Cole Porter’s NYC party pad asks $3.9M — tucked inside a secret enclave where homes rarely list

Here’s a rarely available Manhattan home that hits all the right notes.

A historic Manhattan carriage house where legendary composer Cole Porter once threw parties is on the market for $3.9 million.

Tucked away at 4 Sniffen Court in Murray Hill, the two-bedroom home sits along a gated, cobblestone cul-de-sac that feels worlds away from the bustle of Midtown.

Cole Porter’s former party house at 4 Sniffen Court is back on the market for $3.9 million. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group
The gated Sniffen Court enclave in Murray Hill dates to the Civil War era. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group

The property first hit the market in May for $4 million before being pulled over the summer. It has since returned with a $100,000 price cut, according to the listing.

But the home’s history may be even more intriguing than its secluded location.

Porter, the celebrated songwriter behind Broadway classics including “Anything Goes” and “Kiss Me, Kate,” once owned two neighboring carriage houses on the historic street, according to listing broker Dan Fishman of Corcoran.

“He owned both No. 2 and No. 4; No. 2 is where he lived with his family, and No. 4 is where he had parties,” Fishman told The Post.

The composer also had a lover who lived at No. 4, Fishman said, adding another colorful chapter to the property’s past.

Porter once owned two neighboring carriage houses on the historic cobblestone street. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group
The secluded enclave has attracted celebrity residents including Lenny Kravitz, Claudia Schiffer and Graham Norton. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group

The house has since remained in the same family for approximately six decades, passing from father to son.

The current owners, who live in California, had used the residence as a Manhattan pied-à-terre, but found themselves visiting less frequently as they grew older.

That said, the owners removed their furniture, leaving the house completely vacant.

The property has remained in the same family for approximately 60 years. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group
The two-story residence spans 2,200 square feet and features ceilings approaching 20 feet high. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group

The 2,200-square-foot residence spans two stories, with two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and a dramatic living space featuring ceilings approaching 20 feet high.

Other features include hardwood floors, a fireplace and a private roof deck.

The family made improvements over the years, including adding the roof deck, but largely preserved the home’s longtime character.

A new owner, however, should be prepared for more work.

“The buyer will need a gut renovation,” Fishman said.

The longtime owners made selective upgrades over the years, but the home now requires a gut renovation. Listing images show virtual staging. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group
The home’s double-height living space, shown with virtual furnishings. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group

For Fishman, the property’s biggest attraction isn’t any single architectural detail, but its remarkable history and location.

“It’s one of the fun parts of the job, to try and listen to the walls that could talk,” he said.

Sniffen Court dates to the Civil War era, when its buildings were constructed as horse stables before being converted into private residences. It’s one of the city’s off-grid “secret streets” that provide small-town atmospheres in the thick of the city.

The tiny enclave has attracted celebrities including Lenny Kravitz, Claudia Schiffer and Graham Norton, while its cobblestone setting famously appeared on the cover of The Doors’ 1967 album “Strange Days.”

Fishman said properties in the enclave rarely become available, noting that aside from Norton’s former home, which traded last year, another comparable property hadn’t changed hands in roughly a decade.

The living and dining areas offer flexible space for a future owner to reimagine. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group
The carriage house has two bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group
A virtually staged home office with built-in shelving and a skylight. Russ Ross Photography, Inc./The Corcoran Group

The Post previously reported on Norton’s Sniffen Court carriage house, which hit the market for $5.59 million in May 2025 after undergoing an extensive renovation.

That property entered contract in fewer than 50 days, highlighting the demand for the enclave’s limited housing stock.

Fishman and Natassia Espina of Corcoran hold the listing.

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