Chelsea Market is an indoor food hall and shopping arcade on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan, filling the ground floor of the old Nabisco factory complex where, according to the company, the Oreo cookie was first made in 1912. Today Chelsea Market is a long, brick-lined passage of food stalls, bakeries, small shops and restaurants, and one of the easiest places in the city to graze through lunch. It sits right under the High Line, so the two make a natural pair.
Why visit Chelsea Market
The building is part of the attraction. Developers who converted the factory in the 1990s kept much of its industrial character: exposed brick, old pipes, iron beams, and a waterfall fed by a cut-off pipe in the main hall. Walking the length of the concourse between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, you pass everything from fresh pasta and seafood counters to tacos, noodles, doughnuts, cheese and wine.
The upper floors are offices and television studios, and the building as a whole has been owned by Google since 2018. The market on the ground floor remains open to the public.
Unlike a traditional farmers' market, Chelsea Market is mainly about prepared food you can eat on the spot, alongside a few grocers and specialist shops. That makes it a practical stop at any time of day, whether you want a full lunch, a coffee and pastry, or a few snacks to carry along the High Line.
Getting to Chelsea Market by subway
The nearest station is 14 St on the A, C and E lines at Eighth Avenue, also reached by the L at 8 Av. From the station, walk one block west to Ninth Avenue and two blocks north to the main entrance between 15th and 16th Streets. It takes about five minutes.
The 1, 2 and 3 stop at 14 St on Seventh Avenue, a little further east, which is also an easy walk.
Entry and opening hours
There is no charge to enter Chelsea Market; you pay only for what you eat or buy. The market opens daily, though individual vendors keep their own hours, and some open later or close earlier than the building. Check the official Chelsea Market website for current hours and the list of vendors, which changes over time.
What to eat at Chelsea Market
The mix of vendors evolves, so treat these as examples of what has long been popular rather than a fixed list:
- Tacos: Los Tacos No. 1 has drawn long lines here for years.
- Seafood: The Lobster Place is a fish market and counter selling lobster rolls, sushi and oysters.
- Baked goods: bakeries along the concourse sell breads, brownies and doughnuts, good for a snack to take onto the High Line.
- Noodles, dumplings and more: Asian, Middle Eastern and Italian counters round out the options.
Seating inside is limited, mostly benches and small ledges. Many people buy food and eat it standing, or carry it up to the High Line.
Shopping
Between the food stalls are small independent shops selling books, kitchenware, spices and gifts. There is also a weekend artisan market at some times of year. It is a good stop for edible souvenirs.
Best time to visit Chelsea Market
Weekday lunchtime brings office workers, and weekend middays bring large crowds of visitors, which can make the narrow corridor slow going. The most comfortable times are mid-morning on a weekday or mid-afternoon, after the lunch rush. Early evening is also usually manageable.
Allow 45 minutes to an hour to wander and eat. If you are combining it with a High Line walk, budget two to three hours in total.
Practical tips
- Most vendors take cards; a few smaller counters may prefer one method, so it is useful to carry both.
- Restrooms are available but can have queues at peak times.
- The Tenth Avenue end of the market gives access to stairs up to the High Line.
Nearby on the same subway stop
- High Line: the elevated park runs right over the building.
- Whitney Museum of American Art: a short walk south at Gansevoort Street.
- Little Island: a park on concrete stilts in the Hudson River, off West 13th Street.
- The Meatpacking District: cobbled streets with shops, bars and restaurants.
See what else is around this station on Chelsea Market on Around the Metro, or browse every station on the New York subway map.