The best restaurants in NYC's Chelsea

Chef/partner Ayesha Nurdjaja’s follow-up to the wildly popular Shuka in Soho opened in July of 2021, made it to our list of that year's best restaurants, and it’s still as buzzy as the original. Tables are hard to come by, but you can still grab a spot outside of primetime hours to dig into salt cod dip, grape leaves, joojeh chicken and steak kebab along with beer, wine and spritzers. 

This is one of a five of darling Jack’s Wife Freda locations in NYC. Walk-ins are encouraged for rosewater waffles at breakfast, duck bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches at lunch and fish a la plancha, chicken schnitzel and sirloin steak at dinner. A smattering of wine carafes are $30 and under, and cocktails like manhattans, negronis and aviations are $15. 

Rangoon expanded from its highly-regarded Brooklyn location to Manhattan last fall. Burmese disco fries, fried chicken and grilled lemongrass pork meatball skewers are among small plates, with cinnamon chicken curry, tea leaf fried rice and oodles of noodles among the larger options. 

Cookshop first opened on 10th Avenue in 2005, and its longevity in the ever-changing area is a testiment to its menus and atmosphere. Come by for wide-ranging, seasonally-updated brunch, lunch and dinner items, plus cocktails, wine and beer. 

When it’s steak you seek, head to Old Homestead, one of the best steakhouses in NYC with a mood to match. First opened in 1868, it’s certainly seen a few updates, but it still has a little bit of an Old New York feeling, with tufted leather banquettes and a fine selection of steaks, chops and classic apps like crab cakes and oysters Rockefeller. 

One of the coolest bars in NYC and beyond, La Noxe is speakeasy-inspired from top to bottom, replete with an intimate subterranean location and discrete exit into the 28th Street subway station. Squeeze into the 600 square-foot space, settle into a sumptuous love seat and sip a tipple or two before you saunter back out into the night. 

The McKittrick Hotel’s is as lovely and verdant as ever. Fire up your selfie snapping finger and dine among the vines on seasonal salads, steak au poivre, raw bar items and shareable snacks like cheese plates. Cocktails like the Sleep No More (vodka, elderflower, butterfly-pea flowers, citrus and cider) are as colorful as the surrounding flora. 

The Chelsea outpost of six Seamore’s citywide has seaside vibes and menus, too. Check out its fish and oysters of the day before you visit, or stick to the always available red curry mussels, lobster roll or fish and chips. Happy hour runs on weekdays from 3pm to 6pm when oysters are $1.50 by the half-dozen, beer is $5, wine is $7 and house mixed drinks are $9.

With a name that evokes classic showbiz lounges, a space that looks a little like a spaceship from the 70s and karaoke-style tunes that might bring you back to any decade, Sid’s sure is a time warp. And its live piano karaoke has been known to attract some real talent, so sip a little liquid courage via beer, wine, and more cocktails than most karaoke spots have on offer, before you take the stage. 

Sullivan Street Bakery's "thoroughly Roman" menu includes chocolate, cream, or jam bomboloni, square slices and all manner of sandwiches. Casual seats are available inside and out. 

Although we can’t help but wonder whether this erstwhile scenestaurant will make it to the incoming second season of the Sex and the City reboot, we can always visit to reminisce. Now in its second decade, Carries, Charlottes, Mirandas and (um, maybe separately) Samanthas can still pile in to ponder life’s greatest mysteries over eggs any way, big salads, burgers, four kinds of mac and cheese and–you guessed it!– cosmos.

Order tacos and quesadillas with aguas frescas at this colorful stand in bustling Chelsea Market. Although Los Tacos No. 1 now has five NYC locations, this was the original. 

Another Chelsea Market favorite, this is Israeli pita shop Miznon's first US address. Choose from "in a pita" options like the falafel burger, or "out of the pita" plates like ratatouille, whole roasted baby cauliflower and overnight brisket.