Staying in Chelsea

Are you an artist coming to Chelsea? Exhibiting your work in one of the galleries in New York’s art district? Make the most of your visit by enjoying everything that Chelsea has to offer!

Chelsea has been known as the art district of the Big Apple since the 1990s, when galleries began moving from SoHo to their new homes, mostly in West Chelsea – which now has over 370 galleries and more artist studios than you could count! There’s a certain special atmosphere that you can feel in the district, especially when you’re visiting art galleries or paying attention to where they are. If you’re an artist or art-lover, walking down the street past such a range of different galleries, works and styles and turning a corner to unexpectedly bump into a new display or place you’d never noticed before is a constant delight.

Of course, although it is important to the district’s unique character, art isn’t the only thing that draws visitors to Chelsea and makes some of us happy that we work here. There are landmark buildings, such as Hotel Chelsea, which has hosted famous figures such as Arthur C. Clarke, Bob Dylan, Dylan Thomas, Patti Smith and even the Grateful Dead – you can drop in for tea or to check out the plaques on the wall which commemorate the hotel’s residents. There’s also the headquarters of the media company IAC, a building which was designed by Frank Gehry and only finished in 2007, though it has quickly become a watched-for sight for those living in or passing through the area, and the Chelsea Art Tower, Manhattan’s first art gallery condominium.

Regular readers of this blog may remember our excitement over the opening the High Line, a new addition to the Chelsea scene. Originally a way of transporting goods safely around the city, the railroad fell into disuse and disrepair sometime ago, only to be renovated and recreated as a delightful outdoor community area with plants, works of art by contemporary artists, seats and space to relax, admire the view or even sunbathe. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area (and maybe even if you’re not), the High Line provides a place outside – and above – the hustle and bustle of the city.

For those visitors for whom food is always a crucial element in a successful trip, or even if you just like exploring what different places have to offer, the Chelsea Market is a must-visit stop. It’s an enclosed food court which contains a range of different delicacies and delicious offerings, from bakeries to groceries and from fruit to wine.

One way and another, there’s more than enough to enjoy in Chelsea, whether you’re staying here to be near the hub of the international art world, or whether you’re simply wandering through during your stay in the city. Spending some quality time in this dynamic, lively and exciting area is worthwhile for any art-lover – and in fact, you may find yourself planning to come back almost as soon as you leave!

Agora Gallery is delighted to announce a corporate discount at a selection of four hotels in the area, all of which are walking distance from our contemporary art gallery, which is located at 530 West 25th Street. The hotels included in the discount are the WYNDHAM Garden Hotel, the GEM Hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn New York and the Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan, and you can find out more about this offer here.