Source:
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/manhattan/chelsea-manhattan-neighborhood-guide
For more than 130 years, Chelsea has been New York City's arts district attracting culture hounds from all over the globe. It started with the opening of the famous Chelsea Hotel that was meant to bridge class divisions and to "value the arts" and is now home to hundreds of art galleries that showcase the most iconic and innovative works in the world.
The neighborhood, which is bound by Sixth Avenue to the east and the Hudson River to the west and about 20 blocks from about West 14th to 34th streets, has only recently become a renowned cultural hub. It started as a Native American trading post, then it became an industrial hub with the Hudson River Railroad, and with the eventual abandonment of warehouses and lumber yards, it became a hotspot for punk music and art and would welcome the LGBTQ community, too. In recent years, it has seen major architectural development and an influx of some of NYC's coolest cultural venues and restaurants.
From great speakeasy bars and dives to flea markets and worthwhile gay bars, there's something for everyone, not just art fans. The completion of the High Line and the addition of Little Island have brought verdant, elevated promenades with great views of the neighborhood—a mix of industrial landmarks and gleaming new structures—which are just a few minutes' walk from the eateries and shops of the beloved Chelsea Market.
From our home:
* 5 grocery stores w/in a 6-min walk (Westside Market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Fairway, and Eataly). Fresh produce from area farms is available every Saturday from Apr - Oct. at the Chelsea Farmers Market (23rd between 8/9th Ave).
* Major stores w/in a 10 min walk: Fifth Avenue shopping (Banana Republic, Athleta, Nike, Club Monaco, Intermix, and many more), The Lego Store and Harry Potter New York.
* Boutique fitness options w/in a 5-min walk (no excuses!) including Rumble (boxing), Orange Theory Fitness (HIIT), Solid Core (pilates), Row House (rowing), and several yoga studios including Humming Puppy, Dharma Yoga Center, and our favorite place - Samamkaya Yoga Back Care.
* Tons of restaurants and bars. Some of our faves include Le Zie, Momoya, Shake Shack, Memo Shish Kebab, Socarrat, Rangoon, Boqueria, Baodega and too many more to name.
* 1-min walk to Poster House. First and only museum in the United States dedicated to the global history and design of posters.
* 2-min walk to Gotham Comedy Club. Famous nightspot features top headliners and up-and-coming comics.
* 3-min walk to The Chelsea Hotel. Enjoy a cocktail (or two) at the lobby bar or have a bite at Don Quixote (Spanish tapas) or Cafe Chelsea (French bistro) both of which are on the ground floor.
* 10-min walk to Penn Station, Flatiron District/Building, West Village, Madison Square Park, Madison Square Garden, Macy's, & Koreatown
* 20-min walk to Hudson River Park, Meatpacking District, Chelsea Market, Highline, Chelsea galleries, Whitney Museum, Little Island, City Winery, Hudson Yards, Union Square, East Village, Empire State Building, Times Square/Broadway, Bryant Park & NY Public Library
LGA - La Guardia (9 miles/15 km)
EWR - Newark Liberty International (14 miles/23 km)
JFK - John F Kennedy International (16 miles/26 km)
We fly out of both JFK & EWR as they have the most direct flights.
Everything you need is within walking distance of our apartment. You can also take public transit (subway/bus/ferry), Citi Bike NYC or taxi/Uber/Lyft if you’d like to visit other neighborhoods or boroughs (Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens or the Bronx).
* Major subway lines (1/F/M/C/E/N/R) and M23 crosstown bus are within 2-8 min walk. Penn Station is a 10-min walk away. Port Authority Bus Terminal is an 8-min subway or 26-min walk. Grand Central Station is a 13-min subway or 33-min walk.
* Citi Bike NYC station within a 5-min walk (20th & 7th). Go to
citibikenyc.com to learn more about this bike share system.
We have lived in Chelsea for 25+ years so we're happy to meet for a drink, walk around the city or provide off-the-beaten path recommendations.
If schedules align, we're happy to cook dinner for you in our home or host drinks on our rooftop, weather permitting. Pete is a chef 👨🏻🍳 who previously worked at two Michelin-starred NYC restaurants.
Would love to meet fellow PLU members who are passing through so feel free to reach out.