23 Cool Things to do in Chelsea (NYC Neighborhood Guide by a Local)
Welcome to Chelsea! It may not look like it now, but the neighborhood bordered by 34th and 14th streets to the north and south, and the Hudson River and Sixth Avenue to the West and East (this is just Google Maps’ interpretation, but we’ll get into that) was once a preeminent gas manufacturing area.
Realllyyyy fun stuff, huh.
Wholesale butchers also used to call Chelsea home, but by and large the only vestige of that era is the Meatpacking District neighborhood, immediately to the south of Chelsea near the Hudson River. On paper, the history of the neighborhood doesn’t compete with the likes of Greenwich Village or the Financial District, but Chelsea has always retained a vibrant energy since its origins in the mid-18th century, and in its post-industrial era, it has blossomed into one of NYC’s cultural hotspots, on the heels of Chelsea’s LGBTQ+ community that set those foundations beginning in the late 1970s.
Today, the upscale food markets, residential buildings, theaters, art galleries and attractions represent a far cry from retired British Major Thomas Clarke’s 1750 estate which he named ‘Chelsea’ after a London Hospital. The same can be said for its meatpacking and gas factory days, although there are plenty of places to visit in Chelsea which retain much of its industrial aesthetic from that era.
In true New York fashion, the area encompasses smaller, more specific neighborhoods, including Hudson Yards, NoMad (or Flatiron), and Penn South, and their boundaries are naturally up for debate. But that’s part of the fun–you get to decide for yourself, and give your Chelsea experience its own unique flavor.
Below is an extensive list of cool things to do in Chelsea–some of which harken back to days of yore and some of which would be unrecognizable to Chelsea denizens a mere ten years ago.
Disclaimer: this post contains commissionable links.
Places to Visit in Chelsea
Chelsea Market
If you’re visiting and had planned a day in NYC itinerary that involved outdoor activities, but the weather people in the sky have wrought liquid disruption upon you and yours, look no further than the confines of Chelsea Market to skirt fate and find respite from the forces of nature. It’s one of the best things to do in NYC indoors (rainy or cold days).
What was once the original Oreo factory (Nabisco operated their plant here starting in the 1890s) is now an indoor food hall, with a brick and steel industrial look which elicits images of the Ministry of Magic from Harry Potter.
Be prepared for crowds (especially on weekends and bad weather days), but don’t let the masses get to you–people move at a slow pace in there as they weigh their dining and shopping options, and even if you’re not hungry or in need of retail therapy, you’ll find enjoyment simply in taking in the scene at one of the best places to visit in Chelsea.
Don’t forget to take a loop around the downstairs area as well–when you think you’ve seen it all at Chelsea Market, you’re probably still missing something. Food options range from street tacos to a fish market, sit-down Italian, Jamaican oxtail, an Asian-American food and retail market, a creperie and much more, and the rent is so high that if you come back in a few years you’ll probably find an entirely new swath of options.
Chelsea Market is so well established as a food and shopping mecca at this point that in recent years, it’s implemented an addendum to the market; a market within the market known as Artisans and Fleas. Local artists, artisans and business owners have set up semi-permanent booths here to cater to saunterers. You’ll mainly find relatively affordable jewelry, kitschy bags, purses, leatherwork and attire, framed artwork, and more, including a tattoo station that sometimes offers $50 deals.
It’s the perfect place to find an original gift for your kinfolk and entourage back home, or feel free to treat yourself–I wouldn’t tell you otherwise.
Or if you want to sample multiple items, consider taking a Chelsea Market food tour that also covers The High Line!
The High Line
Remember way back when in the introduction to this guide when I said that stuff about how Chelsea used to be a wholesale meatpacking haven? Well, did you know that those meatpackers also needed a way to transport their supply to wherever there was demand for it?
Econ 101, baby. How did they do this? Via the West Side Elevated Freight Line, which today has been converted into a public park and lovely place to visit in Chelsea after years of abandonment.
Just like other aspects of Chelsea (think, Diane Von Furstenberg’s Meatpacking District showroom which boasts an overhang from which meat was once hung), the High Line’s design is an homage to another time.
Along the route, which stretches from Gansevoort Street at the southern end to 34th Street at the northern end, exposed rail tracks line the way, protruding from the paved walkways. Lush, native greenery adorns the High Line as well, harkening back to a time when the tracks had been completely overgrown by I Am Legend-style plants which resulted in a similarly harsh environment to the movie.
Now, there are sculptures, artworks, seating areas, concessions, restrooms, performance areas, lookout points and more at different spots along the 1.45-mile journey, and there is truly no better way to walk off the food you’ve eaten at Chelsea Market than a stroll along the High Line.
Madison Square Garden
Some may argue over whether or not MSG is in the confines of Chelsea–some may call it Penn South, some may call it Hudson Yards and some may even say it isn’t in any neighborhood at all and exists as an entity unto itself.
Let’s just go with Chelsea, here. No matter where you want the Garden to be, it plays host to the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, as well as the St. John’s men’s basketball team sometimes, and attending any of these sporting events offers an opportunity to see not only great competition, but also real live New Yorkers shouting profanities, drinking beer and eating hot dogs, just like in the movies! A
nd, you can even join in on the fun. Beyond sports, MSG also hosts concerts, WWE events, UFC events, Rodeos, and more, including Billy Joel once a month over the last decade (his final show was in July 2024, his 150th).
However you choose to spend your time at the world’s greatest arena, it’s worth the experience–everything just feels a little more amplified at MSG, and attending an event is truly one of the most iconic things to do in Chelsea.
Whitney Museum of American Art
There is no lack of museum offerings in New York, but the Whitney is one of the best experiences you’ll find in the city. Whereas places like the Met, the MoMa and the American Museum of Natural History are great, they demand your attention for the better part of a day due to their size and reputation as some of the best museums in NYC.
And there are plenty of other niche museums that deal with one aspect of art, history, culture or another societal subdivision expertly, but might fall short with their diversity of offerings.
The Whitney acutely straddles this divide as a mid-size modern and contemporary art museum that gives you the option to stay for an hour or stay all day, and their exhibitions rotate frequently. To boot, the Whitney boasts their version of sculpture gardens around its exterior, and the metal staircases leading to each art-filled landing embody the spirit of industrial-era Chelsea while providing incredible views of the Hudson River, Chelsea and the harbor.
If the weather is nice, or even if it’s not, this is where you might get sucked in–but if you’ve got no other concrete plans for a few hours and you find yourself at a loss for what to do in Chelsea (although this situation is rare), stick around and let yourself get a little cultured, for goodness’ sake.
Admission is $30 for adults, $24 for students and seniors, free for anyone 18 and under and free to the general public on Friday nights (5-10pm) as well as all day on the second Sunday of every month.
The Edge
If you spent some time playing sentry at the Whitney and thought to yourself, “this is cool, but I’d like to go higher,” you’re in luck, because just under twenty blocks north is The Edge observation deck at 100 stories above street level. Is that high enough for you, adrenaline junkie?!
The view from The Edge is the best you’ll find in the city, or at the very least the most expansive (note: expansive, not expensive, although there is a price tag associated with it).
There are options to choose from depending on which experience you’re most into, but the base ticket comes with a free photo. There is also a champagne bar if you want to get a little bubbly at 1,100 feet, and if the MoMA is on your NYC bucket list, too, The Edge and MoMA have partnered to offer a joint entry ticket with some room for flexibility on your MoMA entry date and time (a typical MoMA ticket for adults bought online is $28, so this would save close to twenty. bucks).
If going spread eagle over The Edge’s transparent floor section, looking out over its angled glass walls at the panoramic views and toasting a glass of champagne still doesn’t feel like enough of a thrill, The Edge has also opened up “The Climb,” a more expensive (note: expensive, as well as expansive) experience to an extra 100 feet up the building that allows partakers to literally lean out over the legitimate edge, held only by a harness and their evolution-defying lack of anxiety. To each their own–I’m not telling you what to do in Chelsea, I’m only suggesting.
The Pier 57 Rooftop Park
As a local, I’ve always had to staunchly defend NYC’s green spaces, especially to friends, family, acquaintances and anyone who will listen that hails from suburban or rural areas and might look down upon our concrete playground.
Look, New York ain’t about open fields and expansive parks, but when our green spaces are nestled in unlikely locations or contrast oddly with steel towers and nearby hectic environments, their impact is felt exponentially by city-dwellers desperate for a little fresh air and relaxation.
So when out-of-towners ask for recommendations on what to do in Chelsea (or in the city at large) in an outdoor setting, I always put Pier 57 on the list.
Pier 57 is a rooftop park opened in 2023 and adds to the city’s allure and mystique in this way, offering a green hideaway with incredible views over the Hudson River in both directions.
Suitable for a picnic, a date, airing out the little ones, a photo-op or a solo reckoning with oneself (positive or negative, whichever one you happen to need in the moment), Pier 57’s rooftop offers the space for it all, on lawns, a “staircase” fit for a giant, overlook benches or in a walking loop around the perimeter. It can get windy up there, so hold onto your hat.
In addition to the park (or perhaps the park is the addition), the ground floor of Pier 57 is a food hall. You might be thinking, “wait, but isn’t Chelsea Market only a few blocks away? Why is there another food hall so close?” and that would be a valid thought, but don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Add it as a stop on the map for your Chelsea food tour and stuff your face with the delectable options available so you quit pondering out loud. Choose from various seafood options from every corner of the globe (including a raw bar), japanese karaage, an italian food and wine bar, tacos, island BBQ, dim sum and more, and then head upstairs to digest.
City Winery
Sure, there are plenty of concert venues in NYC that provide electric atmospheres you likely won’t find anywhere else in the world. MSG is certainly one of them, as well as Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Terminal 5 and countless others.
But if headbanging in a mosh pit or paying exorbitant ticket prices to watch Taylor Swift through binoculars isn’t your kind of thing, City Winery offers a much lower key environment while still showcasing some of the best talent in the world in an intimate dinner table setting.
Dinner and a show happen here simultaneously, and if your party is less than four, it’s very likely you’ll be sharing a meal and an experience with strangers sitting directly across from you.
The venue holds a few hundred souls, and whereas dinner is the accompaniment to the show, the food and wine menus do not disappoint in the slightest (it is City Winery, after all). Oh, and if you’d like to ease into the night, City Winery is at Pier 57, so you can start on the roof and head right down to the dining room/concert hall, which also has lovely views of the river, depending on where you sit.
Little Island
Just next door, one of NYC’s more recent additions to the waterfront sits atop a bevy of pillars sprouting from the Hudson’s murky depths. The Little Island is half architectural concept art, half social gathering place, half tourist attraction and half performance venue, which means it’s 200 percent a cool thing to do in Chelsea.
The entrance feels and looks like a gangway and filters crowds onto a path that winds up, down and around the pier’s elevated pillars.
There are food and beverage options (at trucks parked towards the entrance/exit), grassy areas to sit and think, interactive elements like force plate chimes you can play with your feet, stairways that lead to panoramic views of the harbor and downtown Manhattan and an outdoor amphitheater that is active during the warmer months with musical performances, plays and more.
The environment is reminiscent of a hilltown with a main square, and there is enough to do there that you can spend 15 minutes doing the loop or a few hours exploring every nook, cranny and hidden element present on the pier.
Chelsea Piers
Okay, I promise Chelsea is more than its piers, but it would be wrong not to include this steadfast collection of them which is right there in the name and has been in existence since well before the Hudson River Park Trust started flexing its muscles with additions like the Little Island and Pier 57 Rooftop.
It would be impossible to cover everything that can happen at Chelsea Piers in a paragraph or two, but I’ll do my best to share its features through a non-exhaustive list: basketball courts, batting cages, indoor turf soccer fields, a gymnastics gym, a multi-tiered driving range, bowling alleys, an arcade, two ice skating rinks, event venues (think weddings, corporate events, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc.), a rock climbing wall, sand volleyball courts, a 75-foot/6-lane pool, cafes, a roofdeck and much, much more.
It’s easy to get lost in there. Many of the features are designed for kids (birthday parties and youth sports programs abound), but Chelsea Piers also boasts a state-of-the-art, 150,000 square foot fitness center for adults which combines Chelsea Piers’ long standing identity as a sports mecca (for example, the sand volleyball courts belong to this section) with an environment fit to serve anyone looking to break a sweat, no matter your choice of workout.
Keep in mind you’ll want to book space at the athletic facilities in advance, although it’s also possible to get lucky as a walk-in.
Quick Hudson Yards Explainer
Moving north, people. Okay, a quick explainer to harken back to the introduction’s discussion on neighborhood delineations in and around Chelsea: The Vessel is very much so a part of Hudson Yards, which centers around the shopping center and residential buildings that occupy much of the area from 30th to 42nd streets, and from the Hudson River to about 9th Avenue (maybe 8th, depending on who you ask).
It has been called Far West Midtown in the past as well as Chelsea, and some will tell you that Hudson Yards is still a section of Chelsea rather than a neighborhood in its own right.
For decades, much of this neighborhood was undeveloped and centered around a train yard, which gave the neighborhood its name.
The entire project broke ground in 2012 after a commercial and residential rehashing of a plan that was originally intended to serve New York’s 2012 Olympics bid, and after only seven years opened its doors to the public. The entire area is perhaps the most modern-looking district in the city, and for good reason–it is!
The Vessel
One of the main futuristic elements of Hudson Yards is the Vessel, a conceptual art project that broke ground along with the opening of the shopping center right next door. The Vessel is an interweaving network of staircases to heaven which resembles a honeycomb, and although the view from the bottom is pretty cool, the structure itself is temporarily closed to the public.
So marvel, but don’t get your hopes up for panoramic views. Although, it’s rumored to be opening again, we shall see if it lasts.
Mercado Little Spain
A much more lively option on the ground floor of the Hudson Yards shopping center is Mercado Little Spain, a food hall/market from the mind of Chef José Andrés which flaunts an incredible variety of Spanish delicacies, quick bites, concoctions and more, all within a warmly-lit maze of counters, kiosks and restaurants.
Options range from quick-service tapas to diner food, seafood and mixologist-crafted cocktails, and the entire space offers a truly casual environment in which to indulge, whatever your price range is. If you go for one reason only, go for an ice cream-filled churro. I promise, I won’t lead you astray here.
Penn Station (Moynihan Train Hall)
Penn Station is effectively the top right corner of Chelsea (further south, Chelsea expands past Seventh Avenue, and some might even say to or past Sixth Avenue, but up here venturing any further past Eighth places you in Koreatown/Midtown) and sits below street level under Madison Square Garden.
It rivals Grand Central (and the World Trade Center/Oculus) as NYC’s largest transit hub, serving subway lines (A, C, E, 1, 2, 3), Amtrak lines, NJ Transit lines and the Long Island Rail Road, and up until very recently (the last few years) it would never have made a list like this due to its general hecticness, shoddy infrastructure and smells.
But in 2021, Moynihan Train Hall opened across the street (accessible underground as well) as an expansion to Penn Station, and it is actually a place that you’ll feel comfortable hanging out in for a few hours, whether it’s before a concert or game at MSG or while you wait for your train.
Personally, I’ve only spent time here for the latter of those two reasons, but if there happens to be an imminent concert going on across the street which has attracted fans from all over the tristate area, the Moynihan food court turns into a de facto pregame with great energy in the air.
Some offerings: Burger Joint, Naya, Sauce Pizzeria, Magnolia Bakery, H&H Bagels, E.A.K. Ramen, Chopt, Blue Bottle Coffee, Three’s Brewing and more, including a Malin+Goetz store for pre-concert emergency moisturizing.
Joyce Theater
The Joyce Theater is impossible to miss, even for a grizzled, shoegazing New Yorker like myself who has walked past it a million and one times. On the corner of 19th Street and Eighth Avenue, the midsize theater sticks out like a sore thumb amongst bodegas and brick row houses with its white-accented facade, and boasts a blue-and-pink, neon-lit marquee upon which hangs the establishment’s title in a font that somehow pays homage both to the theater’s art deco origins and its 80s-style Pac-Man aesthetic rebranding.
What a mouthful.
Fear not–once you enter the Joyce, you needn’t prepare for much linguistic deciphering, as it exists to showcase, sustain and inform the noble art of dance, which notably favors body language over language language.
Let your eyes and ears feast on some of the best companies in the world across a variety of choreographic genres, and give your Wernicke’s area (language processing region of the brain) a well-deserved break. Oh, and in true New York fashion, it used to feature adult movies before being converted to a dance theater. What history!
ARTECHOUSE NYC
I may have a way with words that allows me to paint vivid pictures of the places and experiences available throughout the five boroughs (I hope), but of all that I have attempted to give some color to, ARTECHOUSE NYC is the one that most eludes my abilities–I’ll give it a go, though.
Although some may say the traditional arts are dying (and there may be some truth to that), art always evolves and ARTECHOUSE is the nervous center of that evolution in the 21st century.
With rotating artist and concept exhibitions, the former boiler room space below Chelsea Market brings audiences the cutting edge of mixed-media and multi-sensory digital art.
By providing a setting for genre-bending art, ARTECHOUSE not only situates itself between these sometimes rigid lines to support working artists, but also pushes the boundaries of what is possible, in turn removing barriers to entry for up-and-coming artists.
To try and describe anything more than this would be futile for such an immersive exhibition and one of the coolest things to do in Chelsea–go check it out before or after you grab a bite from Chelsea Market right upstairs.
Gotham Comedy Club
There are all kinds of comedy clubs and comics in NYC, and many of them will leave you in stitches, even if you’ve paid a $12 ticket fee for a BYOB show in a basement on the Lower East Side (I’ve done this and I highly recommend). That being said, part of the deal is that shows can be hit or miss.
To avoid any uncertainty, head to Gotham Comedy Club on 23rd Street, which has played host to comics like Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Trevor Noah, Sebastian Maniscalco, Amy Schumer and many, many more–and a fair amount of these comics got their start at Gotham.
There are older comedy clubs in the city, but none as prestigious as Gotham, which opened in 1996 with an inaugural show that featured Sarah Silverman and Dave Chapelle. Gotham has never looked back, and remains one of the most well-renowned places to visit in Chelsea.
The Chelsea Hotel
Greenwich Village may have once been the epicenter of revolutionary artistic movements throughout the 19th century, but many figures within these movements called the Chelsea Hotel home. In an era of untethered progressivism, lawless revelry and heavy drug use, this recently re-beautified den of miscreants and creative geniuses housed a flaming pile of dung which somehow retained enough life-force to bear unto the world some of the most beloved art of the last 75 years or more.
The Chelsea Hotel is a hotel, yes, but many occupants were longtime residents due to its former affordability, proclivity to attract creativity and lax building policies, which sometimes included trading paintings for rent. Although the hotel has a long and convoluted history that has often been quite dark (there were many deaths and fires in the building in the latter half of the 20th century, as well as a fully operational brothel, roach infestations and horrid living conditions), today it caters to a luxury clientele and boasts one of the most visually pleasing facades in the whole city, as well as an eclectic, bohemian interior.
There are some old-time residents who are still there, but the days of the Chelsea as a makeshift artist’s collective are all but over.
That being said, the Lobby Bar and café are both open to the public, and if you don’t know what to do in Chelsea as far as finding drinking establishments, start by popping in for a drink or a bite. You’ll find history on the walls all around you, largely in the form of paintings made by former residents, and be transported back to a time not very long ago when the hotel was not just a place to visit in Chelsea, but a home for some of New York’s most iconic figures–roaches and drug dens no longer included.
This is also one of the most interesting historic hotels in NYC you can stay at, if you want your accommodation in the city to be a bit more memorable.
Chelsea Flea
Whereas it is my personal opinion that Chelsea does not extend all the way to Chelsea Flea’s locale on 25th Street between 6th Avenue and Broadway (this is NoMad, or Flatiron), this iconic paved lot gets an exception in my book due to its longstanding good will in the neighborhood, and the city at large.
Think of it the same way one might think about Staten Island–it might look a lot like New Jersey, but it isn’t. Would tasteful connoisseurs like Susan Sontag have shopped for fine vintage ephemera at Chelsea Flea if it was named NoMad Flea? Would neurotic hoarders like Andy Warhol have been able to sufficiently stock their time capsules with knick knacks and wares if not for this conglomeration of things in an outdoor setting?
We may never know the answers to these questions, but for the purpose of this argument, I’ll wager a guess and say no, these iconic figures would not have been able to fully do their things without the Chelsea Flea.
With a whole lot of history under its belt and many unique vendors who have been stalwarts of the market throughout that history, Chelsea Flea captures an ideal New York shopping experience and represents one of the most unique things to do in Chelsea. Open Saturday and Sunday, year-round, rain or shine.
Atlantic Theater Company
Founded in 1985 by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, Shameless actor William H. Macy and a cohort of their NYU drama students, Atlantic Theater Company has a 35-year history of success which includes 27 Tony awards and productions such as Kimberly Akimbo, Spring Awakening, The Room and many, many others.
Although they have found fame and recognition on Broadway, they continue to operate their two off-Broadway theaters–the Linda Gross Theater on 20th Street, and Stage 2 on 16th Street, both between 8th and 9th Avenues. ATC prides itself on promoting and developing new works and writers, and hosts an acting conservatory as well as an undergraduate acting school in partnership with NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts.
For New Yorkers in the know, this is the place to catch the magic before it costs an arm and a leg on Broadway, although they still know their worth, which is reflected in their ticket prices.
ATC does offer “Access25” tickets starting about 2 weeks before preview performances, however, which means you can get $25 tickets on a first come, first serve basis. Students can get tickets for $20 within 2 hours of any performance as well, as long as they show a valid student ID and pay in cash. And last but not least, IDNYC holders can receive a complimentary ticket membership which grants them one discounted ticket per each of ATC’s four seasonal performances–$50 for plays, $60 for musicals.
This isn’t your average off-Broadway operation–ATC is the embodiment of artistry and excellence, and they remain a part of Chelsea’s fabric because of it. So if you’ve built in some room for the theater and/or potential last-minute activities in your itinerary but haven’t yet figured out what to do in Chelsea with that smartly constructed plan, this is what to do in Chelsea with that smartly constructed plan.
The McKittrick Hotel
There are a select few establishments in New York which are capable of walking the thin line between excitement and fear, and for crowds that have the privilege of experiencing such environments, there is nothing left to do but gape in awe and let it all happen to you.
Something about the McKittrick Hotel feels a little wrong, but there is simply too much going on to think about it–and that is what makes it so right. The entire place is an anachronistic, juxtaposed conundrum with a fictional backstory detailing its 1930s origins before shuttering, and then reopening this century (the McKittrick is also a reference to a hotel in Hitchcock’s Vertigo).
A few experiences in which guests can revel (not hotel guests, it isn’t a real hotel): Gallow Green, their seasonal rooftop garden implanted with old railroad tracks and lush greenery which at the same time feels like a Parisian café and a warped Eden; Speakeasy Magick, a secret society of deceptionists and more performing tricks and illusions for audiences in search of bewilderment; Hypnotique, a mesmerizing, late night dance performance that is not bound by any stage and moves around you (warning: includes strobe lights, haze and nudity); a residency by musician Will Boyajian on select dates when no two shows are the same; a jazz and cocktail bar (Manderley Bar) offering intimate performances; a larger performance venue (The Club Car) for the wilder ones, and a revolving set of experiences which ensure no two nights at the McKittrick are ever the same.
This place feels like someone has set up an elaborate ruse to make you think you’ve time traveled or otherwise entered a subconscious dreamscape dimension, and it’s convincing enough that you’ll second-guess yourself.
The Museum at FIT
FIT–the Fashion Institute of Technology, is perhaps the most renowned fashion school in the world, and it is entirely befitting that it occupies two city blocks just south of NYC’s garment district. Boasting alumni including Laverne Cox, Michael Kors, Stephen A. Smith and Calvin Klein, FIT has been moving the goalposts of fashion, aesthetics, branding and creative business since its founding in 1944.
Their museum, which is tied for the cheapest place to visit in Chelsea as it’s free to the public, includes a collection of over 50,000 pieces dating back to the 18th century and features iconic designers such as Dior, Balenciaga and Chanel.
The museum also features student and faculty exhibitions as well as historical fashion exhibitions. Much like the Atlantic Theater Company a few blocks south, you might spot works by emerging superstars at the Museum at FIT, but it won’t cost you a dime to say “I saw them when.” Only in NYC will you find the world’s only museum dedicated solely to the art of fashion, so you better believe they’ve got some taste.
On that note–if you’ve read through this guide and still don’t think you’ve found the coolest thing to do in Chelsea (my ego says you won’t find it elsewhere), just ask any FIT student–they’ll tell you what to do in Chelsea with just as hefty a dose of confidence.
bars of Note in Chelsea
Okay, you’ve done all your things to do in Chelsea, you’ve noshed on something, you’ve got your fill of culture and want to create some of your own. Have no fear–if it isn’t clear yet, Chelsea is incredibly cool, and there are drinking options for every kind to cap off your jaunt around the neighborhood. Below is a list with short descriptions of each watering hole, so you can pick your poison yourself:
Bathtub Gin
Yes, it’s a speakeasy, of course. Located behind a nondescript coffee shop, Bathtub Gin features a warmly-lit bar and seating areas, various bathtub decor, a 1920s prohibition theme, a food menu and a wide array of gin cocktails. Also sometimes features live jazz, replaced by a DJ later in the night. Make a reservation or it’ll be difficult getting in.
Raines Law Room
Another upscale speakeasy in a warmly-lit environment, Raines Law Room prides itself on its mixology more than anything else and also offers cocktail-crafting classes. Also features a secret garden, weather permitting. Walk-ins encouraged, but you can make a reservation.
The Tippler
Chelsea is far too cool for just one or two speakeasies in NYC to be featured on this list–The Tippler, which is buried underneath Chelsea Market in a former boiler room, also caters to pursuers of secret hideouts and cocktail enthusiasts alike, at a slightly more affordable cost than Raines Law Room.
Features old highline railroad tracks, reclaimed water tower wood paneling and Chelsea Market’s iconic brick interior. Look for the incandescently lit “open” sign on 15th Street and head down the stairs. No reservations, for the most part.
Jungle Bird
Just as chic if not more so than its speakeasy counterparts, Jungle Bird caters to a wide clientele in an intimate environment, which is hard to achieve on Eighth Avenue.
Upholstered booths line the length of the place parallel to the bar, but you likely won’t snag one if you arrive after about 8 or 9pm on a weekend, or maybe even a Thursday (it’s a great date spot, too).
Jungle Bird is a more modern establishment than the three aforementioned, so if retro stuff isn’t your jam, try this one for an expertly crafted cocktail. And if you happen to be in the city during the pride parade, Jungle Bird might take the cake for the best post-parade party in town.
Chelsea Living Room
Probably the quietest of the bunch, Chelsea Living Room’s thing is making guests feel relaxed enough as if they were at home, while serving upscale dishes and drinks. Dinner service opens at 5 and goes until 11:30 Thursday-Saturday (and until 10:30 on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday), and drinks are served until 2am and 12am in the same respect. Make no mistake, this is a pricey joint and you should make a reservation well in advance, especially if you want dinner.
Sid Gold’s Request Room
Have you ever heard of live piano karaoke? Well now you have, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Warm up your vocal cords and bravery with reasonably priced cocktails and sing along to a piano accompaniment of your favorite jam, every night but Sunday from 9pm-1am.
The best way to describe this place is like a modern Vaudeville, or a shiny cabaret. Probably make a reservation if you’re there for piano karaoke.
Peter McManus
This is a no-nonsense Irish pub serving an award-winning burger alongside other meaty options, as well as endless whiskey and beer. It would feel wrong to order any drink here outside of those two categories.
Featured in the 2010 comedy The Other Guys starring Will Ferrrell and Mark Wahlberg, Peter McManus is the oldest family-operated bar in the city and hosts weekly stickball games every Sunday during the summer, where food and drinks flow freely on 19th Street, although donations to fund pediatric cancer research are highly encouraged, as well as participation. If you’re looking for the most New York-ish place to visit in Chelsea, this might be it.
If you like old-New York establishments, check out all our favorite historic bars in NYC.
Music for a While
The newest one on this list, Music for a While opened in 2024 in the basement of the Selina Chelsea Hotel, and features a connected dance floor and listening lounge, the latter of which features orange disco-era upholstery and wall-to-wall carpeting in the same hue.
At the time of writing this it is still a bit under the radar, but soon enough it will be yet another Chelsea hotspot. It also features one of the later happy hours I’ve come across, from 9pm-11pm. Open only on weekends for now, starting at 9pm. Keep an eye out for upcoming DJ sets.
Noshes of Note in Chelsea
We’ve been through Chelsea Market and Pier 57 food hall, and there’s very little room for error in either of those two places–but Chelsea is more than just its markets when it comes to food! Options abound here–see the list below for a greatest hits list, flavored with a pinch of personal bias, to taste.
Empire Diner
An iconic NYC landmark, Empire Diner has been through the wringer since its original opening in 1946, but after changing hands a few times since and achieving resurrection after closing its doors a few times as well, it exists today as an homage to its past as well as Chelsea’s.
Upscale diner food is what you’ll find here (naturally), as well as making your mark on a rich history which includes formerly frequent patrons such as Meryl Streep, Ethan Hawke, Madonna, Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand, to name a few heavy hitters.
And for fans of finding filming locations, And Just Like That…Miranda and Che ate here in a scene together.
Shukette
Shukette has been the hot new thing in Chelsea for the last three years since it opened in 2021, and in New York time, that is an eternity. It also means something very, very good is happening there, under the leadership of chef/partner and James Beard Award Finalist Nominee for best chef in New York 2022, Ayesha Nurdjaja.
Shukette is Shuka’s northern outpost, but you can’t go wrong between the two–although you’ll likely have trouble getting into both if you go at popular times. Make sure to make a reservation well in advance for this delectable Mediterranean spot.
Xi’an Famous Foods
An Anthony Bourdain favorite, Xi’an Famous Foods is a simple noodle shop that just does everything right. There is no glitz or glamor here (as you might expect with a Bourdain favorite), just noodles that, according to chef David Wang, are meant to be consumed with an adequate level of spice, despite the fact that there are a number of spice options to choose from on the menu. His message is posted loud and clear along the wall leading to the order kiosk.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza
Ready for what may be the largest slice of pizza you’ve ever consumed (barring a DC jumbo slice, maybe)? Artichoke Basille’s has been slinging slices since 2008 and has expanded to a number of locations in NYC and beyond, including on 10th Avenue and 17th Street.
They offer twists on familiar favorites (like a vodka pepperoni slice) as well as ideas that are a little out there (crab slice), but their pièce de résistance is their artichoke slice, naturally. Look–I am no okie-dokie artichokie zealot–but this slice feels like it breaks some sort of ancient culinary rule for being too good.
Some feel differently if they aren’t the biggest fans of super rich, creamy bites, but for those of us who are, there is no comparison to this. For more pizza recs, check out our favorite pizza slices in NYC.
The Frying Pan
Maybe this one belongs in the bars of note section, but the Frying Pan cooks up delectable, summery surf and turf options during the nicer months (typically April through October, assuming weather permits) alongside its beer and cocktail offerings. Beware, this is a happy hour hotspot later in the week so you might be bumping shoulders with corporate types after work hours, but no matter what, there is always room for you at the Frying Pan (according to their website). A great spot to catch some sun on a barge on a weekend afternoon.
Pepe Giallo
There aren’t very many truly hidden gems in Chelsea anymore, but Pepe Giallo strikes a balance between glitzy, upscale Italian joint and accessibility for the common man. With pizza and pasta offerings that will please the picky ones in your group as well as the more adventurous, and for a meal that won’t hurt your wallet tooooo badly, this place is kind of a unicorn in that it hasn’t been TikTokified like many other Italian spots in downtown Manhattan.
So don’t tell anybody about the fettuccine norcina or the $6 glasses of wine you can get during happy hour here from 4-6pm on weekdays. Don’t you say a word about it, capisce? Bet you didn’t think a guide blog could gatekeep, huh. There’s always something new in this city.
Chelsea Art Galleries
Like Williamsburg is known for its alternative coffee shops or the Flatiron District is known for, well, the Flatiron Building, Chelsea’s claim to fame since the mid-1990s has been its astounding number of art galleries and installations, particularly west of 9th Avenue in converted industrial warehouses from times of yore.
The abundance of these galleries is due to SoHo’s shift from a haven for artists to a shopping district around the same time, and the availability and reasonable price points of former warehouses in Chelsea that no longer served their original purposes.
For those looking to get some culture for zero dollars, this is the place to do it. Most galleries are free to enter and explore, and make for a fun excursion without being told what the art is supposed to make you feel or think. It’s there on display and that’s it. With that in mind, the area can be hit or miss depending on your tastes–but the unknown is part of the fun, and it’s easy enough to hit a handful of galleries within an hour, or more if you want to take your time.
Below is a list of some galleries that I’ve enjoyed in the past, but keep in mind exhibitions are apt to rotate quite frequently, so a gallery one visits within the next several months might look different by the fall or winter.
- David Zwirner Gallery – Perhaps the most established and well known gallery in Chelsea, David Zwirner houses contemporary art and artists ranging from titans of the genre like Yayoi Kusama to emerging artists making a name for themselves today.
- Pace – Another gallery with a wide range of art, Pace has a digital installation by an artist’s collective on display at the time of writing this, but is also concurrently featuring Gordon Parks’ photography at its L.A. location. Anybody’s guess what you’ll find when you visit, if that is any indication.
- Gagosian – On display at the time of writing this is a Roy Lichtenstein exhibition featuring a Bauhaus-style mural painting which blends the history of this western art camp and pop culture. Expect to see similar blends throughout the gallery.
- DC Moore – DC Moore gallery houses an eclectic array of collections, art and artists across disciplines and boasts a well-curated rotation of collector’s favorites. Often showcasing disjointed or recontextualized pieces as they relate to more historical art genres or trends, this gallery is a contemporary powerhouse on both the artistic and business ends.
- Miles McEnry – Miles McEnry utilizes its barebones environmental aesthetic to make its colorful contemporary art pop, and offers it up as plainly as possible for your viewing pleasure. Certainly worth a lap and probably a good hard look-and-think, or three.
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