Hotel Chandler, New York City: A Boutique Hotel That Closed in 2017
Hotel Chandler, the boutique hotel on East 31st Street in Midtown Manhattan, no longer takes bookings: it was set to close at the end of 2017, when the city planned to turn it into a shelter. For a boutique stay in New York today, two verified options are listed below.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hotel | Hotel Chandler |
| Location | East 31st Street, Midtown Manhattan, near the Empire State Building |
| Size | 148 rooms |
| Typical rate before closing | More than $400 a night (2017 report) |
| Status | Closed to guests around the end of 2017 |
About Hotel Chandler
When we first featured it, we described the Hotel Chandler as a place to pick for something with character rather than a chain room. Its own description called it:
“a a secret gem at the intersection of the Flatiron District and Murray Hill”
“Hotel Chandler, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is located between the Empire State Building, Madison Square Park, Penn Station and Times Square, providing comfortable accommodations and upscale amenities within minutes of the city’s premier business and leisure destinations”
The closure
In November 2017 the city announced plans to use the hotel as a shelter for about 170 adult families, run by a nonprofit operator, opening in January 2018. The city said it was not buying the building. The hotel was described at the time as a 148-room property charging over $400 a night.
We have found no reliable reporting on a reopening as a hotel, so we treat the Hotel Chandler as closed. The old website is no longer reachable.
Where to stay instead
If you want that small-hotel feel in Manhattan, two options have working official sites in 2026:
- The Iroquois New York, 49 West 44th Street: 118 rooms and suites, part of the Triumph Hotels collection and listed with Small Luxury Hotels. Its own page showed a best rate of $658 on an unspecified date, so check dates yourself.
- The Mercer, 147 Mercer Street in SoHo: 73 rooms and suites in a historic building from 1890. It does not publish rates outside its booking tool.
Keep reading
- What it really costs to live in a hotel: the math on long stays in a big city
- Best luxury hotels in Cape Town: another city, more small luxury hotels
FAQ
Is Hotel Chandler in New York still open?
No. The 148-room hotel at East 31st Street was set to close to guests at the end of 2017, and the city planned to use it as a shelter for families.
Where was Hotel Chandler?
It was on East 31st Street in Midtown Manhattan, near the Empire State Building, in the Flatiron and Murray Hill area.
How much did a night at Hotel Chandler cost?
Before it closed, rooms reportedly cost more than $400 a night.
What boutique hotel can I book instead?
Two options with current official sites are The Iroquois New York on West 44th Street (118 rooms, a Small Luxury Hotels member) and The Mercer in SoHo (73 rooms).
What is at the old Hotel Chandler address now?
Reports that the building has reopened under another hotel name are unconfirmed, so we do not name a current operator.
Last updated: October 2026.
