Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus, dated July 10, 2013

PROSPECTUS

             Shares

Class A Common Stock

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. is a Maryland corporation organized to qualify as a real estate investment trust that owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area.

This is our initial public offering and no public market currently exists for our Class A common stock. We are offering shares of our Class A common stock as described in this prospectus. All of the shares of Class A common stock offered by this prospectus are being sold by us. We currently expect the initial public offering price to be between $         and $         per share of our Class A common stock. We intend to apply to have our Class A common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ESB.”

Shares of our common stock are subject to ownership limitations that are intended to, among other purposes, assist us in qualifying and maintaining our qualification as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our charter contains certain restrictions relating to the ownership and transfer of our common stock, including, subject to certain exceptions, a 9.8% ownership limit for all stockholders. See “Description of Securities—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” beginning on page 281 of this prospectus.

Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. See “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 30 of this prospectus for a discussion of certain risk factors that you should consider before investing in our Class A common stock.

We have granted the underwriters the option to purchase an additional             shares of our Class A common stock for 30 days after the date of this prospectus on the same terms and conditions set forth above if the underwriters sell more than             shares of Class A common stock in this offering.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of our Class A common stock on or about                     , 2013.

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2013.

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[PICTURE, TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR INSIDE COVER TO COME]

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CONTENTS

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You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or information to which we have referred you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us” and “our company” refer to (i) Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (formerly known as Empire Realty Trust, Inc.), a Maryland corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Empire State Realty OP, L.P. (formerly known as Empire Realty Trust, L.P.), a Delaware limited partnership, which we refer to in this prospectus as “our operating partnership,” after giving effect to the formation transactions described in this prospectus and (ii) our predecessor before giving effect to the formation transactions described in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, the information contained

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in this prospectus assumes (i) the formation transactions, as described under the caption “Structure and Formation of Our Company” beginning on page 257 have been completed; (ii) the             shares of Class A common stock to be sold in this offering are sold at $         per share, which is the mid-point of the range of prices set forth on the front cover of this prospectus; (iii) no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional              shares of our Class A common stock; (iv) the Series PR operating partnership units, the Series ES operating partnership units, the Series 60 operating partnership units and the Series 250 operating partnership units to be issued in the formation transactions are valued at $         per unit; (v) the Class B common stock to be issued in the formation transactions is valued at $         per share; and (vi) all property information is as of March 31, 2013.

Market Data

We use market data and industry forecasts and projections throughout this prospectus, and in particular in the sections entitled “Economic and Market Overview” and “Business and Properties.” We have obtained all of this information from a market study prepared for us by Rosen Consulting Group, or RCG, a nationally recognized real estate consulting firm in June 2013. We have paid RCG a fee for such services. Such information is included herein in reliance on RCG’s authority as an expert on such matters. See “Experts.” We believe the data prepared by RCG is reliable, but we have not independently verified this information. Any forecasts prepared by RCG are based on data (including third party data), models and experience of various professionals, and are based on various assumptions, all of which are subject to change without notice. There is no assurance that any of the forecasts will be achieved.

We own, manage, operate, acquire and reposition office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area. We refer to our properties in Manhattan as our “Manhattan properties.” We use the term “greater New York metropolitan area” to refer only to Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. We refer to our office and retail properties collectively as “our portfolio.” Our targeted office markets as defined by RCG include the Midtown Manhattan market, which spans from 30 ^th Street north to Central Park (59 ^th Street) and includes the Penn Station, Times Square South, Grand Central and West Side submarkets, and the Westchester County and Fairfield County markets. Our targeted retail markets as defined by RCG include Midtown Manhattan, Union Square (where Park Avenue meets 14 ^th Street), the Upper East Side and Fairfield County. The manner in which we define our property markets and submarkets differs from how RCG has done so in its market study included herein. Further, RCG’s definition of the New York metropolitan area differs from our definition of the greater New York metropolitan area. RCG’s definition includes Putnam County and Rockland County in New York and Bergen County, Hudson County, and Passaic County in Northern New Jersey and excludes Fairfield County in Connecticut.

Predecessor Definition

Our predecessor is not a legal entity but rather a combination of (i) controlling interests in (a) 16 office and retail properties, (b) one development parcel, and (c) certain management companies, which are owned by certain entities that the sponsors (Anthony E. Malkin and Peter L. Malkin) own interests in and control, which we collectively refer to as the controlled entities, and (ii) non-controlling interests in four office properties (which include two of the 16 properties set forth in (i) above), held through entities we collectively refer to as the non-controlled entities, and are presented as uncombined entities in our combined financial statements. Specifically, the term “our predecessor” means (i) Malkin Holdings LLC, a New York limited liability company that acts as the supervisor of, and performs various asset management services and routine administration with respect to, certain of the existing entities (as described below), which we refer to as “the supervisor;” (ii) the limited liability companies or limited partnerships that currently (a) own, directly or indirectly and either through a fee interest or a long-term leasehold in the underlying land, and/or (b) operate, directly or indirectly and through a fee interest, an operating lease, an operating sublease or an operating sub-sublease, the 18 office and retail properties (which include non-controlling interests in four office properties for which Malkin Holdings LLC acts as the supervisor but that are not consolidated into our predecessor for accounting purposes) and

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entitled land that will support the development of an approximately 380,000 rentable square foot office building and garage that we will own after the formation transactions described in this prospectus, which we refer to as the “existing entities;” (iii) Malkin Properties, L.L.C., a New York limited liability company that serves as the manager and leasing agent for certain of the existing entities in Manhattan, which we refer to as “Malkin Properties;” (iv) Malkin Properties of New York, L.L.C., a New York limited liability company that serves as the manager and leasing agent for certain of the existing entities in Westchester County, New York, which we refer to as “Malkin Properties NY;” (v) Malkin Properties of Connecticut, Inc., a Connecticut corporation that serves as the manager and leasing agent for certain of the existing entities in the State of Connecticut, which we refer to as “Malkin Properties CT;” and (vi) Malkin Construction Corp., a Connecticut corporation that is a general contractor and provides services to certain of the existing entities and third parties (including certain tenants at the properties in our portfolio), which we refer to as “Malkin Construction.” The term “our predecessor’s management companies” refers to the supervisor, Malkin Properties, Malkin Properties NY, Malkin Properties CT and Malkin Construction, collectively. Our predecessor accounts for its investment in the non-controlled entities under the equity method of accounting.

Class A and Class B Common Stock and Operating Partnership Units

Following this offering, our company will have two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Operating partnership units have economic rights similar to the Class A common stock but do not have the right to vote on matters presented to holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The continuing investors that had an option to elect operating partnership units at the time they made their election of consideration in the formation transactions had an option to elect to receive one share of Class B common stock instead of one operating partnership unit for every 50 operating partnership units such continuing investor would otherwise receive in the consolidation. The Class B common stock provides its holder with a voting right that is no greater than if such holder had received solely Class A common stock in the consolidation. Each outstanding share of Class B common stock entitles the holder thereof to 50 votes on all matters on which Class A common stockholders are entitled to vote, including the election of directors, and holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class. Each share of Class B common stock has the same economic interest as a share of Class A common stock, and one share of Class B common stock and 49 operating partnership units together represent a similar economic value as 50 shares of Class A common stock. One share of Class B common stock may be converted into one share of Class A common stock at any time, and one share of Class B common stock is subject to automatic conversion into one share of Class A common stock upon a direct or indirect transfer of such share of Class B common stock or certain transfers of the operating partnership units held by the holder of Class B common stock (or a permitted transferee thereof) to a person other than a permitted transferee. We intend to apply to have our Class A common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ESB.” Unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, the term “common stock” as used herein means both our Class A and Class B common stock. For a description of the material terms of our common stock, see “Description of Securities.”

Interests in our operating partnership are denominated in units of limited partnership interest. Following this offering and the formation transactions, our operating partnership will have two classes of limited partnership interest—operating partnership units and LTIP units. The operating partnership units will have four series—Series PR operating partnership units, Series ES operating partnership units, Series 60 operating partnership units and Series 250 operating partnership units, which we refer either collectively, or with respect to one or more series, as the “operating partnership units,” as the context requires or indicates. Operating partnership units are redeemable for cash, or at our election, exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. As used herein, when we refer to our ownership interest in our operating partnership, we mean the percentage of all operating partnership units that are expected to be held by us. We will hold only Series PR operating partnership units. When we refer to operating partnership units to be held by the Malkin Group and continuing investors in the private existing entities, we mean Series PR operating partnership units, which will not be listed on a national securities exchange. When we refer to operating partnership units to be held by continuing investors in the public existing entities, we mean Series ES operating partnership units, Series 60

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operating partnership units and Series 250 operating partnership units, which we intend to apply to have listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “ESBA,” “OGCP,” and “FISK,” respectively.

The term “fully diluted basis” means all outstanding shares of our Class A common stock at such time plus shares of Class A common stock that may be issuable upon the exchange of operating partnership units on a one-for-one basis and shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of Class B common stock on a one-for-one basis, which is not the same as the meaning of “fully diluted” under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. The term “owns” in respect of ownership of securities of our company means the direct beneficial ownership of such securities or the ability to control the vote or disposition of such securities.

IPO Grants Under our Equity Incentive Plan

Upon completion of this offering, we expect to grant LTIP units and/or restricted shares of our Class A common stock (at the grantee’s discretion) to our independent directors, executive officers (other than Anthony E. Malkin) and certain other employees, which will be subject to time-based and/or performance-based vesting over a three to four year period. The aggregate number of LTIP units/shares we intend to grant to such individuals, including a total of          LTIP units and/or restricted shares of our Class A common stock which we intend to grant to our independent directors, will be in an amount equal to 1.5% of the gross proceeds raised in this offering (excluding proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock) divided by the initial public offering price. Assuming we receive gross proceeds from this offering of $         (excluding proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock), which is based on an initial public offering price of $         per share (the mid-point of the price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus), the aggregate number of LTIP units and/or restricted shares of our Class A common stock we intend to grant to our independent directors, executive officers (other than Anthony E. Malkin) and certain other employees will be          units/shares and will have an aggregate dollar value of $        .

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use non-GAAP financial measures in this prospectus. For definitions and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Net Operating Income, “—Funds from Operations” and “—EBITDA.”

Miscellaneous

The term “reposition” means the strategic improvement of one or more of the following characteristics of a building: (i) tenant type, composition and credit quality, (ii) aggregate rentable square feet, (iii) average space leased per tenant, (iv) aggregate space leased, (v) lease term, (vi) average rent per square foot, (vii) aggregate rental revenue and/or (viii) branding and associated marketing efforts, and requires significant capital expenditures for physical improvements to the building and its amenities.

The term “Malkin Group” means all of the following, as a group: Anthony E. Malkin, Peter L. Malkin and each of their spouses and lineal descendants (including spouses of such descendants), any estates of any of the foregoing, any trusts now or hereafter established for the benefit of any of the foregoing, or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity controlled by Anthony E. Malkin or any permitted successor in such entity for the benefit of any of the foregoing; provided, however that solely with respect to tax protection rights and parties who entered into the contribution agreements described in this prospectus, the Malkin Group shall also include the lineal descendants of Lawrence A. Wien and his spouse (including spouses of such descendants), any estates of the foregoing, any trusts now or hereafter established for the benefit of any of the foregoing, or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity controlled by Anthony E. Malkin for the benefit of the foregoing.

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We refer to Anthony E. Malkin, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, David A. Karp, our Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer, Thomas P. Durels, our Executive Vice President and Chief of Property Operations and Leasing, and Thomas N. Keltner, Jr., our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, collectively as our “senior management team.”

The term “the Helmsley estate” means the interests of the estate of Leona M. Helmsley (including any interests in the existing entities transferred from the Helmsley estate to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust).

Enterprise Value

The term “enterprise value” means our total market capitalization based on the mid-point of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, on a fully diluted basis, plus our pro forma total consolidated indebtedness less our pro forma cash and cash equivalents based on March 31, 2013 pro forma outstanding balances.

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