A Guide To Eating Your Way Through New York City’s Chelsea Market

Grab a walking snack

Chelsea Market is quite huge, spreading an entire city block and then some with all its nooks, crannies, and hallways. It’s best to acclimate yourself before you really start exploring. What better way to do that than with a walking snack? Plenty of shops and stands sell to-go food that you can munch on while you take a pass through Chelsea Market window-shopping where you might want to eat or shop later.

For those who wish to start their day exploring Chelsea Market with a sweet indulgence, Bar Suzette and the Doughnuttery are great options. Bar Suzette serves some of the best crepes you’ll find in New York City or Paris. Fan favorites include their chocolate and coconut crepe and their honey and almonds crepe. The Doughnuttery offers some of the most creative doughnuts you’ll experience like House of Cardamom (cardamom and orange zest), PBCP (peanut butter, cayenne, and pretzel), and cheeky peach (peach, raspberry, and rose petals).

If you’re seeking something savory, and maybe a little spicy, Los Tacos No. 1 is the way to go. Three friends from Tijuana and California opened the Chelsea Market taco stand because they couldn’t find any authentic Mexican food in the city. Now, they serve their simple, traditional tacos on hand-pressed tortillas topped with fresh made salsas and guacamole.

Sit down for a fast casual bite

Now that you whet your appetite and have a better feel for the lay of the land, it’s time to move in for the kill and fill your stomach with a little more than a snack. As you saw from your pass through, the possibilities are endless. Perhaps you spotted a place where you want to sit down for your second course. If you can’t decide, here are a few suggestions.

Ramen is all the rage in New York City, and Mokbar is a great way to experience the traditional Japanese noodle dish with a Korean twist. While ramen is considered on-the-go street food in Japan and much of Mokbar’s business is to go, the real experience is to eat in the dining room where you can see chefs prepare made-to-order ramen. The anju menu (small Korean plates) is also fun to explore.

One of my favorite stops in Chelsea Market is Lobster Place. It’s one of the largest seafood shops I’ve experienced anywhere in the world. I’m always remiss that I can’t shop there since I always stay in a hotel when I’m in New York City. That doesn’t mean I still can’t enjoy the fresh seafood. Lobster Place has a raw bar to belly up to for a bite of fresh oysters or other crudo indulgences. Look for their daily dollar oysters specials. Cull & Pistol, which is attached to Lobster Place, offers a more intimate setting, and offers the same great raw bar selections alongside fresh lobster rolls.

Take a break from eating

You’re probably a little full by now and need a break from eating. It’s a good thing that Chelsea Market is more than just food. There are a few shops to browse like Anthropologie, Artists & Fleas, and Posman Books. If you want to stock up for food and drink supplies for your hotel room, check out Lucy’s Whey for artisanal cheeses, Amy’s Bread and Dickson’s Farmstand Meats for sandwich making supplies, Chelsea Wine Vault for wine, The Filling Station for craft beer, and Fat Which Bakery for decadent brownies.

If you need to stretch your legs a little more, venture outside of Chelsea Market to adjoining High Line Park, New York City’s newest greenway. Enjoy fresh air, as you walk along what was once a train track but is now a city park. Or, do as most foodie’s do when they’re not eating and drink! The Tippler is a great place for handcrafted cocktails and Corkbuzz is a unique option for a glass (or bottle) of wine.

The main course

Are you ready to dive in for the main course? Chelsea Market has you covered. One of my favorites is Giovanni Rana. I’m a sucker for any Italian restaurant specializing in house made pasta. Giovanni Rana’s showcases their handmade noodles with the option of a pasta-tasting menu where you can sample up to five pastas in one meal. The reginette with espresso braised short rib and porcini will have you licking the plate clean.

The Green Table is another favorite place to sit back and relax after an afternoon of exploring Chelsea Market. The Green Table is one of New York City’s first farm-to-table restaurants. Customers get to sample the best in local seasonal foods alongside an elegantly curated beer and wine menu. The fish of the daily is always fun to try as is grass-fed beef selections alongside seasonal vegetables.