Hells Kitchen is a classic NYC neighborhood to visit while you’re in New York City. While it doesn’t have the obvious charms of SoHo, West Village, East Village or Nolita, there are lots of great things to do in Hells Kitchen. I have a soft spot for Hells Kitchen after living in New York City for nearly two years, because it’s so not a scene. Hells Kitchen lacks some of the grander sights (see: gangster stronghold until the 1980s), but there are plenty of things to do – like the Intrepid Museum, the Don’t Tell Mama piano bar, Hudson River Park and the North River Lobster Co. There are a lot of great places to eat and drink in Hell’s Kitchen, but they’re not always as easy to find as in other parts of New York City.

Read on for my Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood guide, complete with the best things to do, best restaurants & best bars in Hell’s Kitchen!

Where is Hell’s Kitchen?

Hell’s Kitchen is a neighbourhood in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City. Is is considered a separate neighbourhood to Midtown. Hell’s Kitchen is located on the west side of Manhattan, spanning from the Hudson River to 8th Avenue, and between W 34th and W 59th Streets.

Map of Hell’s Kitchen

The Best Things to Do in Hells Kitchen

North River Lobster Co

Taking a sunset cruise on the Hudson River is easily one of the best things to do in Hells Kitchen. Docked at Pier 86, The North River Lobster Co is a boat bar, that floats down the Hudson River every day during the warmer months. All you need to pay for is your own food & drinks, which makes it the best way to get a free sunset cruise on the Hudson River! Time your trip for golden hour and make sure you arrive on the boat well before departure so you can snag a great spot. It’s very relaxed, they don’t check your spend, they just assume that you’re on the bar to order food & drinks, like any other bar.

 Intrepid Museum

Stay with me for this one. A giant aircraft carrier-turned-museum didn’t sound like my idea of fun when David first suggested it to me, but I found it fascinating! Docked in Hells Kitchen at Pier 81, the USS Intrepid was used in WWII, and is now the Intrepid Museum. You can have a poke around the ship, there are at least a dozen air craft parked on the deck and the space museum below deck is maybe the best part.

Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park runs for four miles along the west side of Manhattan, and runs right along Hells Kitchen. Go for a walk or jog along the Hudson River Park pathway for glorious Manhattan & New Jersey skyline views, or find a patch of lawn to sit back and watch the world go by – always one of the best things to do in New York City

Don’t Tell Mama

Don’t Tell Mama is a lively, quintessentially “showbiz” piano bar in Hells Kitchen, in the heart of the Theater District. It’s obviously super touristy, but it’s a lot of fun – we visited when we lived in New York, with friends who were visiting from Australia. Book a table in the piano bar for 9pm, when the extremely talented team of bar staff & waiters take turns belting out show tunes until the early hours of the morning. All of the team working in the piano bar have been on Broadway, Off Broading or National Tours, so you’re in for a real show!

Coffee in Hell’s Kitchen

Frisson Espresso

Frisson Espresso is some of the best coffee in Hells Kitchen. This tiny café is often packed! My fabulous Uncle Matt gave me this tip before our first trip to New York City, and it did not disappoint.

326 W 47th St (between 8th & 9th Ave)

Restaurants in Hells Kitchen

Yingtao

For fine dining, which can be rare in Hell’s Kitchen, consider Yingtao. It opened since we moved back to Australia, but I wanted to suggest it here as it’s one of the most exciting restaurants in Hells Kitchen I’ve come across. Executive Chef Jakub Baster has a stellar CV, including Michelin-starred Daniel, World’s 50 Best Astrid & Gaston in Lima, and Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic at the Four Seasons Megève in France. The restaurant is an homage to the cooking of owner Bolun Yao’s late grandmother, and references Chinese cuisine found across China including from Xi’an, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzho.

44 & X

I can’t remember how we came to be eating dessert at three in the afternoon, but 44 & X was a cute place to sit outside and watch the world go buy over dessert. The restaurant serves modern American cuisine and has a Tony-inspired cocktail list – only fitting, as it’s a short walk from Broadway.

622 Tenth Ave (Near the corner of 44th & 10th)

The Best Bars in Hell’s Kitchen

Pocket Bar

I am so glad we stumbled upon this place on our last night in New York (on our first trip). Pocket Bar, as the name suggests, is very cosy. When we arrived, we opened the door and saw that it was tiny and basically full, so we turned around and walked away. The manager came out after us and invited us in, finding room for us around the corner of the bar and as we walked in, we were greeted by welcoming nods and smiles from other patrons in the bar. It was a surreal experience to have in New York City, and it was such a breath of fresh air. The woman sitting beside us struck up a conversation and gave us great tips for our upcoming weekend in New Orleans. I think half of it was down to the intimate, convivial atmosphere at Pocket Bar where it felt more like a small gathering of friends than a crowded room of strangers.

American Retro Sports Bar

A classic American sports bar is an essential part of Hell’s Kitchen’s character. American Retro is a classic American sports bar, not yet gentrified with too many craft beers or fussy food. American Retro hits the spot with live sport, fancy-free booths and a more-is-more menu, that’s a fun experience if you’re travelling from outside the USA. We visited on our first trip to New York City, and it was a fun novelty.

Wine Escape

Wine Escape is a cosy wine bar in Hell’s Kitchen. Located just off Broadway, its perfect for a post-theater drink, especially if you’ve been at The Majestic Theater nearby.

Healthy Food in Hell’s Kitchen

SUNAC Natural Market

On our first trip to New York City, we were staying for 8 weeks, in an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. There’s a dearth of high quality grocery stores in NYC, so I am so glad our apartment was above SUNAC Natural Market. The fresh fruit bar was a godsend, making it cheap and easy to load up on fresh fruit and veggies. There’s a deli, bakery and plenty of salads to take away, which makes it possible to grab something cheap and healthy on the run.

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