Luxury vacation rentals: beautifully furnished homes in Chelsea

Chelsea Market is NYC’s landmark food hall in a former Nabisco factory—yes, where the Oreo was born—now a ground-floor concourse of top vendors with shops and art tucked between brick and steel. It’s steps from the High Line and a short walk to Little Island, so you can graze, then head for the river. Visit Chelsea Market

The Whitney Museum of American Art is home to modern and contemporary American works set in a striking Renzo Piano building. Inside, you’ll find rotating exhibitions that spotlight 20th- and 21st-century artists, especially those tied to New York and its many subcultures. Visit Whitney Museum

The Museum at FIT is Chelsea’s fashion museum—award-winning, ideas-driven exhibitions drawn from a 50,000+ piece collection spanning the 18th century to today. Recent shows range from “Fashioning Wonder” to “Dress, Dreams & Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis,” underscoring MFIT’s knack for smart, tightly curated storytelling. Visit The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Running from Battery Park City in Tribeca to Hell’s Kitchen, you can experience kayaking or paddleboarding along the picturesque Hudson waterfront. Visit Hudson River Park

Little Island is a tiny, futuristic park that seems to float on tulip-shaped pillars above the Hudson—a quick, memorable detour just steps from Greenwich Village. Stroll over via the West Side waterfront, then wander its winding paths, terraces, and lawns for big river views, public art, and seasonal plantings packed into just a few acres. Visit Little Island

Edge is an outdoor sky deck 100 stories up with a glass floor, angled glass walls you can lean into, and a champagne bar in the sky. It’s billed as the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere (about 1,131 ft above the city), with sweeping views from the Statue of Liberty to Central Park. For extra adrenaline, City Climb straps you in to scale the crown of 30 Hudson Yards on a 45° staircase and lean out over Manhattan. Visit Edge

Gallow Green’s seasonal rooftop garden is leafy, low-lit, and a little hidden. Stop in for brunch, and the bustle fades into greenery and easy, summer-ready drinks. Visit Gallow Green

Shukette is a lively spot in Chelsea—counter seats by the charcoal grill, handmade frena/laffa to enjoy with labneh and zhoug, and kebabs, seafood, and tagines built for sharing. Expect big Eastern Mediterranean flavor. Visit Shukette

Da Andrea (Chelsea) is the neighborhood’s warm, pasta-first Italian—house-made tagliatelle and ravioli, daily specials, and a price-friendly lunch/prix-fixe in a lively room. Open daily from late morning through dinner, it’s an easy pick for a relaxed, unhurried meal before or after the High Line.. Visit Da Andrea Chelsea

LOULOU is Chelsea’s photogenic French bistro with a playful twist—house breads and brasserie classics upstairs, a speakeasy lounge downstairs, and a cocktail list as dressed-up as the room. Come for weekend brunch (think croque, niçoise, a namesake burger) or a late dinner and drinks—the bar leans herbaceous and a little theatrical (try “The Daily Green”). Visit LOULOU

Enjoy a perfectly brewed cup at this popular spot where meticulous preparation and high-quality, sustainably sourced beans are the standard. Visit Blue Bottle Coffee

Hudson Yards is 28 acres of shops, restaurants, public art, and river-view architecture stitched to the High Line at the west edge of Chelsea. The retail complex stacks 100+ stores and dining rooms under one roof, with seasonal programming (light installations and concerts) animating the plazas outside. Visit Hudson Yards

Chelsea Flea is a vintage hunter’s weekend fix—an open-air market stacked with rare antiques, retro fashion, unique collectibles, and handmade finds. Open every weekend, it's perfect for browsing, bargaining, and uncovering one-of-a-kind pieces in the heart of Manhattan. Visit Chelsea Flea Market

Browse unique artisan goods and vintage treasures at this trendy Brooklyn market. Visit Artists & Fleas