It’s difficult to visit here and not think about food. It’s difficult to say the name and not think about food! But word associations aside, the reputation Hell’s Kitchen holds as a culinary powerhouse is long-lived and well-deserved. From its humble roots in tenement housing and bootleg distilleries, this neighborhood has blossomed into one of the city’s most prominent playgrounds for foodies, where delicacies from all corners of the earth can be enjoyed in venues ranging from black-tie elegant to food-truck casual.
On Restaurant Row
Any mention of restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen usually starts with ‘Restaurant Row,’ a stretch of West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues which boasts little else than food. If you’ve snapped up an apartment for rent in Hell’s Kitchen, ‘Restaurant Row’ is in your backyard, and the offerings there are legendary. The oldest and arguably most famous restaurant in the bunch is Barbetta, a dazzling Italian gem that’s been owned by the same family for more than 100 years. Across the street, Joe Allen’s classic American fare has added spice: the possibility of celebrity sightings, and Bar Centrale below is the place for elegant pre- and post-theater drinks. Headed for its sixth anniversary on the famous street, La Pulperia boasts Chef Barroz’s exciting blend of Latin American flavors with a break from the formality that characterizes so many of the street’s offerings.
Off Restaurant Row
An apartment for rent in Hell’s Kitchen may come at a price, but rent includes a culinary passport. Off ‘Restaurant Row,’ the neighborhood practically teems with epicurean delights. Pick a country off the map and chances are good that there’s a restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen offering its national cuisine. Various waterfront restaurants let you feel like you’re on vacation, with greats like Pier 81 and North River Lobster Company on opposite ends of the spectrum; Pier 81 is fine dining while a visit to NRLC means dining in a fish shack. The Ninth Avenue Association’s International Food Festival has occurred every May since 1974 and is one of the city’s oldest street fairs. Tenth Avenue between 43rd and 47th Streets is a food-truck highway, allowing patrons to experience a wide array of local and international options without breaking the bank.
This neighborhood has something for everyone as far as food is concerned. An apartment for rent in Hell’s Kitchen means you can experience it all, with ease and at your leisure. You could pick a new restaurant in the area each week for a year and you wouldn’t travel far, there’s so much on offer. Its history, location and buzzing energy all combine to make Hell’s Kitchen a central location in NYC’s food scene and a prime spot to call home.
Hell’s Kitchen rentals offer more than lively nightlife and top restaurants in a prime location. Another perk of calling this neighbourhood home is its proximity to some of the city’s best cultural attractions, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Museum of Arts and Design. For lovers of science and history, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum offers visitors the chance to come aboard a national historic landmark, explore a wide variety of exhibits related to flight and tour authentic aircraft and vessels.
As the focal point of the museum, the USS Intrepid is a decommissioned former aircraft carrier which fought in World War II, the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Visitors to the museum can walk the decks of this historic ship and view 28 authentically restored aircraft from the flight deck. The adjacent Space Shuttle Pavilion houses the Enterprise space shuttle, a major part of NASA’s human spaceflight program, and includes information about the talented individuals who dedicated themselves to this extraordinary endeavor.
Other attractions at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum include the British Airways Concorde jet, which made the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing in history, taking just under three hours. The submarine Growler is the only American guided missile submarine open to the public, where visitors can glimpse formerly top-secret equipment.
When learning about space, submarines and service to country has left you famished, the museum’s Aviator Grill serves hearty breakfasts and lunches overlooking the pier, while the Intrepid Marketplace offers New York classics from the mess deck of the ship. Two different museum stores on site ensure you’ll find the perfect souvenir or gift. Who knew Hell’s Kitchen rentals were in walking distance of some of the most exciting and daring technologies of the sea and sky?
The phrase, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!” definitely applies to Hell’s Kitchen, but only if you understand ‘the heat’ to mean historically awesome nightlife, exciting restaurants and an energy that feels like the essence of NYC. What was once the gritty home of working-class Irish immigrants later become a haven for actors, where low rents and walking commutes to theaters on Broadway made the neighborhood an obvious choice. Now, Hell’s Kitchen is best known for its density and its diversions, where old-style New York frivolity meets ever-modernizing spaces for living and leisure. Still not convinced? Here are five solid reasons why you won’t regret opting for a luxury rental in Hell’s Kitchen:
Pier 81, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Hudson Yards, the Theatre District and even Times Square if you really feel like playing tourist – Hell’s Kitchen has some of the city’s best spots to let off steam. NYC often forces residents to choose between amenities and vibrancy, where having a home with a washer and dryer often limits renters to life in a far-flung neighborhood that can feel like a bubble. A luxury rental in Hell’s Kitchen breaks all the rules, offering residents all the perks of a ‘quieter life’ with none of the lull.
West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues has long been known as ‘Restaurant Row,’ home to historic heavy hitters like Barbetta, Becco, Le Rivage and Joe Allen. Newer additions to the street offering everything from sushi to cabaret will leave you spoiled for choice before or after a show. Elsewhere in the area, a wide variety of exciting and eclectic dining options mean you can live in Hell’s Kitchen and eat there too.
Hell’s Kitchen is a veritable alphabet soup when it comes to options for transportation. The A, B, C, D, 1, 7 and LIRR trains all have stops in Hell’s Kitchen, which is also home to Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, where you can catch the cross-town S train straight to Grand Central.
Despite its name and high-energy vibe, Hell’s Kitchen is definitely kid-friendly. The neighborhood boasts above-average schools and easy access to Hudson River Park, Dewitt Clinton Park and Central Park. Plenty of museums nearby, including the Museum of Arts and Design, MOMA and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum mean you’ll actually be able to visit regularly with your kids, and they can grow up with the city as their playground.
The ‘great American melting pot’ comes to mind when walking through Hell’s Kitchen, and not just because of the neighborhood’s name. A wide range of income levels, occupations and backgrounds can be found here, ensuring that a luxury rental in Hell’s Kitchen won’t equal monotony or isolation. NYC has always been defined by its diversity, so why not get the full experience by living in the heart of one of the city’s most varied neighborhoods?
