Manhattan/Chelsea - neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, United States

Sitting on the southwest side of Midtown Manhattan, Chelsea has a huge concentration of art galleries and is a popular dining and nightlife district. The area along 8th Avenue is the center of gay social life in Manhattan.

Chelsea encompasses the area west of 6th Avenue from 14th Street up to 31st. The area used to be a locus of industry, with many factories and other industrial buildings occupying the blocks along the Hudson River.

Understand

Chelsea's explosive growth began in the 1990s and continues today, with new towers expanding the neighborhood as far north as Madison Square Garden. While the northern part of the neighborhood is still a gritty commercial and industrial zone, the rest of the neighborhood has been rapidly gentrifying.

Today, Chelsea's old industrial structures have found new life as parks, most notably the well-received High Line, built atop a defunct railway, and the Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River, now a huge sports and recreation complex. At the southern end of Chelsea is the Meatpacking District, a small district along the Hudson just south of 14th that was once a major center of meatpacking firms before becoming the hip, trendy neighborhood of today, with nightclubs and high-end boutiques occupying the old industrial spaces.

A wave of new construction continues to sweep through the area, transforming this old industrial area into an upscale entertainment destination.

Get in

There are many subway lines serving the neighborhood. The A, C, and E lines run under 8th Avenue and stop at 14th St., with the C and E also stopping at 23rd St. Under 7th Avenue run the 1, 2, and 3 lines, with the 1 stopping at 14th St., 18th St., 23rd St., and 28th St., and the 2 and 3 stopping just at 14th St. The F and M lines stop along 6th Avenue at 14th St. and 23rd St. The L train runs east along 14th Street from its terminal at 8th Ave., also stopping at 6th Ave. The 7 line terminates at 34th St. and 11th Ave. on the northern edge of Chelsea, at the northern end of the High Line.

There is ample bus service: north–south routes on every avenue and east–west crosstown buses on the larger streets (14th and 23rd), though they can be slow, especially at peak hours.

See

Chelsea is home to over 300 art galleries. The mid-20s between 10th and 11th Aves. (for example, 25th St.) was the new hot art area in the early 2000s; high rents have chased some galleries away, but many still remain. Walk around and see the shows that are up. Check gallery schedules and shows here (dead link: January 2023).

• High Line Park, Runs mostly along 10th Avenue from 34th Street south to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, with access points at Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 30th, and 34th Streets (Subway: to 14th St or 23rd St; to 34th Street–Hudson Yards), 40.7483°, -74.005°, +1 212-500-6035, info@thehighline.org. Open daily Apr–May, Oct–Nov: 7AM–10PM; June–Sept: 7AM–11PM; Dec–Mar: 7AM–7PM. Built on a defunct elevated railway that runs 30 feet above the streets, the re-purposing of the rail line as a park has made it the focus of major development in the neighborhood. There are plenty of plantings and art installations along the park as it winds its way between (and through!) buildings, and walking the stretch offers some pretty unique views over the streets of Manhattan. No dogs or bicycles. There are restrooms at Gansevoort St. (the southern terminus), 16th St, and 30th St. Free admission 2020-01-26
• Poster House (Museum), 119 W 23rd St (Subway: to 23rd Street; to 23rd Street; to 23rd Street; to 23rd Street), 40.7483°, -74.005°, +1 917-722-2439, info@posterhouse.org. W-M 11AM-6PM (Member hours W 9-11AM). The first and only Poster Museum in the United States. Poster House opened to the public in June 2019. Adults: $12; students, seniors, visitors with disabilities: $8 (care partner: free); Kids under 18: free 2019-05-16
• Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W 17th St (17th Street between 6th and 7th Ave; Subway: to 18 St, to 14 St, to 14 St, or to 14 St), 40.740111°, -73.997806°, +1 212-620-5000. M Th 11AM–5PM, Tu closed, W 11AM–7PM, F 11AM–10PM, Sa Su 11AM–6PM. Art of the Himalayas. Adults $19, seniors/students $14, children (ages 12 and under) free, free admission Fridays 6–10 PM 2019-08-04
• Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St (at the southern end of the High Line; Subway: to 14 St/8 Av), 40.7397°, -74.0090°, +1 212 570-3600. Su–Th 10:30AM–6PM; F Sa 10:30AM–10PM; closed Tu Sep–Jun. Founded in 1931 and now in a stunning building in the Meatpacking District, the Whitney Museum is known for displaying contemporary American art even more up-to-date than the Museum of Modern Art. It is most famous for its long-standing tradition of hosting a biennial art show that displays many lesser-known artists new to the American art scene. $25 adults, $18 seniors/students, free for under 18 2015-06-10
• Gagosian Gallery, 555 West 24th St (between 10th and 11th Avs; Subway: to 23 St or to 34 St–Hudson Yards), 40.74950°, -74.00591°, +1 212 741-1111, newyork@gagosian.com. M–F 10AM–6PM. One of sixteen gallery spaces/shops all around the world owned by Larry Gagosian. Thoughtful and important exhibitions of both modern and contemporary art. 2019-08-04
• Matthew Marks Gallery, 523 West 24th St (between 10th and 11th Avs; Subway: to 23 St or to 34 St–Hudson Yards), 40.74904°, -74.00477°, +1 212 243-0200, info@matthewmarks.com. Tu–Sa 10AM–6PM. Modern and contemporary art shown through a variety of mediums including: sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, film, prints, drawings, and installation art. 2019-08-04
• Chelsea Arts Tower, 545 West 25th St (between 10th & 11th Avs; Subway: to 23 St or to 34 St–Hudson Yards), 40.74993°, -74.00492°, +1 212 206-0038, frontdesk@chelseaartstower.net. Hours vary by gallery. A 21-story commercial condominium in the heart of the gallery district. Built in 2006, this is Manhattan's first art gallery condominium. This building features the Marlborough Chelsea gallery, Tina Kim Gallery, the Flag Art Foundation gallery, Joan Mitchell Foundation, and even the Calvin Klein Studio. This is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with all of its galleries and amazing views. The Chelsea Arts Tower is also home to The Glass Houses on floors 14 and 21. This is one of the most premier spaces for over-the-top parties and events in NYC. 2019-08-05
• Visio Dell'Arte, 522 West 23rd St (between 10th & 11th Avs; Subway: to 23 St), 40.74791°, -74.00531°, +1 212 796-5313, contact@visiodellarte.com. Tu–Sa 10:30AM–6:30PM, Su 1:30–6:30PM. Visio Dell'Arte, established in Paris in 2007, has a second gallery in Chelsea. They feature fine art paintings from masters such as Rasikh Akhmetvaliev, Anatoli Bourykine, Kaloon Chhour, Cosmina, Ene, Anik Legoupil, Helene Modebadze, Oliver Valli and Petre Velicu. All artists are exclusively represented by Visio Dell'Arte. Free admission 2019-08-05
• Vessel, 40.75374°, -74.00192°, +1 332-204-8500, vessel@hudsonyardsnewyork.com. 10AM-8PM, daily. Opened in March 2019, closed for public as of March 2023. This 16-story honeycomb-like structure is the core of the new Hudson Yards development project on Manhattan's West Side. Its 154 flights of stairs and 80 landings offer great views of the surrounding area, the Hudson River, and the structure's intricate framework. However all levels except the entrance area are closed for security reasons. 2023-03-26

Do

• Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (7th Avenue & 32nd Street; Subway: or to 34th St), 40.750556°, -73.993611°, +1 212 465-6741. Box office: M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM; if event takes place outside regular hours, box office opens at least 1 hour before event start until 1 hour after event start. One of the world's most famous and busiest arenas, Madison Square Garden is home to the New York Rangers NHL team, the New York Knicks NBA team, and the St. John's Red Storm college men's basketball team, as well as numerous concerts and entertainment events. In addition to most St. John's home games, the Garden also hosts three major college men's basketball events each year. At the start of the season, the Garden hosts the semifinals and finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off, a prestigious early-season event operated by the country's main college sports body, the NCAA. After the regular season, the Garden then hosts the Big East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in early March, which determines the conference's automatic representative in the wildly popular NCAA tournament. Finally, in late March, the Garden hosts the semifinals and finals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), a tournament that the NCAA operates as something of a consolation prize for teams that do not make the NCAA tournament.
• Chelsea Piers, 23rd St & Hudson River Park, 40.74651°, -74.00878°, +1 212-336-6666. 28-acre waterfront sports village. Amenities include golf, bowling, skating, batting cages, rock climbing, fitness center, and a spa. 2020-10-06

Live theater and dance

• Atlantic Stage 2, 330 W 16th St btn. 8th and 9th Ave, 40.74138°, -74.00280°, +1 212-279-4200. This is the Atlantic's 99-seat theater which they use for shows too interesting to go in their larger theater on 20th St. Listings for stage 2 shows that are part of their regular season go on their website. But this theater has many secret shows, like their acting school's semester-end performances, and staged readings during the summer. This other stuff is usually not even on nytheatre.com, but, rather publicized by Facebook and postcard only, so while some of it is open to the public, most of the audience may consist of fans, relatives, and friends of the performers. You may have the chance to hear readings by talented young authors from places like Middlebury College before they become famous. If you're invited to something here, it will probably be good and completely irreplaceable, but think twice about making critical comments in such an environment.
• Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave, 40.74281°, -74.00069°, +1 212-691-9740. One of the premier contemporary dance performance spaces in the world, with modern dance and ballet. 2020-10-06
• Sleep No More (The McKittrick Hotel), 530 West 27th Street, 40.75062°, -74.00386°, +1 212-904-1883. Enjoy Shakespeare's Macbeth re-imagined as a Hitchcock thriller in this silent, walk-around, interactive theater production.
• 29th Street Rep, 212 W 29th St, 40.74800°, -73.99378°, +1 212-465-0575.

Improv & sketch comedy

• Magnet Theater, 254 W 29th St (just off the corner of West 29th and 8th Ave), 40.7488°, -73.9953°, +1 212-244-8824. Magnet Theater is a performance and training space established in 2005. It is one of the most well-known improv schools and theaters in the city, offering classes and shows in various styles of comedy such as improv, musical improv, sketch, and storytelling. The theater was founded by Armando Diaz and Sean Taylor, both veteran improvisers from the Chicago comedy community. The Magnet Theater also has a touring company that performs and teaches workshops at improv festivals around the world, as well as a corporate workshops' division, the Magnet Genius Machine. Many notable performers and faculty from the theater have gone on to work on shows such as Broad City, 30 Rock, and The Colbert Report. 2023-02-13

Buy

• Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave (between 15th and 16th Streets; Subway: to 14th St/8th Av), 40.7425°, -74.0061°. M-Sa 7AM-2AM, Su 8AM-10PM. The original Oreo cookie factory is now a block-sized market selling gourmet foods, flowers, and knick-knacks, and offering restaurants, bars, art space and special shows. Has free wireless Internet access throughout and smells like a slice of heaven. 2020-10-07
• B&H, 420 9th Av. (between 33rd and 34th Sts.), 40.75292°, -73.99626°, +1 212-444-6615. Perhaps the best camera and photography equipment store in New York, this is the place to go for any of the cameras and camera accessories you might want. The selection is good and the staff is knowledgeable and willing to discuss things with you. It is owned and heavily staffed by Hasidic Jews, so it is closed on Friday nights, Saturdays, and all Jewish holidays except for Hanukkah. B&H provides its holiday closing schedule here.
• Purple Passion, 211 West 20th St., 40.74269°, -73.99761°, +1 212-807-0486. An adult store with selections of fetishwear & corsets.
• Buffalo Exchange, 114 West 26th Street (at 6th Avenue), 40.74498°, -73.99237°, +1 212-675-3535. M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-7PM. Clothing and accessories bought, sold and traded locally with the public. The inventory changes every day and includes designer labels, vintage, jeans, leather, current basics and one-of-a-kind items. They also have brand new items, clothing for both men and women and is more upscale and fashionable than an average thrift shop.
• Adorama, 42 W. 18th St (b/t 5th and 6th Avenues), 40.739347°, -73.994059°, +1 212-741-0052. One of the country's largest suppliers of cameras, film, and photographic accoutrements of all kinds. Staffed largely by Orthodox Jews, Adorama is closed on Friday nights, Saturdays, and all Jewish holidays except Hanukkah, but packed to the rafters every other day. And they provide very good service.

Eat

• Bill’s Bar & Burger, 22 9th Avenue (9th at West 13th Street), 40.740273°, -74.005579°, +1 212-414-3003. Su - Tu 11:30AM-midnight, W 11:30AM-1AM, Th 11:30AM-2AM, F Sa 11:30AM-4AM. Bill’s serves a wide range of American fare and burgers. $8-13 2015-08-21
• Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company, 286 8th Ave (between 24th & 25th Sts), 40.74615°, -73.99757°, +1 212-924-2824. Daily 7AM-10PM. Commanding a loyal following, this bagel place is noted for its huge, filling bagels with a heaping spread of cream cheese (or one of the many other spreads available).
• Cafeteria, 119 7th Ave, 40.74050°, -73.99798°, +1 212-414-1717. The name is a misnomer; it's a hip restaurant -- a few blocks south on 7th for a broad range of stuff, nicely presented, with sidewalk dining.
• Sullivan Street Pizza (f/k/a Co.), 230 Ninth Ave, 40.7472°, -74.0005°, +1-212-929-5900. Su M 9AM–4PM, Tu–Sa 9AM–8PM. This pizzeria features baker Jim Lahey's famous no-knead pizza dough. They offer a handful of classic pizzas as well as many more unique choices.
• Dos Caminos, 675 Hudson Street (at 14th Street), 40.740427°, -74.005458°, +1 212-699-2400. Su - W 11:30AM-11PM, Th 11:30AM-midnight, F Sa 11:30AM-1AM. Authentic and upscale Mexican cuisine, including fresh guac. and margaritas. $12-36 2015-08-21
• Elmo, 156 7th Avenue (between 20th and 19th Sts.), 40.74198°, -73.99753°, +1 212-337-8000. A very trendy spot. Filled with chic comfort food, delicious cocktails, and beautiful people. They have a main floor dining room as well as a downstairs lounge perfect for any event and complete with a DJ booth, sound system and full bar.
• Grand Sichuan Chelsea, 229 9th Ave (9th Av. and 24 St.), 40.74738°, -74.00099°, +1 212-620-5200. Excellent Sichuan cuisine, for those who like it hot. Stick with the Sichuan and Hunan menus and special menus like the Prodigal Daughter's menu. Do not get "lunch specials" or order from the American-Chinese or Cantonese menus, and do not get Shanghainese "Soup Dumplings" (xiaolong bao) unless you want typical American-Chinese takeout food and dishes made better elsewhere. Get reservations if you are going during peak dinner hours on any day; this location is really popular, and you may have to wait a long time for a table if you just show up.
• Malibu Diner, 163 W 23rd St (F, M, C or E train to 23rd St), 40.7441°, -73.9949°, +1-212-691-1369, malibudinernyc163@gmail.com. 24 hours daily. Traditional American diner in the middle of NYC. 2019-12-11
• Momoya, 185 7th Avenue (at 21st Street), 40.74260°, -73.99644°, +1 212-989-4466. Daily noon-3PM & 5:30-11PM. A traditional Japanese/sushi menu with a vibrant fusion touch to it.
• Murray's Bagels Chelsea, 242 8th Ave (between 22nd and 23rd Sts), 40.74478°, -73.99858°, +1 646-638-1335. M 7AM-8:30PM, Tu W 7AM-9PM, Th F 7AM-10PM, Sa Su 7AM-7PM. This is a place that believes in the pure New York bagel — which means no toasting. Don't even bother asking. But the bagels are so fresh that it doesn't matter. It's often packed with long lines and the service is chaotic, but they give you a healthy amount of spread and toppings.
• Pepe Giallo, 253 10th Ave (between 24th and 25th Sts.), 40.74894°, -74.00361°, +1 212-242-6055. Reliable place for panini and pasta, priced fairly.
• Rocket Pig, 463 W 24th St, 40.74829°, -74.00321°, +1 212-645-5660. Tiny sandwich shop that serves one kind of sandwich and a variety of sides (chips, cookies, pickles, cole slaw). The sandwich is sliced pork, onion jam, and mustard sauce served on a ciabatta roll. There is no seating, but there are a couple of counters to lean on if eating in. 2015-09-01
• Thai Sliders, 150 8th Avenue (between 17th &18th Streets), 40.74181°, -74.00073°, +1 212-675-0080.
• Txikito, 240 Ninth Ave. (between 24th and 25th Sts.), 40.74737°, -74.00036°, +1 212-242-4730, reservations@txikitonyc.com. lunch Tu—F noon-3PM; dinner Su—Th 5-11PM and F Sa 5PM-midnight; brunch Sa Su 11:30AM-3:30PM. Basque tapas restaurant which serves delicious food and wine in a bustling atmosphere. The charges add up quickly for all those small plates, so it is far from a cheap restaurant, but it is fun and a fair value. On the dinner menu, Pintxoak (Basque Canapés): $6-10; Hotzak (Cold Items): $8-15; Beroak (Hot Items): $5-28. Lunch and brunch are cheaper
• Whole Foods Market, 250 7th Ave (at 24th St), 40.74506°, -73.99533°, +1 212-924-5969. Daily 7:30AM-11PM.
• Empire Diner, 210 10th Ave, 40.7471°, -74.0044°, +1 212-335-2277, info@empire-diner.com. 2019-07-07

Drink

• Café Grumpy, 224 West 20th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues), 40.74263°, -73.99832°, +1 212-255-5511. The coffee and attitude here are both fantastic, but the elongated shoebox shape and gigantic space-wasting counter area opposite those clumsy tiny tall-tables makes it feel like a hallway. If it were an actual hallway between two other random places, the big building around it might make it seem cozier, but since it stands alone, the sense of jostling bumping linear traffic may make you feel distracted after half a drink. This property makes it perfect for meeting people before a show at the Atlantic Theater one block west.
• Gallow Green, 542 W 27th St, 40.75072°, -74.00413°, +1 212-564-1662. M–W 4–10:30PM; Th Su noon–10:30PM; F Sa noon–12:45AM. Although Gallow Green is closed during the winter months, it is without a doubt a place you want to visit while it's open. It's a garden restaurant and bar in the McKittrick Hotel. Definitely for the hopeless romantics.
• Hilo Bar, 26 9th Avenue (at 13th Street), 40.740447°, -74.005484°, +1 212-837-4700. Th 11PM-4AM, F Sa 10PM-4AM. Nightspot offering cocktails, DJs & bottle service in an industrial-chic subterranean space. 2015-08-21
• Paddles, 250 W. 26th St. (between 7th & 8th Avenues), 40.74669°, -73.99629°. NYC's alternative/fetish/BDSM club
• Troy Liquor Bar, 675 Hudson Street (at 13th Street), 40.740427°, -74.005458°, +1 212-699-2410. Tu W 6-11PM, Th 6PM-2AM, F Sa 6PM-4AM. Foosball, board games & pool meet cocktails & beer at this low-frills basement lounge. 2015-08-21
• Raines Law Room, 48 West 17th Street (between 5th & 6th Avenues), 40.73874°, -73.99458°, reservations@raineslawroom.com. M-Th 5PM-2AM, F Sa 5PM-3AM, Su 8PM-1AM. Drinks are prepared in a beautiful, half-hidden back room (they call it 'The Kitchen') surrounded by gleaming examples of every tool a barkeep could wish for. 'The Lounge' is modeled after a 19th Century English town home with Chesterfield sofas and a wood-burning fireplace. Servers are summoned with the touch of an electric bell. 'The Parlor' consists of elegant banquette seating areas enclosed by dark curtains. Reservations are recommended.
• Peter Mcmanus Cafe, 152 7th Ave, 40.741863°, -73.997573°, +1 212-929-6196, info@Mcmanus.nyc. M-Sa 11AM-4AM, Su noon-4AM. 2020-01-26

Sleep

Budget

• Chelsea International Hostel, 251 West 20th St (between 7th/8th Avenues; Subway: to 23rd St or 18th St, trains to 23rd St.; you can also walk from 6th Ave trains at 23rd St), 40.74323°, -73.99902°, +1 212-647-0010. Small and clean. Internet access, 24-hour reception. All guests must show a passport when checking in, including U.S. citizens.

Mid-range

• Hampton Inn Manhattan - Chelsea, 108 West 24th St, 40.74364°, -73.99309°, +1 212-414-1000.
• Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea, 160 West 25th St, 40.74493°, -73.99423°, +1 212-627-1888.
• GEM Hotel - Chelsea, 300 West 22nd St, 40.74463°, -73.99937°, +1 212-675-1911. The rooms are tiny, though bright and in good condition.
• Eventi Hotel, 851 6th Av. (between 29th and 30th Sts.), 40.74711°, -73.99014°, +1 212-564-4567. A boutique hotel near Penn Station.
• Hilton Garden Inn New York/Chelsea, 121 West 28th St, 40.74665°, -73.99142°, +1 212-564-2181. A comfortable hotel with moderately sized rooms. From about $220 per night, depending on season

Splurge

• Dream Downtown - Chelsea, 355 West 16th St. (between 8th & 9th Av.), 40.74221°, -74.00344°, +1 646-625-4847. With a tree-shaded lobby, metallic lizard banquettes, a glass-bottomed pool, and nightly DJs it is no wonder this place is so pricey. This ‘dream-like’ building has classic furnishing elements such as Turkish rugs and white Beverly sofas complemented with futuristic touches like shiny steel baths. Dream Downtown has created a beach club vibe with suites that lead onto the pool area, sandy patches, and outdoor cabanas. The hotel’s Ph-D Rooftop Lounge will serve up your favorite cocktails underneath their Venini glass chandeliers. From about $295 per night, depending on season
• The Standard, High Line Hotel, 848 Washington St, 40.741°, -74.0081°, +1 212-645-4646, newyork@standardhotel.com. A hip boutique hotel featuring business and event space, an on-site restaurant, bar and beer garden. 2017-03-11
• Hyatt House New York/Chelsea, 815 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave), 40.7463°, -73.9907°, +1-212-513-0001. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Offers a choice of residential-like suites or studio hotel rooms. 2018-05-23
• The High Line Hotel, 180 10th Ave (at 20th St), 40.746194°, -74.004972°, +1 212-929-3888, info@thehighlinehotel.com. 2020-10-06
• The Maritime Hotel, 363 W 16th St, 40.7424°, -74.0038°, +1 212-242-4300. 2020-01-26

Connect

• Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave, 40.7425°, -74.0061°, +1 212-652-2110. Free Wi-Fi is offered at this public space.

Go next

Chelsea lies in the shadow of Midtown's Theater District, just to the north with its many attractions and iconic landmarks. Just past Madison Square Garden lies the Garment District, with the bright lights of Times Square further beyond. On the Hudson River sits the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum at Pier 86 on the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, which features a prototype NASA space shuttle, restored jets, and a World War II helicopter.

Union Square is cross-town from Chelsea and definitely worth seeing. There are holiday shops during the winter, a kids' summer concert series. and the Greenmarket throughout the warmer months.

If you're up for a subway or cab ride, Greenwich Village is a short ride south. At the center of the neighborhood is Washington Square Park, always filled with street musicians and a great spot for people watching. The Washington Arch is a must-see while in Manhattan.