Not too long ago, Hell’s Kitchen was a New York City neighborhood to be avoided. Named for the squalid living conditions experienced by 19th and 20th century immigrant residents and the trendy Meatpacking District once home to 250 slaughterhouses, was ruled by gangs and seedy businesses. Today, Hell’s Kitchen is a fun, safe, and fascinating place to visit on any trip to New York.
Towering skyscrapers, glossy office buildings, and lavish condominium projects have taken over the neighborhood. Hudson Yards, the largest private development in U.S. history, has made Hell’s Kitchen one of New York’s most coveted addresses. Alongside the new corporate, retail, and living spaces in Hudson Yards, the site is also emerging as a cultural landmark with the Shed Concert Hall, a half-billion-dollar dynamic venue that can be opened or closed depending on the weather and type of performance. The Edge, a sightseeing observatory on the 100th floor of the tallest Hudson Yards tower, is set to extend 65 feet over the edge of the building and feature a partial glass floor. While that skyscraper is still under construction, high-end shops, including luxury department store Neiman Marcus, are already open for business. Several chic new restaurants such as the pricy and lauded Queensyard and Wild Ink, serve delicious meals with international flair.
The parks are packed with New Yorkers and tourists, all taking selfies with and in the city’s newest icons and backdrops. Art museums, fashion designers, and chic galleries host millions of visitors each year. The High Line, a popular green trail on the now-defunct railway platforms, sweeps across 15 blocks as a beautiful swath of native plants and wild grasses, colorful flowers, and blossoming orchards.
Stretching between 34th to 59th streets, from Eighth Avenue to the Hudson River, Hell’s Kitchen offers endless tourist opportunities from sunrise to sunset. It is packed with must-see attractions and must-try eateries. Enjoy!
