One of the oldest neighborhoods in Manhattan to still bear its original name, Chelsea is full of beloved NYC history and thriving businesses. The author of “The Night Before Christmas,” Clement Clarke Moore, is considered the founder of the neighborhood. Between the picturesque brownstones, beautiful High Line, incredible restaurants and tons of cultural activities, there are tons of things to love about Chelsea. We created our ultimate guide to NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood, so you can enjoy a perfect day in one of the best districts of the Empire City.
See also: The Ultimate West Village & Greenwich Village Guide
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226 W 23rd St. / 212.518.1843 / Website
This Spanish restaurant and cocktail lounge has been delivering delicious eats and great drinks since 1930. Located inside Hotel Chelsea, we love their cozy, elevated interiors and the tapas-style menu that lends itself perfectly to dinner with friends. This is also a great date night spot, and be sure to give the sangria a try.
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180 9th Ave. / 646.843.9711 / Website
This Middle Eastern restaurant provides fresh, bright cuisine in a beautiful space drenched with sunlight. We love the Kofta and the Makloubeh, a dish made of basmati rice, lamb stew, eggplant, cauliflower, carrots and tomatoes. You also can’t go wrong with the housemade hummus or baba ganoush.
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156 10th Ave. / 212.924.4440 / Website
This bustling Chelsea eatery serves farm-to-table food crafted using the finest local ingredients from all over the Northeast. The seasonal menus change frequently, but always remain delicious. We love this neighborhood favorite for brunch, where the buttermilk-cornmeal pancakes and egg sandwiches never disappoint.
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255 W. 16th St. / 212.229.2559 / Website
Topped with a buzzy indoor-outdoor rooftop bar and filled with porthole windows below, Dream Downtown served as the National Maritime Union headquarters during the 1960s. Nowadays, the boutique hotel is a hotbed of nightlife, luxurious amenities, unique event spaces and oh-so-comfortable guest rooms.
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848 Washington St. / 212.645.4646 / Website
NYC knows and loves The Standard for its great food and beverage offerings combined with comfortable guest rooms, and The Standard, High Line doesn’t disappoint. Sweeping views of Manhattan and the Hudson River are seen through floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the 338 guest rooms, and Le Bain and Boom Boom Room are always a good time.
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222 W. 23rd St. / 212.483.1010 / Website
This Chelsea mainstay has been a neighborhood staple since the 1880s and has been super buzzy ever since receiving a style revamp from new owners Sean MacPherson, Ira Drukier and Richard Born. We love the space for its incredible history, glamorous vintage guestrooms and fabulous food and beverage offerings.
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23rd St. and 10th Ave. / 212.500.6035 / Website
Truly a revolutionary urban revitalization project, the High Line is an abandoned freight line converted into a foliage-lined elevated parkway featuring tons of gorgeous art installations. It runs right through Chelsea, making it a great place to enjoy some good weather.
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62 Chelsea Piers / 212.336.6666 / Website
With tons of fitness classes, sports and events constantly taking place, Chelsea Piers is a great place to relax, meet new people and build community. Enjoy a yoga class in the beautiful studio spaces, try your hand at rock climbing or grab a racquet for some pickleball.
W. 27th St and 9th Ave. / 212.639.9675 / Website
Basketball courts, baseball diamonds, handball courts and plenty of green space make Chelsea Park one of the most popular parks in lower Manhattan. On a hot summer day, this park is sure to be packed full of kids enjoying the spray showers and adults lounging in the shade.
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75 9th Ave. / 212.652.2111 / Website
Beloved by locals and tourists alike, Chelsea Market is full of incredible restaurants, shops and more. Spend the afternoon exploring the massive indoor food and retail marketplace and feel free to load up on artisanal cheeses and local produce while you’re at it.
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88 10th Ave. / 917.488.0044 / Website
This market features over 30 tastemakers, experience creators, designers, collectors and curators. Located directly below the High Line, Artists & Fleas always provides an entertaining afternoon, as you never know what you’ll find.
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140 9th Ave. / 212.255.0022 / Website
This European-inspired home accessories shop sits behind a charming wrought iron fence on the ground level of a historic Chelsea townhouse. The carefully curated wares are always uber-chic and one-of-a-kind, making Maison 140 your one-stop shop for all things home decor.
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226 W. 23rd St. / 212.483.1010 / Website
Upscale interiors, craft cocktails and small plates await at the Lobby Bar at The Hotel Chelsea. Hotel guests are welcome to make reservations one week in advance, while this hotspot is walk-ins only for the general public.
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48 W. 17th St. / Website
Owned by the same people as Dear Irving, Raines Law Room serves up fabulous cocktails. This Prohibition-era-inspired bar has a semi-secret entrance, so ring the doorbell to be immediately transported to a ‘20’s-inspired plush cocktail lounge.
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174 8th Ave. / 646.868.8422 / Website
Manhattan or the tropics? You won’t be able to tell inside of this cocktail lounge serving up bright, fresh flavors inside of its sun-drenched space. We highly recommend the Devil I Know, made with Tanteo jalapeño tequila, Suze, Kalamansi honey, passion fruit purée, lime and Sanzo Kalamansi soda.
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315 7th Ave. / 917.477.3103 / Website
This hotspot is tucked away inside the 28th St. subway station, bringing Mediterranean energy straight into the heart of NYC. Founder Jey Perie brings experience living in Tokyo, Barcelona and the South of France for an intercontinental nightlife affair.
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132 9th Ave. / 646.559.1671 / Website
Who doesn’t love a speakeasy? The back door of Stone Street coffee shop transports you back to the 1920s, complete with dark wood finishes, damask fabrics and vintage details. We highly recommend reservations, as this neighborhood favorite tends to fill up fast.
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105 W. 28th St. / 212.888.1095 / Website
Unfettered city views of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building await at this rooftop bar sitting 35 floors above Chelsea. The botanical theme is elevated with rich floral fabrics, a copper bar, a water droplet chandelier and a show-stopping disco ball above it all.
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227 W. 27th St. / 212.217.4558 / Website
Explore the Museum at FIT’s collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present. Ranging from exhibitions focused on hip-hop to the intersection of fashion and interior design, there’s always something interesting going on at the Museum at FIT.
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150 W. 17th St. / 212.620.5000 / Website
The Rubin Museum of Art focuses on the ideas, cultures and art of Himalayan regions, allowing guests a glimpse into art that traverses Asia’s diverse cultures. Ranging from art both contemporary and ancient, you’ve never seen the Himalayan region like this before.
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555 W. 24th St. / 212.741.1111 / Website
This global gallery has multiple NYC locations and features gorgeous modern and contemporary art. With living artists such as Georg Baselitz, John Currin, Rachel Feinstein, Urs Fischer and Ellen Gallagher on display, you never know what you’ll find at a Gagosian gallery.
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75 9th Ave. / 212.627.0304 / Website
Book lovers, this one is for you, as Posman Books houses a masterful collection of fiction and nonfiction books in addition to games, toys and greeting cards. We could spend hours browsing all that this local shop has to offer.
With so many beloved businesses and NYC mainstays to enjoy, you truly can’t go wrong while in Chelsea. We can’t wait to hear about your favorite spots, so happy exploring!
Photography by: Artem Vorobiev / Getty Images
