5 things to do in the New York Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is one of New York's most famous food markets. It is a former biscuit factory converted into a market, with beautiful décor and lots of character.

Chelsea Market is a little piece of American culinary history. Did you know that Oreo cookies were invented here? If you come here, it's because you're looking for the best places to eat in New York: delicacies from around the world, wine bars, bakeries... But that's not all, because at Chelsea Market you'll also find some of the best things to buy in New York. What are you waiting for? Come and explore its picturesque shops and delicious restaurants!

How would you like to explore Chelsea in a comfortable and relaxed way, worrying only about taking photos, grabbing a bite to eat and enjoying yourself? This former industrial neighbourhood, now converted into one of the trendiest areas in New York, is home to art, designer shops and restaurants.

To get to know one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world in detail and not miss any of its attractions, I recommend taking a guided tour of the neighbourhood, which, of course, also includes the famous Chelsea Market.

There's nothing better than stopping at this old biscuit factory to recharge your batteries with a tasty snack!

Filaga Pizzeria

Founded by Sicilians, the secret to Filaga Pizzeria's pizza is in the dough. Alongside the classic Margherita, there's the Diavola, the San Gennaro, the Bufalina and the Vegana. They're all delicious.

Dickson's Farmstand

This is a butcher's shop where you can also eat. Two highly recommended dishes at Dickson's Farmstand are Brussels sprouts with bacon and roast chicken with potatoes.

Lobster Place

If you like seafood, you'll love this restaurant, which specialises in oysters, steamed lobster and sushi rolls. Check out Lobster Place to treat yourself after a morning of sightseeing.

Amy's Bread

It's no exaggeration to say that Amy's Bread is one of the best in the city, and once you try it, you'll understand why. The raisin and fennel bread is my favourite, although they sell other delicious products such as sandwiches, salads, cakes, biscuits and muffins.

Doughnuttery

Donut paradise is in New York, and it's called Doughnuttery. They come in many flavours and with different toppings. Try the cinnamon sugar, lemon pop, coco loco or bam berry. They're delicious with a coffee!

L'Arte del Gelato

Whether it's summer or winter, you always fancy a good ice cream for dessert, especially if it's homemade and served at L'Arte del Gelato. The cannella and Stracciatella flavours are to die for.

Chelsea Wine Vault

At this super cool wine bar, you can try different wines and toast your trip to New York. Treat yourself to a drink at Chelsea Wine Vault when you start to feel tired.

In addition to satisfying your appetite, I recommend taking a stroll through Chelsea Market to discover other cool shops. Here are a few of them:

Posman Books

A charming bookshop that sells original postcards and New York souvenirs as well as books. Stop by Posman Books when you visit Chelsea Market and you're sure to find something to take home with you.

Bowery Kitchen Supplies

Whether you're an aspiring chef or just want to browse through the most unusual kitchen utensils, you're sure to find what you're looking for here, as they sell all kinds of gadgets.

Chelsea Market Baskets

If you have a foodie friend, they'll be thrilled if you bring them a tasty souvenir from Chelsea Market Baskets in New York. They have a collection of delicacies made in the city that you'll love.

Artists & Fleas

The Artists & Fleas market brings together young designers, artisans, local artists and collectors. Here you'll find jewellery, clothing, accessories, paintings and much more. It's located next to the 10th Avenue entrance.

One of my favourite places in Chelsea Market is Chelsea Music Hall, in the basement of the market. It's a place where you can enjoy New York nightlife with good music, delicious cocktails and a great atmosphere.

Although it's not a particularly large venue, this club hosts all kinds of parties, private events and live music concerts by up-and-coming bands. Although there isn't a strict dress code, I recommend checking the official Chelsea Music Hall website to see the calendar and what kind of party or event is being held each day so you don't get caught off guard.

Before its resurrection as a fashionable neighbourhood, the Meatpacking District was an industrial area full of slaughterhouses and packing plants that supplied the city with meat by train. That's where it gets its name, which means "meat packing district" in English.

What I like about New York is that it's a city in constant reinvention; it's in its DNA. That's why a group of artists, writers and entrepreneurs saw the enormous potential of this neighbourhood and joined forces to revive and restore it. Today, everything from West 14th Street to Gansvoort Street is worth seeing.

Now you'll find new fashion boutiques, art galleries, nightclubs, bars and restaurants, while you can still see the more industrial side that once dominated the area: the tram tracks, the twisted ironwork and the hooks that make up the structure of the buildings.

Enjoy the best art and luxury shops in the Meatpacking District

• Contemporary art galleries: both renowned and emerging painters and sculptors exhibit their works to the delight of the New York public. In these spaces, we can even enjoy film screenings, concerts and readings.
• Museums: the Whitney Museum, a space specialising in 20th-century American art, has become the neighbourhood's treasure since its inauguration in 2015.
• Fashion shops: walking through the Meatpacking District, we can see shops run by young talents or established brands such as Christian Louboutin (59 Horatio St.), Alexander McQueen (419 West 14th St.), Carlos Miele (408 West 14th St.), Charles Nolan (30 Gansevoort St.) and Jean Shop (435 West 14th St.).
• Decor shops: There is always a boutique that catches your eye in the Meatpacking District, including those selling decor and furniture. One of the most interesting shops is Hudson Furniture Inc. (419 West 14th St.), as their pieces are handmade with great attention to detail.
• Electronics: A decade ago, the popular Apple Store (401 West 14th St.) took the place of what was once the largest butcher shop in the Big Apple, where you could buy the best steaks in all of Manhattan.

Next to Chelsea Market is the High Line, an elevated park that winds its way through Manhattan's skyscrapers without losing sight of the Hudson River. Sounds good, right? Well, I recommend you visit it because of all the parks in New York, this is one of the most original and least known to tourists.

The route is about 2.5 kilometres long, so you can easily walk it in a couple of hours and arrive at Hudson Yards, New York's trendy neighbourhood.

And what's so interesting about Hudson Yards? In addition to the most spectacular skyscrapers recently built in the city, you can go shopping in a luxurious shopping centre, admire the new sculpture The Vessel, and climb one of the highest viewpoints in the world (with a glass floor!): The Edge.

Chelsea Market is located in the Meatpacking District next to High Line Park, an urban park built on old elevated railway tracks that crosses western Manhattan. If you want to visit Chelsea Market, go to this address: 75 9th Ave, NY 10011.

The nearest underground stations are 14th Street and 8th Avenue (lines A, C, E, L).

Chelsea Market opening hours

This market is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Did you know?

Chelsea Market is not only home to a food market, bookshops, greengrocers, a club, clothing and art shops, but the upper floors of the building also house the offices of YouTube and Google, although these are not accessible without accreditation.

Employees use the lifts in this old building, which dates back to 1890, to go up and down. More than one person would like to be able to take a lunch break in a place like this, right?