Fantastic Photos! Lauren Bacall's Beautiful Dakota Apartment, NYC.  

In my business / professional career I worked somewhat closely with a man who lived, together with his wife, in the Dakota. On afternoon, in the nineties, while sitting in a hotel bar in Los Angeles waiting for a car to take us to the airport, I asked him if he knew Lauren Bacall. He said that he didn’t really know her, but, given they lived in the same building, was a acquainted with her. The he said, “You know John, when I see her in the hallway and she says (mimicking a throaty voice”) Hello Barrie, even though she’s 20 years older than I am, my knees just buckle”.

Lauren Bacall came up to me when I worked in a dress shop in South Hampton. I thought she looked familiar, but I did not realize who she was. We discussed young women choosing not to wear bras. After she left, the other sales girls grabbed me saying, "That was Lauren Bacall!"

My word, she was gorgeous. ............those eyes!

Amongst the Billionaire’s stark, somewhat cold, high rises of today, it’s a pleasure to step back to where simple elegance, beautiful architecture and lifelong memories create a space for such an endearing Hollywood legend we can remember fondly for the rest of our days.

I was in her apartment a few times many years ago because she was a friend of my (former) boss. That building is just wow - in every way. I love looking in people’s houses.

I think her home is charming, To all those who dont like knick knacks and objets d'art try to remember that her own first priority was that she was a wife, mother and stepmother and being a "style icon" came way down the list, It looks like a comfortable home with lots of interesting things to look at to me. My dear friend Alan Merrill had this memory of her "I had a few good friends at McBurney School. One kid who lived on my block, and was in my class was Jason Robards Jr., a nice kid. He lived on the corner next to Central Park in the Dakota on West 72nd Street with his dad and stepmother, actors Jason Robards, and Lauren Bacall. Lauren almost ran me over once as I walked up 72nd Street toward Central Park. She was driving Jason Jr. somewhere, and after she nearly hit me, Jason waved hello. Bacall was both livid and puzzled. How did Jason know this bizarre looking kid with the long hair and the cape? I could see him explain, and her face relaxed. She had a very expressive face. Years later, when I was in London with the group Meat Loaf, I went to lunch with my friend, the model Marie Helvin at San Lorenzo in Beauchamp Place. Marie and I were talking, and out of the blue, Lauren Bacall leaned over our table and started talking to the designer Valentino at the next table. "Hi Mrs. Robards" I said, wondering if she would remember. "Do I know you?" she said in a friendly way. "I'm the guy you almost ran over! You know, the hippie kid from McBurney? Jason and I were in the same class at school". Her face lit up, and she happily filled me in on Jason's adult adventures. It was nice seeing her again." ~AlanMerrill~

That apartment building is from an era of unchecked opulence that is no more. Now, apartment buildings go up and come down in the blink of an eye and they're not made to last. Thanks for an inside view.

I inadvertently bumped into Ms Bacall in the mid 1980s. She was so gracious and breathtakingly beautiful. Her dress, jewellery, hair and make-up looked like she had just stepped off a film set. I am not at all surprised that her apartment in the Dakota was exquisite.

Somehow it makes me happy that the great Lauren Bacall surrounded herself with art, sculpture, and just little items that altho eclectic must have greatly appealed to her. The decor is both brave and inviting.

Lauren and the Dakota were so well suited, both stunningly beautiful.

Back in the 90s I stayed at the Dakota for a couple of weeks as a guest. If you can, I can tell you there was that really long covered walkway if you walk into the courtyard it was on the left-hand side. You can see it in Rosemarys baby. What I can tell you is because it’s the east coast and rain and snow and such people weren’t freely walking through the compound I walked under that covered thing, so I didn’t have to drag my luggage into the courtyard. I also would walk in every night and say hello to the guards at the right. From there, I would go directly into the hallway of the first floor and walk around it without having to cut through the courtyard. That I did at midnight. I was there I think in October because in the beginning the central fountain is Cala lilies, but then that is put away for the winter time. The other thing I remember is an entire parking garage underneath. There were so many cameras, watching everything to make sure people were not being disturbed, the recycle and trash was put out at that basement floor level. At the time I smoke cigarettes and I was staying in a non-smoking apartment so I would creep downstairs and have a cigarette with the guys that were working. Beautiful beautiful building and I do remember when I would cut through the courtyard seeing Yoko in her window, but if I didn’t cut through the courtyard and I just went through the hallway past the guard, there was a little brass plate on the Lennon/Ono door. Every morning I would sit in the kitchen facing the courtyard and it reminded me of the movie rear window all of these different windows, different apartments with people conducting business and experience. I’ll never forget the building I truly have always loved.

Thank you for this. I fell in love with the Dakota after reading a book about it. This was a rare privilege to see the interior. Her eclectic style was captivating. She obviously used what she loved and not what an interior designer might have. Just eye candy and such a treat.

“To Have and Have Not” was one of my favourite movies and I have often quoted Lauren Bacall’s famous line in the movie. I was such a fan of Lauren Bacall for as long as I can remember and Bogie too! In fact I named two of my earlier cats who have now deceased “Bogie” a boy and “Bacall” his sister.

As a young woman,I lived 2 blocks away from the building.I saw Lauren several times.She was a beautiful woman.

My daughter lives on W 78th. I just got back last week from visiting, and I walked passed the Dakota several times. I have often wondered about what it's like inside, as it is a majestic building to see. The gas lamps are always lit in front....very cool.

Love her home, her style - not pretentious just pure class, understated elegance, absolutely nothing fake or put on. Her wonderful eclectic furniture, so rustic some refined, yet all seamless. The artwork is to swoon over.

I would love to know more about Lauren’s art collection. I definitely saw at least one Miro and a Chagall.

It’s interesting that a woman who’s personal style was so minimalist, had knick knacks all over the place. Every wall and surface covered in memories.

Having been inside the Dakota a number of times, the apartments are all different of course but the ceilings are so high you need a pole with a small hook to open them from the top. The elevators are done in a red Chinese style with seats inside of them. The apartments that I've been in are MASSSIVE! You cannot hear someone from one room to the next...

I can understand why there might not be images of the bathrooms but I always think bathrooms, old and new-large and small, show the true luxury of a living space. It's the place where water runs freely and privacy reigns. I guess if you have a pool you achieve a closer sense to our human origins because you're also in sunlight. Still, bathrooms are my favorite place in a home.

I love the study📚.... especially that fireplace🔥!! What an incredible apartment! I don't know Lauren's films well, and I didn't know about her marriages💍to other famous actors. My grandpa was married to an actress once (she had small roles on TV📺 shows such as I Love Lucy, The Beverly Hillbillies, and The Colegate Comedy Hour with Dean Martin...and she starred in a few films too). He was married to the actress (Jil) before she scored her movie roles and TV appearances. She wrote him a "Dear John letter" ✉️ during WWII, when he was overseas. Poor Grandpa👴.....but lucky☘️ me..... because he later met my Grandma👵and started a family. I enjoyed that tour around the layout of the Dakota apartment. I like when you use the red arrows on the plans....it really helps me understand the layout so much better. You're very thorough.👍

Magnificent! LOVE how she puts her feet on the antique furniture.

Now I know why i always liked Lauren Bacall, she had incredible taste.

You can tell that Lauren Bacall's art work is really high quality.

Lauren was an old soul in her youth. She appreciated quality and serenity.

“To Have and Have Not” One of my favorite movies.

L Bacall an all-time beauty,what a gorgeous apartment,two classics.

I miss her. She was an amazing woman and left us with great treasures of her talent that will endure. And her jewelry was stunning.

her apartment is stunning and the younger Lauren Bacall was just as Stunning! Rest in Peace LB

Magnificent apartment, and as elegant as its former owner. I had a friend that lived at the Dakota for some time. I always found the courtyard and common areas creepy at night, but her apt. was beautiful.

Always a fantasy of mine, To live at The Dakota. I felt that way after seeing photos of John Lennon’s apartment when he was alive. Even though the photos were limited, You could see how special it was. Lauren did well buying there, and she stayed there until passing away, as she wished. She had wonderful sentimental memories and objects. Really enjoyed seeing this.

I live in Brasil, and everytime I get to NYC, I visit the Dakota Building in honour of John Lennon. As a matter of fact, in Rio de Janeiro Brasil, there is a building that was created as a kind of replica of the Dakota building, in Flamengo, and it's named as Seabra building; and it was built in 1931.❤BRASIL❤

It was really beautiful and everything was in such good taste. The woodwork was beautiful, the decorations, the furniture, everything.

Such a gorgeous building and I LOVE her apartment!!!

I remembered her. Classy lady. She was the classic beautiful heart of New York

She was just beautiful!!!❤❤❤

Well researched, written and narrated. Sensitive to the subject and humorous too! 👌👍🤙

The apartment is stunning 😍.

Betty certainly had eclectic taste and jammed every inch of her apartment with art, sculpture, and various tshatshkes. Her collection fetched $3.64 million at auction in 2015 a year after her death.

One of my favorite things to do is to look at all different types of properties online. I watch a plethora of home related shows. So I'm surprised that I haven't come across your channel sooner. But, I'm happy to have found you now. I enjoyed this video immensely. It was very well done. And what I appreciated most was your commentary at the end about animals. I currently have 3 rescued cats and one dog, with plans to adopt another senior dog soon. Very soon. So, God bless you for that and thank you for this very enjoyable video!

Thank you for sharing this apt viewing! Beautiful and so many fireplaces! 🧑🏻‍🦰🇨🇦

Gorgeous apartment ! The line was from the movie "To have and have not ". Lauren Bacall was a class act. She was one of the best.

She decorates in the same manner as I do. I display the things I love, not what is conforming or trendy.

I think it's such an appropriate film title for this video too...for us collectors, maximalist design, antique and architecture/interiors lovers...I have NEVER seen inside the Dakota, how happy I am to find your account today. TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, one of my fave vintage films. As a young actor my Mother knew my love of Bacall and took me to see her Broadway hit, Woman of the Year. A thrill of a lifetime...this was fantastic, thank you!

Wow this apartment isn't anything that I would have believed and/or thought about Bacall. Her personal style to me seemed to be very elegant, minimalist and straightforward (strong). While her home tells a totally different story. None of the glitz and glam of that superstar, self-confident front. Although her home tells us of a very confident story. She has a lot of African Art, picture and portraits of muted colors with a lot of heavy wooden furnishings that haw-kin back to an olden era. More of a adventurous, scholar-ed decor. It's beautiful in a different way. It's tell the story of a person closer to earth than star actress. I love seeing this home it changed my understanding of this great actress.

I've been fascinated with the Dakota since watching Rosemary's Baby. I thought it would be an amazing place to live. I really appreciate this closer look!

I read her autobiography when I was in high school (a junior in 1985) and have loved her ever since. How lucky to have met her and see her apartment! Thank you for this wonderful video!

Beautiful home, it must have been amazing to live there! I wish I had that type of space. I’m severely disabled and know just seeing it was fantastic for me. Thanks for sharing your experience, be safe!

What a delightful video!

To have and have not." She was flawless in the film. She was my idol since I was fifteen years old in the early 80's. I got to meet her through work , speak with her a few times, brief and few , however to meet her was a dream come true, unexpectedly. I would have never imagined ever happening . The thought would have been preposterous, impossible, simply insane . I was 19 years old. Years later, I received an autographed photograph which I still keep. Thank you for sharing this video.

That was a brilliant commentary of the Dakota and Lauren Bacall's apartment. There is an informative book out there called "New York's Fabulous Luxury Apartments" by Andrew Alpern originally published in 1975 by McGraw-Hill as "Apartments for the Affluent." It itemizes a plethora of floor plans, architectural details and building facades. I'm passing this along because the book truly has your name on it. Cheers! Darryl

I love the fact that it has not been renovated, it has that classic charm you hope to find in a 150yo building…👏👏👏

As graceful and elegant as Bacall herself.

very interesting tour of Miss Bacall's apartment and inside views of the Dakota. I've visited NYC three times, its quite a trip from my home in Scotland, I've always been fascinated by the building. I think it has always been an expensive building to live in, that monthly service charge is eye watering, nearly $150k per year, that equates to $3 million if you live there for 20 years, but if you can afford the price of the apartment then the service charge is small potatoes I guess. I just wonder how an out of work actor and his unemployed wife could afford to live there in 1968....Guy Woodhouse and Rosemary I'm talking about. 😜

Used to visit the Dakota to do hair color for another famous lady. The size and scale, width and breadth of the rooms are indeed breathtaking. Though the common areas and staircase are extremely Victorian/creepy, dark and foreboding.

"You know how to whistle don't you Steve..." was in the movie, "Key Largo", one of my favorites. The story goes that the Dakota is spooky and seems haunted. I wonder what the truth of it is. Thank you for showing us this very special look inside the Dakota at Lauren, Betty, Bacall's apartment.😊

I so enjoyed this tour. What a timeless and elegant home. Every item was personal. The staircase in the Dakota took my breath away. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for sharing this! I am an ol' amateur film nerd! 5 decades and counting! To Have and Have Not was Bogart's intro to la Lauren! Also, as a fellow vegan (though I am more vegetarian than my husband), I appreciate your words at the end. Also, I am a looooong time rescue volunteer--2-5x weekly walking, transporting, 400 lb. food pick up semi-weekly at Costco. It seems you scratched all the itches!

Thank you for this lovely tour. I lived 1 block south of the Dakota in NY in the 60's in a far less grand apartment. I was lucky enough to see Ms Bacall one time, not in the neighborhood, but at Rockefeller Center, wheel she was coming in for an interview at NBC where i worked. She looked Beautiful and elegant.

She out-lived Bogie by 60 yrs! Great video. I love the Dakota. The building is pure history. These a picture taken from Central Park in 1894 and the Dakota is the only building in the entire area. There's also another picture of the Dakota taken from the boathouse. It was a picture of three Beatles, John, Paul and Ringo and right behind them? The Dakota. I always thought that was a little strange!

I cannot thank you enough, this was wonderful. I feel like this was the place I was meant to live. Every single room is perfect. The Tiffany Blue on the walls to the pink chaise longue in her bedroom ❤❤😮 it will serve as inspiration to further the decorating of my place. I'm glad I'm already in the same style. 😊

While Laurens lifestyle at the Dakota was impressive, let me say, we all have the opportunity to tap into our relative lifestyle desires if we focus on what gives us true pleasure through life. Its obvious Lauren personally enjoyed whatever it was about the Dakota to have stayed there for almost 60 years. Her surroundings also suggest very personal collections and surroundings providing her with the security and visual pleasure she aspired to own. How rewarding she must have felt, day after day.

I love Lauren Bacall and what an amazing apartment she had. Loved her in Key Largo. This video also reminded me that my father worked across the street at the "Majestic" Apartment Building. Thank you for the video.

I was always drawn to Lauren's style of dress and manner. I told myself if I could go back in time I would dress just like she did, sophisticated and elegant. I always also felt she was more like me than other women in the 40s and 50s and now I know why. She was born the same month and the same day as I was. We're Virgos. She is just the best actress and person ever.

Thanks for the tour. I read her autobiography many years ago, and amazed at her fortitude for getting into acting and how much she loved Bogart….one of my favorite actors…..and her suffering with his fight with cancer and his loss. A strong woman for sure!

Walking on Central Park West home to West 75th Street, I would see Lauren Bacall with family members on Fridays on the way to Synagogue. This was in the 90’s. I was always in awe

I am 91 - My Wife was the Best ! Lauren Bacall - was like my Wife so she was kind of close - Fascinating !

Beautiful. She aged well and so did her apartment. Cozy rooms.

If I could afford it, I would live in that building. I LOVE it!

She was always so Classy,

I love this apartment! It's very comfortable and only on the 4th floor which is perfect.

Awesome. I may not have known that about her but that looks to be an introverts paradise. Maybe that was her style. It fits. Regal. Quiet. Just like her ❤ Edit: you have great energy, I love your positivity. New fan.

The apartment is stunning. Much better than those cold bland modern highrise apartments. One room is the size of most NYC apartments that rent for thousands a month.

Lauren Bacall lived a very comfortable life❤

Enjoyed seeing her apartment and knowing one of the paintings from her bedroom, now hangs in our bedroom.

Beautiful tour of Miss Bacall’s home. Each room is wonderful,and so well decorated.

If i were rolling in dough i would definitely buy that apartment. So full of life as opposed to the present day steel and glass.

Lauren Nicole was mail time favorite actress and a very cool person so thank you for posting this video

Loved them so much, still watch their flixs.

In the 1970s I was at circle in the square for a play and at intermission was waiting on line for the ladies room( I THINK it was circle in the square..anyway up walked Lauren Bacall and Maureen Stapleton..Bacall asks me if I know which way the Men’s room is,so I answered her and Stapleton says “c’mon Betty we’ll go there they’.ll let us in I’m not waitin 15 mins. For this one” Bacall politely says thank you and I’m standing there IN shock having witnessed this exchange…and THATS why I live in NYC!!!

Thank you, I loved every room you showed. Truly an elegant and classic building.

one of the most beautiful women ever, and her colorful maximalist style is just so eclectic and wonderful i can hardly stand it.

Lauren sure had a type. And what a spectacular building. I couldn't even imagine living in such a fabulous space. Sigh...

What a delightful pictoral tour of a place I've only seen the outside of. Seeing Lauren's place was great and reminded me of my grandmother’s house when I would always marvel at her personal collections from her world travels. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

What a beautiful home. Her eye for art was unique. Thank you for the tour and history of the Dakota.

Lauren was my very favorite actress. I named my daughter Lauren after her. She’s 15 now and is a fan as well. 🥰

Wow. Very interesting to see this. Thanks for the video. 👍

The Dakota is iconic and has incredible history of NYC...I can just imagine that peculiar light that falls just as the sun sets....a type of blue light....and the relaxation that accompanies it. Thanks for the tour of Betty's home.....❤

Love all your videos Scott! Not like all your others, this was fantastic, as well. I was riveted! A must watch!

I love her place-I love the large rooms and the long hallways. I thought the wooden floors were very well polished and beautiful. A lovely place to spend her life. ❤ RIP Miss. Bacall. Your energy is missed, still.

I met this fine lady whilst working at Heathrow airport. I remember her husky voice, charming ! She was gracious.

My mother was a ceramist and decorated her home in a similar way. Art and sculpture and paintings everywhere. The eye has no place to rest and the pieces are hard to contemplate bc they are surrounded by other pieces demanding attention. I found it exhausting just being in my mother's house bc of it. It also symbolized to me that it was her way of telling certain people that There was no room at the Inn as it was also located in a stunning scenic whistlestop along the Hudson.

They don't make movies or movies STARS like her anymore😥☹️. She was beautiful and a classy lady and great actress. Thanks for sharing this.

She was such an elegant woman.

Lauren Bacall & The Dakota - 2 Classics!

Aside from the fact that I'm a lifelong fan of hers, you had me at "vintage knockers." 🤣 These old girls didn't get offended so easily. Today that would result in lawsuits and public shaming.

I can only relate to the Central Park view and it is amazing. The park laps up to the tall buildings like an ocean of trees. I'm from AZ so you can imagine the impression it made on me. When I learned I could go up to a tall floor and look out in 1983 I did! I can still see it.

I love how that at the end you encourage a plant bases diet and to have compassion for animals . Thats great . Because of that I will subscribe .

🎵We had it all..🎶 Just like Bogie and Bacall🎶 ..Sailing away to Key Largo 😉😁

Very interesting! I'm a big fan of the Dakota. I read Stephen Birmingham's book about the building and that's what turned me into a fan. There's just something special about the Dakota, similar to the way there's something special about Grey Gardens. --- I read elsewhere on You Tube that when pre-production work was being done for "Rosemary's Baby" the people involved in that were allowed in the courtyard, but not actually inside the building, but that one of the pre-production people knew Lauren Bacall who allowed them in. I went on to read that the floor plan of the apartment or maybe apartments (one big apartment had been divided into two) in "Rosemary's Baby" is really the floorplan of Ms. Bacall's apartment. As I watching this video I was looking for similarities between the real and fictional apartments and that long hallway and the rooms off of it do remind me of what we see in the movie.