Stearns & Foster “Plaza” Hotel Mattress Review

by Helen P.
(Washington)

Over my lifetime, I have owned–and still own–many mattresses. I’ve slept on them all and been pleased with most. A couple of years ago, I needed one more mattress, and treated myself to a Stearns & Foster “Plaza”.

This is the mattress that the old Plaza Hotel in New York used in its fabulous hotel. For a lover of a firm mattress, this is the best.

Of course it’s handsome. I ordered the deeper box spring because it seemed to give a more generous look. But I would not suggest it for someone who doesn’t like a higher bed. Mine is on a frame and still sits a bit high for an older person–or a small dog to jump onto without help.

So for use with a poster bed or in a room with low ceilings, it would be better to get the reduced size box spring.

This is not a pillow top bed, so fans of a softer feel will not be happy with this choice, unless they buy a pillow top cover for it. Even as a hard bed lover, at first I found it a little like sleeping on the floor. But after using it just awhile, it must have gotten used to me and adapted, and I would buy the same type of model again. The Plaza provides excellent support and a great night’s sleep.

Since I sleep on this mattress alone, I cannot claim to know whether it’s as great as the Simmons Beautyrest mattresses with separate coils that really do allow one person not to wake the other as readily as some of the older mattresses did. I also love my Beautyrest, which provides an excellent night’s sleep, and I’ve had mine in part-time service for about 15 years, and it’s still as great as the first day I slept on it.


It doesn’t feel as firm as the Plaza, but it’s exceptionally comfortable. Someone who will be buying a mattress to share will want to try the Plaza out at the store–taking along with the companion–to compare it to the Beautyrest. At one time, I loved my Sealy Posturpedic, but I haven’t had a new one in a long time, and I’m inclined to go with what has worked recently. When something is excellent, why change?

My mother has had good mattress from Bloomingdale’s that failed after only a year and needed to be returned on the warranty. The Plaza–and the Beautyrest–have not caused any problems. In fact my main complaint about the Plaza is that it’s built so well, it’s heavy to move around, and it has only one side for sleeping, unlike older mattresses. At least you don’t need to turn it all the time!

So, if I were ready to buy again, I’d try to compare the Plaza and Beautyrest, side by side, and go by what feels comfortable to me today and, of course, which gives me the better deal for the price.

I bought my Stearns & Foster at Mattress Discounters, where I had a good range of mattresses to choose from. This one just seemed the best for a firm mattress and still seems worth the price, which was about $1100 for a double, back a few years ago.

For firm mattress lovers, I would give the Stearns & Foster Plaza, or it’s more updated version, 4.5 stars, holding back a half star only because of the initial hardness and the option to check out Beautyrest.