Condensed Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Commercial real estate properties, at cost:
Land	$ 187,566
Development costs	6,459
Building and improvements	1,455,398
Commercial real estate properties, at cost, gross	1,649,423
Less: accumulated depreciation	(295,351)
Commercial real estate properties, net	1,354,072
Cash and cash equivalents	60,743
Restricted cash	55,621
Tenant and other receivables, net of allowance of $499 and $188 in 2013 and 2012, respectively	24,817
Deferred rent receivables, net of allowance of $216 and $735 in 2013 and 2012, respectively	62,689
Investment in non-controlled entities	0	76,879
Prepaid expenses and other assets	35,407
Due from affiliated companies	0
Deferred costs, net	78,938
Acquired below market ground lease, net	62,312
Acquired lease intangibles, net	249,983
Goodwill	491,479
Total assets	2,476,061
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable	883,112
Term loan and credit facility	325,000
Unsecured loan and notes payable—related parties	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	81,908	42,674
Acquired below market leases, net	129,882	0
Deferred revenue and other liabilities	21,568
Tenants’ security deposits	31,406
Total liabilities	1,472,876
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0
Additional paid-in capital	316,558
Retained earnings	67,644
Total Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	385,158
Non-controlling interests in operating partnership	618,027
Owners’ deficit	0
Total equity	1,003,185
Total liabilities and equity	2,476,061
Common Class A [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	945
Common Class B [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	11
Total equity	11
Predecessor [Member]
Commercial real estate properties, at cost:
Land		102,475
Development costs		16,039
Building and improvements		820,816
Commercial real estate properties, at cost, gross		939,330
Less: accumulated depreciation		(257,091)
Commercial real estate properties, net		682,239
Cash and cash equivalents		51,499
Restricted cash		32,268
Tenant and other receivables, net of allowance of $499 and $188 in 2013 and 2012, respectively		8,701
Deferred rent receivables, net of allowance of $216 and $735 in 2013 and 2012, respectively		49,827
Investment in non-controlled entities		76,879
Prepaid expenses and other assets		12,501
Due from affiliated companies		46,413
Deferred costs, net		92,226
Acquired below market ground lease, net		0
Acquired lease intangibles, net		0
Goodwill		0
Total assets		1,052,553
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable		978,150
Term loan and credit facility		0
Unsecured loan and notes payable—related parties		18,339
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		42,674
Deferred revenue and other liabilities		7,390
Tenants’ security deposits		16,859
Total liabilities		1,063,412
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding		0
Additional paid-in capital		0
Retained earnings		0
Total Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s stockholders' equity		0
Non-controlling interests in operating partnership		0
Owners’ deficit		(10,859)
Total equity	0	(10,859)
Total liabilities and equity		1,052,553
Predecessor [Member] | Common Class A [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock		0
Predecessor [Member] | Common Class B [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock		$ 0