Visit Chelsea Market

May 31

May 31 Visit Chelsea Market

I visited New York for the first time recently and it exceeded every single expectation I had. I’ll do a full blog post soon about what brought me to the city for two nights but that’s a longer story (Thank you, Pinterest!) Visiting Chelsea Market was high up on my list of must-dos, so I thought I would share a few recommendations for other first timers like myself!

My sister and I took the subway almost everywhere during our trip and had an entertaining time finding the closest train to Chelsea Market. However to our surprise, we found that locals were notably friendly and incredibly helpful everywhere we went. We ended up taking the C Train and hopped off at the 14th street station, then walked to 9th Ave. Located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, we knew we were in the right place when we saw that infamous red cow symbolizing the long history of the market. Chelsea Market is often described as a “neighborhood market with a global perspective” thanks to its 6 million annual visitors from around the globe. Even with dimly lit hallways and stall-like spaces, the reason for that description becomes clear the moment you step foot inside. Then, the magic begins.

Come to Chelsea hungry because there are seemingly endless options to satisfy any craving. Peddling everything from regional wine to freshly roasted coffee, authentic New York cheesecake to crusty loaves of bread, cheesy pizza and generously topped sandwiches, this market has it all. Forewarning, the place gets packed, so be prepared to wait in a line for your grub. I chose Chalait for it’s fresh quinoa bowls filled with locally sourced ingredients; like butternut squash, cauliflower, quinoa, avocado, black beans, tomatoes, arugula and pickled red onion, topped with a soft boiled egg and punch of flavor packed Sriracha tahini dressing. My stomach is rumbling just thinking about that meal.

Good eats aside, there are also a variety of vendors selling local wares, fresh flowers and stylish apparel. Sipping our iced coffees for a much needed caffeine boost, we checked out stall after stall and couldn’t get enough of the countless choices. Prepare to be in close quarters, picture shoulder to shoulder browsing, throughout your experience at Chelsea Market. That only added to the communal feel and made for a strangely cozy vibe even amongst hundreds of strangers.

After a couple hours of exploring, we reentered the bustling New York streets into the sunlight of reality. If you’re looking for a dreamlike escape in New York City, Chelsea Market is an idyllic retreat.
Stay tuned for my next post about walking the neighboring High Line.