The Chatwal, New York City

This hotel is simply gorgeous, I was in their junior suite and really wanted to just move in! Beautiful rooms and excellent customer service. Room service was presented very elegantly and the restaurant downstairs is a must try! I will definitely be staying at the Chatwal again.

The Chatwal, is the definition of over-​the-​top luxury hotel.
No I didn’t win the billion-​dollar Powerball jackpot, but I have dreamed of what would I do with all that money.
And I don’t have a deep pocket, but I’m travel enthusiast, and a sucker for luxurious accommodations– as much as I can afford.
At the Chatwal, I had the pleasure to vacation like a star, with almost heavy $ 500 rate per night. I made my reservation through Expedia, and as a +gold member, and I received a conformation email regarding a welcome exclusive amenity, free butler service and 2 garment presses per stay. Also, as a +gold member, I was eligible for a room upgrade, if available — unfortunately, there was none– Sigh! Our room was not ready, so the friendly desk clerk gave us another room (We checked in around 4pm.) I didn’t see any complimentary amenity in the room though. WHY!!! There was a welcoming letter in the room under another person’s name, I wonder if it was there by mistake, I still want mine though :(
Enough about the introduction, let’s talk about how amazing the 1920s glamorous room really was …
Besides the high quality bed, the down duvets & pillows, and remote-​controlled curtains, the real draw was the TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. Yes ladies, because we all know its not luxury unless we are watching sex and the city while we put on our make-​up.
P.S:
I forgot to mention what will make you head spin, the high tech toilet: It had a heated seat, and front & back warm spray (bidet-​like.) Talk about comfort and cleanliness.
P. S.S:
Two minor thing I kinda didn’t like about this stunning hotel:
— No coffeemaker in the room.
— No bathtubs.
The location of the Chatwal, is a KILLER! Right off Times Square. So, if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, this will NOT be a waste.
Five Unilocal New Yorkers.

I spent dear money for this place only to be put in a box for a room and the front desk staff was not educated enough about the city to explain all of what we needed! I can’t say anything good except find another hotel and stay clear of this rip off.

I have partnered up with the some of the top branded hotels in the world in my line of work. I must say The Chatwal is one of the top three best hotels I’ve ever experienced!!! That’s a lot to say from someone like myself :) I provide constructive and honest feedback, plus I’m hard to win over :) This boutique style, cozy, beautifully decorated, European inspired hotel is truly one of a kind! From personally meeting the doorman all the way to Mr. Chatwal himself… everyone showed a strong sense of professionalism and genuineness. I was thoroughly impressed by the level of detail and customer service. We will definitely be back. I will highly promote this hotel to my clients!!! Thank you to everyone at The Chatwal for a memorable experience!
Also, a quick but noteworthy mention of the Lambs Club. Speechless! I have eaten 3 meals there and everything was just superb. I don’t have a single complaint. the chef (Geoffrey Zakarian)…pure genius!

Deducted two stars because their overall customer service was lacking. There was a young woman at the front desk who was incredibly rude. And while this sounds snobby my booking profile notes high floor away from elevators. I was put in the third floor right next to the elevator. The rooms are super small even by nyc standards. Many of the channels don’t work presumably bc of the floor I was on.
The shower is great. The doorman was helpful. And the head of janitorial services was the nicest, helping me with my bags and just a pleasant guy.

Not worth the cost, and have advised my colleagues against for business travel. Had stayed at the St Regis the week before for roughly the same rate and found it a much more customer-​friendly experience.
Pros
— lobby is pretty
— bed was comfortable
— fancy Japanese robo toilet
Cons
— phone in room didn’t work
— nobody at front desk when I tried to resolve
— couldn’t order room service as a result (yes I tried to order room service from the restaurant and they thought I was a kook)
— valet downstairs wasn’t successful at getting me a cab or car
— inconvenient location of outlets in room, not enough at desk
Other stuff
— ugh Times Square
— did I have butler service? I honestly don’t know but I think I did

Beautiful hotel in a convenient Midtown location. I was here for an advisory board meeting and was delighted they chose a SPG Luxury Collection hotel. We loved the Art Deco décor and touches, the staff was professional and polished and the rooms were just lovely. This place costs a pretty penny, but it is worth the splurge while visiting NYC!

What a genuinely lovely hotel! It’s located in the heart of Manhattan within easy walking distance of Time Square, Broadway, Rockefeller Center and more. The staff is absolutely perfect, charming and offer impeccable service. The butler service is top notch, and the entire staff strives to take care of your every need before you even notice you need something. When we went to breakfast in the incredibly delicious Lamb’s Club dinning room, the maid service had already serviced our room before we came back from breakfast. We were greeted by name from each of the staff each time we came through the lobby, and every person at the hotel was helpful and offered great advice on places to eat, directions to attractions, where to find the subway station, etc.
The room was sublime! From the heated toilet seat to the turn down service in the evening, no detail is overlooked. The rooms feature leather and suede covered walls and the most decadent bathroom! The bed was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in at a hotel, and the linens are silky soft and don’t smell like bleach.
I can’t say enough good things about The Chatwal. Do yourself a favor and spoil yourself with a stay in this treasure. It’s a perfect hotel and the staff is the most wonderful group of service-​minded people, happy to help make your stay a cherished memory.

My husband and I stayed with our two year old daughter at the Chatwal in New York City. We were excited for our daughter to experience New York and wanted a hotel that was walking distance to the Big Apple’s many attractions. The Chatwal is just a block from Times Square but is a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. As soon as the doorman opens the doors into the quiet, air conditioned lobby, you are transported to a calm, relaxed atmosphere to unwind from a busy day of meetings and/​or sightseeing. The rooms are quite large for NYC, well appointed with exquisite linens, and offer plenty of storage. They are actually silent and can be made very dark with blackout curtains. The room lights dim with the touch of a button by the bed. Next to each side of the bed is a convenient reading light. The bathrooms are sparkling (literally, the marble has sparkles in it!), the rain shower is spa-​like, and the toilet seats are heated!
But where the Chatwal really shines is with its staff. I can’t say enough good things about how accommodating and friendly they are. You are greeted warmly each time you step into the lobby. A big heartfelt thanks to Michael and Manpreet for making friends with our daughter — they made our stay so memorable! We left one of our daughter’s stuffed animals in the room when we went out one night and the housekeeping staff tucked him into bed for the night. She was so happy to see that he was taken care of! We will definitely return to this wonderful hotel!

As a platinum SPG member for years I was very excited when my dear friend selected The Chatwal as the spot for her bachelorette party. This hotel is very pricey and claims to come with a butler. First off, the room reservations were mixed up, the front desk lost the welcome presents from the bride and then the alleged «butler» did not help with any of our simple requests. For the price of this place you can stay anywhere in NYC. And, you would think they would treat loyal SPG members better. I would not stay here again and I would not recommend any friends to stay here.
The room décor was lovely but, that is about it.

Axel, you have no shame! Not only did you not «proactively» look for me to address my concerns, when I met you in the lobby you were being very evasive. I specifically had to ask you who you were what was your capacity several times when you blindly offered your help as I was leaving and I was waiting for my towncar to the airport in the lobby!
Furthermore when I asked you as to why you had not tried to contact me or remedy some of the shortfalls, your less then truthful answer was that you didn’t know who I was and you assumed (that prefix is a good word for you) that I wanted to be anonymous!!!
Like many other reviewers have suggested Axel, you don’t care. Be honest with yourself and your employer and let them know you’re best served put to pasture. You were rude, you were obnoxious and you were condescending. There is no room for debate here as you have no right being in a service industry. The attitude starts with you and goes all the way to your racist concierge and callus room service server.
Lastly I have you know that I specifically complained about the room I was in the first night I checked in and I was told that I had no options even after I mentioned that I would gladly pay any additional charges.
Don’t be a coward Axel, tell the truth!

I found this hotel online. Great reviews and lived up to it… For my wife and I. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left we were taken care of… Staff introduced themselves to us and made us feel comfortable and safe. We booked a suite which was ready when we arrived. Amazing bathrooms by the way. Service 10 rooms 10. Only thing I would skip is the restaurant the Lamb club. Great Christmas in ny. Thank you Chatwal

Found the Chatwal as part of the Starwood SPG Luxury Collection.
Beautiful property on W 44^nd just off Times Square. The location can be a plus or a minus depending on the reason your in the city… more on that later.
Interesting Vib to the place… not quite hipster… not quite Gatsby… not quite speakeasy…
But a blend of all that works…
The staff was excellent… doormen, front desk, and housekeeping… spot on !
The room small, but standard by NYC comparison. Well appointed with one of the most unique and useful closets i have seen
The bathroom was gorgeous. All the walls are beveled mirrors and a huge rainfall shower. and the heated bidet/​toilet combo… well you have to experience it …
Room service breakfast was good, not great… but good.
Drinks at the Lambs Club off the lobby were well crafted and served with a smile… go to the second floor bar area… much less hectic…
.
My only complaint is the difficultly in getting a taxi or even a Über on W 44^th.
The property is located on a one way leading away from Times Square. In the evening it is very difficult for any vehicle to make it past the hotel. Most times we walked to or were dropped off at 6^th ave and W44 and walked the half block.
Not the hotels fault… the doormen must get extremely frustrated standing in the street trying to hail a cab of inpatient guests.
So if your in town for Times Square /​Theater District fun or business close by… great close walking location
But if your planning on lots of short trips by car from here… well… give yourself a few extra minutes

A oasis of calm and genteel grace in the heart of the theater district/​Times Square
The staff was A+ the rooms quiet, clean and luxurious.
A real gem!

Love this hotel. Small high end boutique. Located conveniently to theater district. Elegant colonial art deco design. High end technology including electric shades, mood lighting and flat screen. Luxury bedding and lovely bathroom, w rain shower. Even a Toto Japanese bidet. All fixtures, furniture, tile bedding top notch. Great service and friendly staff.

Nicest boutique hotel that I have ever stayed in. Upscale décor and huge rooms! Not only were the rooms exquisite, they were quiet. You would never know Times Square was 100yrds away. Staff was first class. They spent a ton of money on the rooms and it shows. My favorite hotel in NYC!

NEW YORK CITY: I am with SPG and found this place through their site. I had medium-​high expectations and they were exceeded:
1. The front desk staff were very courteous and pleasant and checked me in very fast
2. Upon arriving at my floor, a cleaning staff member was vacuuming the floor. Upon seeing me he immediately stopped, killed the vacuum, smiled and greeted me. Nice.
3. The room is gorgeous. The bathroom exquisite. A little dark, terrific bed, suede walls, ample closet space and a beautiful view.
4. Turn down service gave me chocolates and a personalized note
5. They helped me out quickly in the morning for my airport getaway.
Fully enjoyed my stay.

If you’re an SPG member looking for a higher end option to use your points at, I’m not sure I can recommend the Chatwal based on a 50% Premium over the W. It’s a great, luxury boutique hotel, but I’m not sure it’s worth the premium. Here’s some quick thoughts:
— Japanese Toilet Seat in a pretty impressive bathroom
— Weak Breakfast Benefit for Platinums
— Great bar to grab a drink at on two
— Negatives: Hard European beds (not Heavenly or W Beds), Thins Walls & «Butler Service» that’s underwhelming compared to the St. Regis
This property somewhat reminded me of the Blackstone in Chicago in terms of being modern luxury with some historic undertones. My favorite (chain) luxury property in NYC is still the Conrad in Battery Park.

I had high hopes for this place as it comes with a butler service. That’s why I chose it for a special occasion — my bachelorette party. A total of six of us flew in from San Francisco.
However, things took a nose dive as soon as we arrived. I got there first, handed over gifts to the front desk staff, and asked that they give one each to my girlfriends upon check-​in, as a «welcome to my bachelorette party» favor.
They did that alright — but, they failed to mention that the gift came from ME. So my friends all thought it was a complimentary gift from the hotel itself… and I had to explain. So yes, frustration, from the very first moment.
And it got worse from there. As the rooms weren’t ready for check in, they had to hold our luggage as we went shopping for the day. When we returned in the late afternoon, they had placed the suitcases in our suites, but managed to LOSE ONE OF THE GIFTS already. They made an effort to locate it but never succeeded. Two days later, after I checked out, one of the hotel managers did email me to follow up and offer to buy a replacement gift — but she NEVER DID until I reminded her again a week later, even though I was away in Europe. Seriously, I despise having to babysit when *I’m* the one paying for a service.
Now, let’s talk about the «butler» service. Let’s just say among other things, our butlers told us they couldn’t get us cupcakes even though later on we discovered there’s a Magnolia’s Cupcakes literally two blocks away from the hotel. Simply put, I don’t understand how their butler service was any better than a typical hotel concierge… in fact, it seemed worse.
In all fairness, they did do a few things right as well, such as 1. steaming my evening gown and 2. working out a kink with the spa downstairs (which, by the way, you should skip altogether. It didn’t feel «lux» at ALL). But then again, at the prices I paid, I EXPECTED excellent, professional service — and what we received was anything but.
I don’t mind places charging $$$$ as long as the service can match it, but the Chatwal utterly failed at that. It felt like I paid for good champagne but got beer instead. A word to the management team — train your staff! Or pay top dollars to get the professionals who already know what they’re doing. As you know, it’s much easier to get a repeat customer than win a new one, so it’s in your interest to make every stay pleasant.

Had the privilege and honor to meet and talk with Geoffrey Zakarian for about half an hour privately in the lobby area of The Chatwal. He was extremely personable, engaging, authentic, and both interesting and interested in the conversation and all the experiences I was having in NYC. Some of the neat discussion topics include:
+ How far in advance various Food Network shows are filmed, i.e. Geoffrey had just finished filming some Chopped to be aired in about 6 to 9 months
+ Next Iron Chef, it’s real, not staged, what you see is really it, no retakes and no preparation, the outcome is uncertain
+ Next Iron Chef and how Alex became his sous chef for his first Kitchen Stadium Iron Chef battle
+ Next Iron Chef and the use of the powdered sugar on the soufflé
+ Another Next Iron Chef in the fall
+ His restaurants
+ A lot of the food on Chopped isn’t really that good, except Lance’s was good
+ A little bit about family
+ How much charity work Geoffrey is involved in (and a lot of the Food Network chefs)
+ Twitter
+ Tips for various restaurants to try