Manhattan/Chelsea

• High Line Park

  phone: +1 212-500-6035
  address: Runs mostly along 10th Avenue from 34th Street south to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, with access points at Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 30th, and 34th Streets
  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.

• Poster House (Museum)

  phone: +1 917-722-2439
  address: 119 W. 23rd Street New York, NY 10011
  The first and only Poster Museum in the United States. Poster House opened to the public in June 2019.

• Rubin Museum of Art

  phone: +1 212-620-5000
  address: 150 W 17th St
  Art of the Himalayas.

MusikAnimal

• Whitney Museum of American Art

  phone: +1 212 570-3600
  address: 99 Gansevoort St
  Founded in 1931 and recently moved to a stunning new 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.

• Gagosian Gallery

  phone: +1 212 741-1111
  address: 555 West 24th St
  One of sixteen gallery spaces/shops all around the world owned by Larry Gagosian. Thoughtful and important exhibitions of both modern and contemporary art.

• Matthew Marks Gallery

  phone: +1 212 243-0200
  address: 523 West 24th St
  Modern and contemporary art shown through a variety of mediums including: sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, film, prints, drawings, and installation art.

• Chelsea Arts Tower

  phone: +1 212 206-0038
  address: 545 West 25th St
  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.
• Epicgenius

  Visio Dell'Arte

  phone: +1 212 796-5313
  address: 522 West 23rd St
  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.

• VesselOpened in March 2019, 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.

dave_7

• Madison Square Garden

  phone: +1 212 465-6741
  address: 4 Pennsylvania Plaza
  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. It also had been home to the New York Liberty WNBA team, but now only hosts two games a year, since that team moved the bulk of its home schedule to White Plains in Westchester County. 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.

GK tramrunner229

• Chelsea Piers

  phone: +1 212-336-6666
  address: 23rd St & Hudson River Park
  28-acre waterfront sports village. Amenities include golf, bowling, skating, batting cages, rock climbing, fitness center, spa and more.

Live theater and dance

• Atlantic Stage 2

  phone: +1 212-279-4200
  address: 330 W 16th St btn. 8th and 9th Ave
  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 technically 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

  phone: +1 212-691-9740
  address: 175 8th Ave
  One of the premier contemporary dance performance spaces in the world, with modern dance and ballet.

• Sleep No More

  phone: +1 212-904-1883
  address: 530 West 27th Street
  Enjoy Shakespeare's "Macbeth" re-imagined as a Hitchcock thriller in this silent, walk-around, interactive theater production.

• 29th Street Rep

  phone: +1 212-465-0575
  address: 212 W 29th St

Improv & sketch comedy

• Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre

  phone: +1 212 366-9176
  address: 307 W. 26th St
  Laughs as cheap as they come.

• Magnet Theater

  phone: +1 212 244-8824
  address: 254 W 29th St
  There's always something going on at the Magnet.

Gryffindor

• Chelsea Market

  address: 75 9th Ave
  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.

• B&H

  phone: +1 212 444-6615
  address: 420 9th Av.
  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

  phone: +1 212-807-0486
  address: 211 West 20th St.
  adult store with selections of fetishwear & corsets

• Buffalo Exchange

  phone: +1 212-675-3535
  address: 114 West 26th Street
  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

  phone: +1 212-741-0052
  address: 42 W. 18th St
  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.

Beyond My Ken

• Bill’s Bar & Burger

  phone: +1 212 414-3003
  address: 22 9th Avenue
  Bill’s serves a wide range of American fare and burgers.

• Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company

  phone: +1 212-924-2824
  address: 286 8th Ave
  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

  phone: +1 212 414-1717
  address: 119 7th Ave
  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.

• Co.

  phone: +1 212-243-1105
  address: 230 Ninth Ave
  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

  phone: +1 212 699-2400
  address: 675 Hudson Street
  Authentic and upscale Mexican cuisine, including fresh guac. and margaritas.

• Elmo

  phone: +1 212-337-8000
  address: 156 7th Avenue
  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

  phone: +1 212 620-5200
  address: 229 9th Ave
  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.

• Momoya

  phone: +1 212-989-4466
  address: 185 7th Avenue
  A traditional Japanese/Sushi menu with a vibrant fusion touch to it.

• Murray's Bagels Chelsea

  phone: +1 646 638-1335
  address: 242 8th Ave
  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

  phone: +1 212 242-6055
  address: 253 10th Ave
  Reliable place for panini and pasta, priced fairly.

• Rocket Pig

  phone: +1 212 645-5660
  address: 463 W 24th St
  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.

• Thai Sliders

  phone: +1 212-675-0080
  address: 150 8th Avenue

• Txikito

  phone: +1 212-242-4730
  address: 240 Ninth Ave.
  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.

• Whole Foods Market

  phone: +1 212 924-5969
  address: 250 7th Ave

• Empire Diner

  phone: +1 212-335-2277
  address: 210 10th Ave

La Citta Vita

• Café Grumpy

  phone: +1 212-255-5511
  address: 224 West 20th Street
  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

  phone: +1 212-564-1662
  address: 542 W 27th St
  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 located in the McKittrick Hotel. Definitely for the hopeless romantics.

• Hilo Bar

  phone: +1 212 837-4700
  address: 26 9th Avenue
  Nightspot offering cocktails, DJs & bottle service in an industrial-chic subterranean space.

• Paddles

  address: 250 W. 26th St.
  NYC's alternative/fetish/BDSM club

• Troy Liquor Bar

  phone: +1 212 699-2410
  address: 675 Hudson Street
  Foosball, board games & pool meet cocktails & beer at this low-frills basement lounge.

• Raines Law Room

  address: 48 West 17th Street
  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.

Beyond My Ken

Budget

• Chelsea International Hostel

  phone: +1 212-647-0010
  address: 251 West 20th St
  Small and clean. Internet access, 24-hour reception. All guests must show a passport when checking in, including U.S. citizens.

• Hotel Pennsylvania

  phone: +1 212 736-5000
  address: 401 7th Ave
  Large hotel, landmark, near all the action in the area. Once a luxury hotel built by the Pennsylvania Railroad at the time of its opening in 1919, it has sadly fallen upon hard times since the collapse of the railway company, and these days functions as a budget hotel. As low as $99/night. Restaurants, café, fitness centre, meeting facilities for 10 to 1000. Pet friendly. There is a $4 charge for each piece of luggage stored and be warned, cleanliness is not a high point.

Mid-range

• Hampton Inn Manhattan - Chelsea

  phone: +1 212-414-1000
  address: 108 West 24th St

• Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea

  phone: +1 212-627-1888
  address: 160 West 25th St

• GEM Hotel - Chelsea

  phone: +1 212-675-1911
  address: 300 West 22nd St
  The rooms are tiny, though bright and in good condition, as the hotel is new.

• Eventi Hotel

  phone: +1 212-564-4567
  address: 851 6th Av.
  New boutique hotel near Penn Station.

• Hilton Garden Inn New York/Chelsea

  phone: +1 212-564-2181
  address: 121 West 28th St
  A comfortable hotel with moderately sized rooms.

Splurge

• Dream Downtown - Chelsea

  phone: +1 646-625-4847
  address: 355 West 16th St.
  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 complimented 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.

Sebaso

• The Standard, High Line Hotel

  phone: +1 212-645-4646
  address: 848 Washington St
  A hip boutique hotel featuring business and event space, an on-site restaurant, bar and beer garden.

• Hyatt House New York / Chelsea

  phone: +1 212 513 0001
  address: 815 Avenue of the Americas
  Offers a choice of residential-like suites or studio hotel rooms.

• The High Line Hotel

  phone: +1 212-929-3888
  address: 180 10th Ave

• Chelsea Market

  phone: +1 212-652-2110
  address: 75 9th Ave
  Free Wi-Fi is offered at this public space.