Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Commercial real estate properties, at cost:
Land	$ 201,196	$ 201,196
Development costs	7,498	6,986
Building and improvements	2,067,636	1,931,681
Commercial real estate properties, at cost, gross	2,276,330	2,139,863
Less: accumulated depreciation	(465,584)	(377,552)
Commercial real estate properties, net	1,810,746	1,762,311
Cash and cash equivalents	46,685	45,732
Restricted cash	65,880	60,273
Tenant and other receivables, net of allowance of $2,792 and $1,427 in 2015 and 2014, respectively	18,782	23,745
Deferred rent receivables, net of allowance of $245 and $420 in 2015 and 2014, respectively	122,048	102,104
Prepaid expenses and other assets	50,460	48,504
Deferred costs, net	310,679	357,462
Acquired below market ground leases, net	383,891	391,887
Goodwill	491,479	491,479
Total assets	3,300,650	3,283,497
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable	747,661	898,998
Senior unsecured notes	587,018	234,980
Unsecured term loan facility	262,545	0
Unsecured revolving credit facility	35,192	0
Term loan and credit facility	0	464,676
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	111,099	96,563
Acquired below market leases, net	104,171	138,859
Deferred revenue and other liabilities	31,388	27,876
Tenants’ security deposits	48,890	40,448
Total liabilities	1,927,964	1,902,400
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	469,152	406,853
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(883)	0
Retained earnings	55,260	60,713
Total Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	524,729	468,638
Non-controlling interests in operating partnership	839,953	904,455
Private perpetual preferred units, $16.62 per unit liquidation preference, 1,560,360 issued and outstanding in 2015 and 2014	8,004	8,004
Total equity	1,372,686	1,381,097
Total liabilities and equity	3,300,650	3,283,497
Common Class A [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,189	1,060
Common Class B [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 11	$ 12