Hotel Chelsea

The iconic circa 1883 Victorian Gothic hotel was recently revamped, and is now wowing the next wave of creatives with artful rooms and a storied Basque restaurant.

Forgetting about the wellness scene. The hotel’s spa and fitness offerings will open shortly.

The past guest list of The Hotel Chelsea reads like a small town phone book…if everyone in this small town was notorious in the art and culture scene. Among the myriad boldfaced names who’ve called this retreat home, if only for a night or two? Patti Smith, who espoused its “shabby elegance” and “Victorian dollhouse rooms”; Andy Warhol (who filmed Chelsea Girls here in 1966); and Bob Dylan, who rented an apartment here from 1961 to 1964. (Generations earlier, Mark Twain and Dylan Thomas also roamed its hallowed halls). Today, the hotel has been sumptuously remodeled without losing an ounce of its style or street cred. Guest rooms start at a cozy 190 square feet—luxuriously equipped with a charming and historic-feeling marble and antiqued brass bathroom with a rainfall shower; curated minibar; and toiletries from New York brand Red Flower. To spread out like a rock and roll band (everyone from the Grateful Dead to Jimi Hendrix bunked here), consider booking an 895 square foot “Deluxe Atelier” suite, equipped with a separate living space for penning your next mega ballad.

You’re a history and food obsessive, and El Quijote, the on-site restaurant, offers the best of both. Both Patti Smith and Andy Warhol partied hard here, but they’d love the new Basque Country menu, which includes dishes like squid and blood sausage with squid ink sauce and ribeyes with pimenton (paprika) butter.

You love a lobby bar, but this one is particularly entrancing. Is it the ghost of Tennessee Williams in the corner? Or the fact that this is the most divine dirty martini you’ve ever sipped? Only time will tell.

El Quijote - Inspired by the culinary offerings of the Basque Country, El Quijote’s menu combines traditional Spanish dishes with refreshing, modern pairings.

Lobby Bar - A classic European-style Lobby Bar with a focus on cocktails and small plates.