The Hotel Chelsea, a NYC landmark and haven for creative minds, reopened its doors after a significant renovation in 2022. This establishment, renowned for its rich cultural history, is ideal for a celebration steeped in historic charm and artistic flair.
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Reported By: Pallavi Mehra
Pictured Above: Andy Warhol for the filming of Chelsea Girls, 1966. Credits: David McCabe/Hotel Chelsea
The Hotel Chelsea is not just another celebrity-favorite boutique hotel. Built in the late 1800s, the Queen Anne-style landmark property was a residential building to countless notable figures. It has hosted everyone from Mark Twain to Stanley Kubrick to Patti Smith, Tom Waits, Ethan Hawk, Leonard Cohen, and even Madonna. The hotel holds a unique allure for New Yorkers and visitors eager to experience or re-experience its storied past. It is undoubtedly a cultural landmark that offers an opportunity to couples seeking a unique and romantic setting for their celebrations. This hotel is the ultimate manifestation of unhurried indulgence.
Pictured Above: Hotel Lobby, Pictured Below: The Bard Room. Credits: Annie Schlechter
Illustrious Guests
This urban property has provided a sanctuary for generations of artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other creatives, fostering their talents and shaping New York City’s – and the world’s – cultural fabric. Literary giants such as Mark Twain, Jack Kerouac, and Arthur Miller stayed within its walls, alongside musicians such as Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. Artists such as Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe found inspiration there, and actors like Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke called it home. This diverse range of talent contributed to the property’s distinctive bohemian vibe and cemented its place in New York City's cultural history.
Pictured Above: A candid image of Janis Joplin outside the Hotel Chelsea, 1969. Credits: David Gahr
An Artistic Escape From the Hustle and Bustle
Although in the heart of the busy metropolis New York City, once you enter the hotel, you are far removed from the hustle and bustle. Owners Sean MacPherson, Ira Drukier, and Richard Born, the team behind hotels such as The Bowery and The Marlton, have led the redesign of the Hotel Chelsea. They have successfully refreshed the property's interiors while honoring its distinctive spirit and history. Art remains central to the hotel, with a curated collection of well-known and lesser-known works exhibited throughout the property. The Hotel Chelsea houses artworks by prominent artists, including Donald Baechler, Maryan S. Maryan, Ching Ho Cheng, Sandro Chia, Ultra Violet, Robert Lambert, Stan Brakhage, Alain Jacquet, Philip Taafe, and Hiroya.
Pictured Above: The Hotel Chelsea Lobby, Cafe Chelsea / Credit: Annie Schlechter
Opulent Guest Rooms for the Dreamiest of Slumber Parties with Friends
Hello, dreamy slumber party! The property offers more than just an exquisite historical setting. The Hotel Chelsea boasts 158 well-appointed guest rooms and suites. Guest rooms at the Hotel Chelsea showcase a blend of bohemian chic and timeless elegance, reflecting its history as a home for artists and creatives. Expect a mix of vintage and modern elements, with touches such as eye-catching artworks, antique furnishings, animal-print chairs, and dark wood bedside tables.
Each room offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, featuring comfortable beds, plush bedding, and thoughtful amenities. Some rooms house restored original details such as ornate fireplaces and stained glass windows with perforated shears that pay homage to the neighborhood's rock and roll history, and private balconies offering glimpses of the vibrant Chelsea neighborhood.
*Editors Note: We highly reccommend ordering room service :)
Pictured Above: The Hotel Chelsea Guest Room. Credits: Annie Schlechter
Dinner Party in a Historic Tea Room
The Hotel Chelsea features an array of carefully restored historic event spaces, each providing a one-of-a-kind ambiance perfect for gatherings ranging from intimate dinner parties to extravagant wedding celebrations. The property is very popular for both destination weddings and corporate events. The hotel’s tastefully designed venues redefine the idea of modern luxury. Furthermore, its in-house expert team works with guests to curate customized weddings or events.
Your guests will be welcomed by a beautifully restored lobby housing an ironwork chandelier, olive-green velour curtains, a majestic fireplace, contemporary and vintage furnishings, and art by former residents and acclaimed artists. Adjacent to the lobby, the historic Tea Room, once Stanley Bard's (the Hotel Chelsea’s esteemed former owner and manager) office, boasts an original painted ceiling and offers an intimate setting for up to 20 guests for private dinners, meetings, and special events. This elegant room has a street-facing window providing plenty of natural light, making it an excellent spot for leisurely lunch events and celebrations.
Pictured Above: Tea Room, The Hotel Chelsea. Credits: The Hotel Chelsea
The Coziest Cocktail Hour Spot
The Piano Room, nestled within the Lobby Bar, is a grandiose European-style room. The living room-style space, will make your guests feel as if they have entered your wealthy aunts home. Featuring original architectural details such as marble floors, age-old chandeliers, and restored wood paneling, this room is excellent for glamorous cocktail-style receptions of up to 75 guests. It also has a spacious layout with a striking brass-railed bar and mirrored accents. Verdant solariums seamlessly integrate with the room, offering a light-filled and garden-like ambiance for dining and lounging.
If you host a cozy cocktail hour here, you won't need an ounce of decor. Maybe just a floral arrangement. Or two.
Pictured Above: Piano Room, The Hotel Chelsea. Credits: The Hotel Chelsea
Classic Martinis and Shareable Small Plates
Moreover, the Lobby Bar has been rated as one of Chelsea’s best bars, and for good reason. Its expertly curated menu focuses on delicious cocktails and a selection of small plates. Signature concoctions like the 1884 Martini and Viva Superstar sit alongside classic libations inspired by iconic bars worldwide, including the Dukes Martini and the Singapore Sling.
Pictured Above: Martini + Appetizers, Credits: Eric Medsker / Lobby Bar, The Hotel Chelsea. Credits: Annie Schlechter
Moody Lounge Vibes
El Quijote, a Spanish restaurant, with room for up to 60 guests, first opened its doors in 1930, drawing inspiration from Miguel de Cervantes' iconic novel, Don Quixote. Now under the stewardship of Sunday Hospitality and partner Charles Seich, with culinary direction by Jaime Young, El Quijote has been reimagined. This refreshed iteration retains the spirit of its predecessor while offering a lively bar scene. The refurbished restaurant serves Spanish cuisine with a focus on regional specialties from Catalunya, the Basque Country, and Valencia. Celebrating its history, El Quijote’s interiors showcase restored original details, including ceilings, floors, and a signature mural inspired by Don Quixote.
For private gatherings, El Quijote has the Cervantes Room, a private space accommodating up to 10 guests, complete with a dedicated wine room. The Cervantes Room is the perfect private venue for trying the restaurant’s custom tasting menu.
Pictured Above: El Quijote, The Hotel Chelsea. Credits: Eric Medsker
Put Your Napkins in Your Laps
We are loving the return to more formal and fancy gatherings. Tell your guests to get gussied up and channel your inner Bridgerton with a wedding, dinner party or coporate event in this historic ballroom. Named after Stanley Bard, the Bard Room is equipped to host the finest of celebrations. With a capacity of up to 100 guests, a private bar, and a dedicated entrance, this magnificent ballroom offers an exquisite setting for large occasions. The restored original ceiling and historic antique brass chandeliers add a touch of elegance. Need something a tad more flexible? The space can be divided into two separate rooms.
Pictured Above: The Bard Room, The Hotel Chelsea. Credits: Annie Schlechter
A Classic French Dinner Gathering
Café Chelsea, the first new restaurant at the hotel in nearly a century, brings classic French cuisine to the iconic property. Operated by Sunday Hospitality and Chef Charles Seich, the restaurant, housed in the former Capitol Fishing Tackle shop, seamlessly blends into the hotel's historic ambiance. The interiors exhibit the building's history, incorporating vintage chandeliers, zinc bars, and decorative molding.
On the Menu: You can choose from various dining experiences: the Petit Café for a daytime event, the Grand Café for a formal dinner, the private Cave à Vin, and the verdant Solarium with its own bar. Executive Chef Derek Boccagno's menu celebrates seasonal ingredients and features French staples such as Roast Chicken, Beef Tartare, Niçoise Salad, and Dauphinoise Ravioli.
Pictured Above: Cafe Chelsea, Credit: Annie Schlechter / Indoor Cafe Chelsea, Credit: Alden Price / Dauphinouse Ravioli, Beef Tartare, Credits: Noah Fecks
French Tiled Floors for Chic Dinner Parties
Café Chelsea's private dining space—Cave à Vin with adjoining private Solarium Bar and the Petit Café, are each suited for seated events with up to 32 guests or standing cocktail receptions with up to 50 guests. The Cave à Vin with mahogany paneled walls, brass details, and French tiled floor hosts the chicest of dinner parties. The Solarium Bar is a bright and airy space with a glass ceiling, white painted brick, and white marble-topped bar, the perfect place to gather before dinner.
Pictured Above: Cave à Vin + Solarium Bar. Credits: Annie Schlechter Petit Café. Credits: Annie Schlechter
Get Pampered with Friends and Family
No New York City party or group vacation is complete without a wee bit of pampering. Tell your guests or co-travelers to bring their sheet masks, eye masks and grab the hotel slippers for a spa day in the city. Situated on the penthouse level, the Spa at the Hotel Chelsea provides a serene escape with a private terrace garden. It is a tranquil space, ideal to relax with friends and family during your stay. The Spa houses hydrotherapy amenities, a traditional Swedish sauna, aromatic steam showers, soaking tubs for bathing rituals, and ice baths.
Pictured Above: The Spa, The Hotel Chelsea, Credits Annie Schlechter
It also features cozy changing rooms, a fireplace lounge, and six thoughtfully appointed treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite, for bodywork and facials. The Spa’s treatments include therapeutic massages, holistic healing with cupping therapy, reiki, craniosacral, reflexology, and Chakra alignment, as well as high-performance facials, conceptualized in partnership with Dr. Barbara Sturm, Votary, and Sangre de Fruta.
Pictured Above: The Spa, The Hotel Chelsea, Credit: Annie Schlechter / Apothecary, The Hotel Chelsea. Credits: Annie Schlechter
The Chicest Gym, EVER
We know, we know. It's really hard to work out when you are having so much fun with friends and family. For those who don't want to skip a sweat sesh, a mere hop, skip and a jump from the spa is the Hotel Chelsea’s Gym with reclaimed barn floors, 40-foot ceilings, and natural light streaming in from skylights! Mama mia. With spectacular city views and top-of-the-line equipment, the gym caters to all fitness levels, making it the perfect 'gym-away-from-home' for guests.
Pictured Above: Gym, Photo Credit: Annie Schlechter
Black-Tie but Chill
Despite the formal black-tie uniforms, service at the Hotel Chelsea is remarkably relaxed and inviting. The staff is genuinely warm and encourages guests to be independent, allowing for effortless exploration of the city.
The hotel’s bohemian vibe and thoughtful service assure an unmatched level of comfort, while incorporating sophistication in every aspect. The Hotel Chelsea’s profound historical significance as a New York cultural landmark, coupled with its meticulously restored architecture and refined elegance, will help you create memories that will last a lifetime.
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