In 1869, the world’s first elevated train was erected along Ninth Avenue, which sparked the development of warehouses, lumber yards and industry in Chelsea. The abandoned stretch was recently transformed into the High Line — a park in the air — and the area is home to luxury shopping, from Diane Von Furstenberg to Alexander McQueen, and high-end dining. But you can find hidden gems that are accessible to many, like a slice at Artichoke Pizza, a beer along the Hudson River and a stroll through one of the many art galleries.
Meet your local
Adrienne has lived in New York City since 2015. She’s a Maryland native who went to Los Angeles after college and then moved back east. She loves New York's culture, speakeasies and pop-up art and fashion exhibitions on any given day.
High Line
You can get your steps along Chelsea’s 1.45-mile-long landscaped public park. The elevated path on the historic rail line has manicured gardens and places to take in free art.
672 W. 34th St. New York, N.Y. 10001
Chelsea Market
Hosting some of the city’s coolest events — from big band swing nights, cheese tastings to free yoga — the Chelsea Market is filled with eateries and shops.
Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave. New York, N.Y. 10001
The McKittrick Hotel
The five-story building appears to be a hotel from the outside, but it’s actually a somewhat interactive theater where you stumble from room to room alongside the performers in “Sleep No More,” a show based on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” You are given masks at the start of the performance, so if you scream, no one will recognize you. Atop the hotel is a lush rooftop bar, Gallow Green.
The McKittrick Hotel, 530 W. 27th St. New York, N.Y. 10001
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza
Don’t leave without trying the popular namesake, the artichoke slice. Since the pizza shop is near many of Chelsea’s nightclubs, partyers often stop in for a late-night snack.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, 114 10th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10011
The Frying Pan
From May through October, a Coast Guard ship docked at Chelsea Piers doubles as a bar-restaurant. It’s a popular after-work spot, so if you want a place to sit, get there before 5 p.m.
The Frying Pan, 207 12th Ave. New York, N.Y. 10001
Einstein mural
At West 21st Street and Eighth Avenue, you can take a selfie in front of a spray-can-toting Albert Einstein. The background is in grayscale, with Einstein looming large in bright rainbow colors.