiting you in the UES. Sushi is going through a renaissance in the city, and the best omakase-style sushi can be found at Sasabune on E 73rd Street. Omakase sushi means that you leave the choice of ingredients, preparation method and presentation to the chef. Elegant French cuisine can be experienced at JoJo, E 64th Street, housed in gorgeous townhouse. Just for fun, visit the Lexington Candy Shop on Lexington Avenue, to get a taste of an old-fashioned soda fountain.

All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions are approximate. For exact dimensions, you must hire your own architect or engineer.
OLR ID: 23460TH