In a twist that blends nostalgia with a bold leap forward, Philippe Chow, the lavish New York icon famed for its Beijing duck and glittering celebrity diners, will bid farewell to its Upper East Side home on July 13. Forced out by luxury real estate plans, the restaurant now prepares to unveil a grand new flagship near Central Park, opening September 2025 at 10 East 52nd Street. As legal dust settles and skyscrapers rise, Philippe Chow quietly reshapes its future — with richer décor, greater space, and the same signature flair.

 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Upper East Side location closes July 13 after nearly 20 years

• New flagship opens September 2025 at 10 East 52nd Street, Midtown East

• Extell to raze original site for Central Park skyscraper

• All legal disputes between Philippe Chow and Extell resolved

• New space to feature 220 seats, private dining, vaulted ceilings, wine cellar

• Downtown Meatpacking location remains open

• Recent expansion includes D.C., Kuwait City, and soon Nashville

In a city where dining institutions rise and fall like the tides of real estate, the name Philippe Chow has long stood firm — a luxurious retreat of Beijing duck, crystal chandeliers, and discreet celebrity sightings on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. But after nearly two decades of opulent service at 33 East 60th Street, the restaurant is closing its original location on Sunday, July 13, in what marks both the end of a glamorous chapter and the beginning of a bold new one.

This development, however, was not born of culinary reinvention or artistic evolution, but rather of shifting real estate tides. Extell Development Co., the restaurant’s new landlord, acquired the prized block late last year and soon exercised its right to terminate Philippe Chow’s lease within 120 days. The plan? To demolish the block and raise a posh skyscraper as part of the ever-growing skyline of Billionaire’s Row — one that promises sweeping views of Central Park and, likely, a new league of luxury tenants.

Despite an initial lease termination date of March 24, Philippe Chow continued operations past the deadline. This prompted Extell to file a legal complaint against its parent company, Merchant Hospitality, citing unpaid rent and fines. But tensions did not linger long.

“We have reached an amicable agreement with the landlord and all outstanding litigations have been resolved,”
said Abraham Merchant, CEO of Merchant Hospitality, in a statement to Eater on June 17.

With the legal matters laid to rest, attention now shifts to the future. Philippe Chow will reemerge in a new flagship space at 10 East 52nd Street, set to open in September 2025 — a symbolic restart coinciding with its 20th anniversary. The move lands the restaurant just off Fifth Avenue, tucked beneath the shimmering canopy of Central Park and Midtown’s luxury corridor.

The new space will span 7,000 square feet over two floors, offering guests elevated aesthetics and expanded amenities. Designed by 3877.Design, the flagship will boast soaring vaulted ceilings, a sweeping bar, private dining rooms, a wine cellar, and elevator access. The new layout will seat 220 diners, twenty more than its predecessor.

Regulars and newcomers alike can expect the same menu of opulent favorites — including the famed tableside-carved duck, spicy chicken satay, and salt-and-pepper lobster — all presented with the brand’s hallmark precision and style.

Meanwhile, Philippe Chow’s Downtown location in the Meatpacking District, nestled within the Dream Hotel, remains unaffected and continues regular operations. The restaurant group is also expanding beyond New York, following recent openings in Washington D.C. (2023) and Kuwait City (2024), with Nashville set to launch in August 2025.

Despite its looming departure from East 60th Street, the restaurant remains a magnet for A-list guests. In recent months, stars such as rapper Gucci Mane and New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. have been spotted enjoying the cuisine that helped define Philippe Chow’s legacy.

Now, as demolition plans move forward and construction cranes take over its former block, the brand prepares to rise again — with fresh polish, familiar flavors, and a front-row seat to Manhattan’s future.

As Philippe Chow prepares to close the doors of its iconic Upper East Side location, it does so not in retreat but in evolution. What began as a glittering dining destination nearly two decades ago is now set to rise anew—grander, sleeker, and more centrally positioned in Midtown East. With legal hurdles behind and a new flagship on the horizon, the brand signals its resilience in the face of shifting cityscapes. Philippe Chow’s next chapter promises not only continuity of flavor but an elevated experience in the heart of Manhattan.