Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Commercial real estate properties, at cost:
Land	$ 201,196	$ 201,196
Development costs	7,951	7,498
Building and improvements	2,249,482	2,067,636
Commercial real estate properties, at cost, gross	2,458,629	2,276,330
Less: accumulated depreciation	(556,546)	(465,584)
Commercial real estate properties, net	1,902,083	1,810,746
Cash and cash equivalents	554,371	46,685
Restricted cash	61,514	65,880
Tenant and other receivables, net of allowance of $3,333 and $2,792 in 2016 and 2015, respectively	22,542	18,782
Deferred rent receivables, net of allowance of $390 and $245 in 2016 and 2015, respectively	152,074	122,048
Prepaid expenses and other assets	53,749	50,460
Deferred costs, net	277,081	310,679
Acquired below market ground leases, net	376,060	383,891
Goodwill	491,479	491,479
Total assets	3,890,953	3,300,650
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable	759,016	747,661
Senior unsecured notes	590,388	587,018
Unsecured term loan facility	262,927	262,545
Unsecured revolving credit facility	0	35,192
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	134,064	111,099
Acquired below market leases, net	82,300	104,171
Deferred revenue and other liabilities	32,212	31,388
Tenants’ security deposits	47,183	48,890
Total liabilities	1,908,090	1,927,964
Commitments and contingencies
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	1,104,463	469,152
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,789)	(883)
Retained earnings	50,904	55,260
Total Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.'s stockholders' equity	1,154,136	524,729
Non-controlling interests in operating partnership	820,723	839,953
Private perpetual preferred units, $16.62 per unit liquidation preference, 1,560,360 issued and outstanding in 2016 and 2015	8,004	8,004
Total equity	1,982,863	1,372,686
Total liabilities and equity	3,890,953	3,300,650
Common Class A [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,547	1,189
Common Class B [Member]
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 11	$ 11