Chelsea Market

Chelsea / Flatiron, New York –

Originally the site of a Nabisco factory, Chelsea Market is an expansive foodie paradise packed with specialty purveyors, delis, flower shops, bookstores – more than thirty independent businesses in all – and loads of salivating customers.

Traipsing down its cavernous hall, locals stock up on dinner ingredients from stores like The Lobster Place and Manhattan Fruit Exchange, while shops like Bowery Kitchen Supply make the market a key destination for local restaurateurs and aspiring Gordon Ramseys alike.

Once shoppers’ arms grow weary with heavy bags, they can relax and sample some of the many ready-made dishes – like the popular fried chicken and matzoh ball soup – on hand at Friedman's Lunch, while parents treat the kids to a cupcake from Eleni’s or an old-school Italian treat at L'Arte del Gelato. Midday sees a wave of neatly-dressed young professionals dashing in to peruse emails over coffee and biscotti at Ninth Street Espresso, though the rest of the midweek scene tends to be relaxed, with inquisitive patrons participating in casual food and wine tastings or just sitting back with a magazine under the paper lanterns dangling from the high ceiling.

Evenings and weekends should be avoided by anyone afraid of a crowd, though exhausted tourists with money to spare can escape the masses by dining at Morimoto, a serene Japanese restaurant near the back of the art deco building. Luckily, it’s free to check out all the photography highlighting the building’s long history, as well as several ornate brass mirrors that provide some chic contrast to the structure’s otherwise industrial tone.

A New York gem, Chelsea Market combines the hustle and bustle of the city with the atmosphere of an authentic European-style market, making it a cultural adventure in every sense (and scents) of the word.