Tour Manhattan's culture-packed Chelsea neighborhood
Strolling through Chelsea, a leafy district that stretches roughly from 14th Street to 30th Street on Manhattan’s west side, you’ll see that this is a place of contrasts. Baby strollers roll past bars frequented by the LGBTQ community that helped transform this previously working-class area into one of the most out, loud, and proud neighborhoods in the nation. Streets lined with charming brownstones crisscross with avenues dominated by old factory buildings that now house art galleries and tech companies like Google. And on the westernmost fringe, the High Line perhaps defines Chelsea best — a lush public park set atop an abandoned elevated railway.
“I love its grittiness. I love its diversity. There’s so much activism. There’s so much culture,” says Reshma Saujani, author of Brave, Not Perfect and founder of Girls Who Code, a global nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in computer science and technology. “Plus, you get the most beautiful light throughout the neighborhood. It doesn’t feel like you’re in a huge urban city with big buildings.”
In previous WeekEnder staycations, we’ve eaten our way through the Bronx and headed to outer Brooklyn to embrace Coney Island’s winter delights. This time around, we’re exploring Chelsea with Reshma, a ground-breaking tech entrepreneur who not only lives here, she based her global nonprofit here: “New York City is the best place for tech and that’s why I launched Girls Who Code here — it was my movement playground.”
This is from The WeekEnder series: local insider guides for new destinations a short drive from New York City, delivered to your inbox twice a month. Sign up here!
So join us with this insider who knows all the best local spots — even where to get one of the city’s most amazing chocolate chip cookies.
-Laura Begley Bloom, New York's Senior WeekEnder Writer
Editor’s Note: Your safety is our primary concern. We encourage you only to travel when it’s safe to do so. While we’ve vetted businesses featured here to ensure they are adhering to the state’s current COVID requirements, the situation is fluid. If you’re not comfortable traveling, save this guide for a later date, as all these activities will be just as amazing in the future as they are today.
For more info on travel within New York, visit the state’s official COVID-19 information page.
Where to eat
Grab and Go (or Stay Awhile): Chelsea Market
The National Biscuit Company’s former factory is now home to dozens of local food vendors and is surrounded with outside pods that are perfect for safe, COVID-era dining. “You have everything — from Sarabeth’s pancakes to tacos that you could die for,” says Reshma.
Coffee Break: Yanni’s Coffee
“I discovered this spot recently,” says Reshma. “It’s a coffee shop with the best chocolate chip cookies in the city.”
Order In: Cookshop
Reshma is a fan of the greenmarket-sourced menu at Cookshop, which not only offers outdoor dining, you can have fresh meals delivered straight to your hotel (along with craft cocktail kits). Cookshop will also be participating in New York Restaurant week with a $20.21 to-go menu for lunch and dinner. Another plus: “It’s dog-friendly. My dog always gets a treat,” says Reshma.
Date Night: Le Zie Trattoria
A neighborhood favorite since 1999, Le Zie has adapted to the current climate with a warm and cozy outside dining space. “We go to Le Zie probably once a week for family dinners. There’s always something for everyone,” says Reshma.
Sweet Stop: Billy’s Bakery
An old-fashioned bakery that looks like it could be in Iowa. “The best cupcakes,” says Reshma.
What to do
For Naturalists: The High Line
“One of my favorite things about Chelsea,” says Reshma, who often frequents this open-air greenway built on an old train track high above the city streets. Grab a seat and have a picnic on one of the many overlooks; sign up for a docent-led tour at noon on Saturdays; check out the art installations. “And if you’re a runner, going for a run on the High Line is a must,” says Reshma. The High Line currently requires reservations on weekends for free timed entry; there’s open access during the week.
For Busy Bodies: Chelsea Piers
This sports and entertainment complex set on the Hudson River affords “a beautiful landscape of the city and so many cool things to do,” says Reshma. “You can play golf, take a hip-hop dance class, or hit up the arcade at Bowlmor Lanes.”
For Art Lovers: Rubin Museum of Art
This Asian cultural hub is a treasure trove of paintings, statues, textiles, and other pieces from Tibet, Bhutan, and beyond. “I love the Rubin — it has a lot of Asian and South Asian art,” says Reshma. Timed entry tickets are required for admission.
Where to stay
For Sweethearts: The High Line Hotel
A former seminary with a romantic courtyard and vintage design elements like rotary telephones from the 1920s. “It’s centrally located: right by the High Line, Chelsea Market, and the water. It’s beautiful,” says Reshma.
For Instagrammers: The Standard, High Line
Built right above the High Line in the nearby Meatpacking District, this boutique property is as New York as it gets. All the rooms have staggering skyline or river views.
Staycation Issues From The WeekEnder
You are reading a special ‘Staycation’ edition of The WeekEnder on Chelsea.
In our first Staycation issue on The Bronx we spoke with two locals who gave us their recommendations for a food-focused escape to NYC’s most northern borough. Read it here.
Our second Staycation went on a winter beach trip to Coney Island with a local muralist who showed us where to get the most authentic hot dogs and see the best art. Read it here.
In our future Staycation issues, we will cover:
Queens
The Neighborhood: Corona
Who we spoke to: Hitomi Iwasaki
What they do: Director of Exhibitions/Curator, Queens Museum
“Corona is a vital part of the city of New York but is still resisting the wave of gentrification,” says Hitomi Iwasaki.
Staten Island
The Neighborhood: The North Shore
Who we spoke to: Puiyan Taglianetti
What they do: Visitor Services and Education Coordinator at Snug Harbor
“There is so much diversity and not just diversity in people, but there’s also diversity in restaurants and diversity in experiences to enjoy,” says Puiyan Taglianetti.
Tip: For more information on curated itineraries in Chelsea and the rest of New York City, visit our friends over at nycgo.com.
Weekend plans. Shared.
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