The Best Hotels to Book Near the Chrysler Building

The flagship of the prestigious Library Hotel Collection, this retreat lives up to its name – literally. Each of the 10 floors has classic, elegant rooms filled with dozens of books that correspond to one of the 10 major categories of the Dewey Decimal system. To find out more about the Chrysler Building, or other New York landmarks, request a stay in room 900.005 ,where books are devoted to geography and travel. Room 700.001 holds tomes on architecture. Find a nook in the 24-hour reading room, enjoy complimentary tea and a snack and settle in for a good read.

The grown-up version of a hostel, pared down and spruced up, Pod 39 is a favorite with millennials and families alike. Not a true Japanese pod, but on the smaller side, each room is an exercise in space-saving that still manages to provide an ensuite, work desk and plenty of storage. The queen plus mini bunk combination is perfect for families. There’s room to stretch out or enjoy a game of air hockey in the playroom lounge.

The best place to get sleepy is the Westin, where a good night’s slumber is their prime directive. Their Heavenly Bed is augmented by a Sleep Well menu of products. Lavender balm calms jet-lagged nerves, bedtime snacks are tailored to send you to dreamland, and candles and diffusers waft their signature scent of white tea, cedar and vanilla. Wake refreshed in your clean, contemporary room, ready to ask the concierge for a running map.

A haven for artistic souls since 1929, the Roger Smith fills its rooms, hallways and restaurants with art, music and discussion. Decor leans to the traditional with brass or four-poster beds, antiques and floral wallpaper. Be inspired by the Chrysler Building, four blocks down Lexington, or the glass-floored Summit One Vanderbilt observation deck at Grand Central Terminal, 1,400ft (427m) in the air.

48LEX has the combination you need, from double queen-bed rooms with a kitchenette, dishwasher, fridge and microwave, to connecting rooms for families. The Terrace Salon has one eponymous terrace, but the House Floor Penthouse tops them all with two sitting and dining spaces, two work areas, a standalone hand-carved soaker tub and multiple terraces. Plan your route from the 23rd floor to Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art and the Chrysler Building – all within a 20-minute walk.

The Lexington Hotel and the Chrysler Building are art deco sisters that climbed to the skies during the 1930s building boom. The decor in the rooms and suites harks back to the Jazz Era with striking graphic wallpapers, and a mix of comfy four-poster beds and mid-century modern furniture. Details from the past abound, such as the intricately carved brass elevator doors, and windows that open to let in the sights and sounds of New York. Ask for the suite where Marilyn Monroe took up residence.

Make Club Quarters your headquarters for a short or long stay in New York. Centrally located in Midtown, it’s only a short walk to the United Nations complex or Grand Central Terminal. Extended-stay guests will find a kitchen with a cooktop, microwave and fridge. Every room has a yoga mat and resistance bands to keep wellness top of mind. The hotel is very mobility and hearing accessible, and offers rooms with either roll-in showers or tubs. As a plus, pups are welcome.

Across the street from bustling Bryant Park, the Andaz rises above Fifth Avenue with expansive views of the city from its rooms and suites, which are larger than the New York norm. Admire the lions of the New York Public Library from a terrace suite or the Empire State Building from a corner suite. All rooms have 12ft (3.6m)-high ceilings, chaise and travertine baths. A complimentary wine hour adds to the elegant ambiance.

The Millennium’s mirrored lobby and Ambassador Grill are NYC Interior Landmarks. The hotel is a favorite with diplomats – it’s so close to United Nations Headquarters that you can see the flags snapping in the breeze. There are also excellent views of the boats cruising the East River from many rooms. The restful cream and taupe color scheme is accented by comfy leather wingback chairs, placed near the windows for a better view.

The former Williams College gentlemen’s club of 1924 has been reimagined by the talented designers of the William. Every floor has a different monochromatic color scheme, and every room sports a fully equipped kitchen, state-of-the-art technology and little extras such as L’Occitane bath products and rain shower baths. The main floor remains a bastion of club style with wood-paneled walls and marble fireplaces. Don’t miss the Raines Law Room, where service is summoned with a bell from behind curtained individual booths.