Café Chelsea Introduce
In a city known for its dynamic and diverse culinary scene, some restaurants manage to stand out not just for their food, but for the entire experience they offer. Café Chelsea, nestled at 218 W 23 St, New York, NY 10011, USA, is a shining example of this. More than just a French restaurant, it embodies the spirit of a classic Parisian bistro, brasserie, and café all rolled into one. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance transports you to a bygone era of elegance and charm, making it a perfect escape from the bustling streets of New York.
This establishment is a versatile culinary destination, serving as a popular spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. It combines the refined flavors of French cuisine with a warm, lively atmosphere, attracting both locals and tourists. Whether you're seeking a romantic dinner, a celebratory brunch with friends, or a quiet spot for solo dining, Café Chelsea provides a backdrop that is both stylish and comfortable. Its reputation for having a wonderful atmosphere and serving top-notch French classics has quickly made it a must-visit in the city.
Café Chelsea's location on West 23rd Street places it at the center of the vibrant Chelsea neighborhood, right within the historic Chelsea Hotel. This prime spot makes it incredibly accessible for anyone in Manhattan. The area is a major transit hub, with numerous subway lines and bus routes running nearby, ensuring a smooth journey to the restaurant.
The restaurant is committed to ensuring all guests feel welcome, offering excellent accessibility features. It boasts a wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible restroom, and wheelchair accessible seating, making it a comfortable and inclusive dining option. For those arriving by car, it is worth noting that free street parking may be available, though it is often limited in this popular area of the city. For a stress-free visit, public transport is highly recommended. The convenience and welcoming nature of the location are a significant draw for its patrons.
Café Chelsea is dedicated to providing a superior dining experience through a variety of service options and amenities.
- Outdoor Seating: On a beautiful day, the outdoor seating provides a perfect opportunity to enjoy your meal while taking in the vibrant atmosphere of the neighborhood. It's a great spot for people-watching and soaking up the city's energy.
- Dine-in: The primary service is the full dine-in experience. The restaurant offers comfortable seating and dedicated table service, ensuring every detail of your meal is taken care of.
- Reservations: Given its popularity, reservations are highly recommended, especially for brunch, lunch, and dinner. This helps ensure you get a table without a long wait and is a testament to the restaurant's desirability.
- Private Dining: For special occasions or larger groups, Café Chelsea offers a private dining room, providing a more intimate and exclusive setting for your event. This feature, along with the ability to accommodate groups, makes it an ideal choice for celebrations.
The dining experience at Café Chelsea is elevated by a number of key features and offerings that set it apart.
- Timeless Atmosphere: The decor and ambiance are consistently praised by visitors. Described as "cozy, historic, romantic, and trendy," the restaurant features beautiful marble, ceramic, and brick accents, creating a timeless look. The presence of a fireplace adds to the intimate and upscale feel, especially during cooler months.
- Exceptional Culinary Offerings: The menu is a love letter to classic French cuisine. Guests can enjoy a wide range of dishes from the Salades & Hors D'oeuvres like the wonderful Tartare De Boeuf and Chelsea Salad to the impressive Fruits De Mer platters. Main courses, such as the praised Saumon En Papillote and Steak Frites, showcase the restaurant’s commitment to quality. Vegetarian and healthy options are also available, ensuring all diners have a choice.
- Great Cocktails and Wine: The bar offers an extensive and well-curated selection. The great wine list focuses on both French and American producers, and the cocktails are equally impressive, with unique creations like the Chelsea No.5. The availability of happy hour drinks and food makes it a perfect spot for a post-work gathering.
- Dessert and Coffee: No meal is complete without dessert, and Café Chelsea excels here. The great dessert selection, including the famous Dark Chocolate Soufflé, is a highlight. The coffee is also highly regarded, making it a great spot for a casual café visit as well.
For reservations, inquiries, or more information, you can use the following details.
Address: 218 W 23 St, New York, NY 10011, USA
Phone: (212) 518-1813
Choosing Café Chelsea is an excellent decision for anyone in New York looking for a dining experience that goes beyond just the food. It's a place where every element, from the decor and atmosphere to the service and menu, comes together to create a truly memorable meal. The high praise from customers about the "beautiful, lively atmosphere" and "kind, attentive and cheerful" staff is a clear indicator of the level of hospitality you can expect.
The restaurant’s versatility is a major plus. Whether you're craving a classic French breakfast, a sophisticated lunch, or a celebratory dinner, Café Chelsea has you covered. Its status as a great spot for solo dining, a romantic evening, or a group outing, combined with its high-quality offerings and excellent service, makes it a reliable and worthwhile choice. The presence of a variety of menu items, including small plates and organic dishes, and its full bar with a great selection of beer, wine, and cocktails, solidifies its position as a top-tier destination in New York City. The combination of a historic setting, a trendy vibe, and truly delicious food makes Café Chelsea an absolute gem that is well worth a visit.
Café Chelsea Menu
Salades & Hors D
- Tartare De Boeuf Steak
- Chelsea Salad
Les Cocktails
- Cold-Pressed Green Juice $14.00
- Les Spritzes $18.00
- Bloody Mary $18.00
Fruits De Mer
- Huitres $25.00
- Cocktail De Crevettes $26.00
- Homard $78.00
- Petit Plateau $95.00
- Grand Plateau
- Caviar
Accompagnement
- Assiette De Fruits $16.00
- Avocat $9.00
- Bacon
- Saucisse Au Poulet $11.00
- Pommes De Terre $12.00
- Frites $12.00
Les Salades & Hors D'oeuvres
- Tartare De Boeuf $27.00
- Chelsea Salad $28.00
- Façon Niçoise $29.00
- Frisée Aux Lardons $25.00
- Salade D'endives $19.00
Les Pains
- Tartine À L'avocat $19.00
- Saumon Fumé $29.00
- Croque-Monsieur $25.00
- Croque-Madame $28.00
- Pain Perdu $24.00
Plats Principaux
- Saumon En Papillote
Les Co
- Armagnac & Tonic $18.00
- Chelsea No.5 $19.00
- Ginger Hubert $19.00
- Le Flaneur $18.00
- Tarot Garden $19.00
Sparkling
- Jura Rosé $24.00
- Champagne $34.00
- Champagne $42.00
Blanc
- Sancerre $24.00
- Chinon $18.00
- Bourgogne $19.00
- Alsace $17.00
- Chablis $22.00
Spirit Free Cocktails
- Nouveau '75 $16.00
- Lavender Colada $16.00
Orange
- Roussillon $19.00
Rosé
- Côtes De Provence $18.00
Café
- Classic American Coffee $7.00
- Double Espresso $6.00
- Cortado
- Mocha $8.00
- Chocolat Chaud
Jus Et Sans Alcool
- Jus D'orange $9.00
- Jus De Pamplemousse $9.00
- Limonade $6.00
- Arnold Palmer $7.00
Rouge
- Bourgogne $22.00
- Régnié $19.00
- Loire $18.00
- Côtes Du Rhône $19.00
- Bordeaux $23.00
Sake
- Tokubetsu Junmai $19.00
Bière &Cidre
- Kronenbourg 1664 Lager
- Duvel Belgian Tripel $13.00
- Aval Rose Cidre $9.00
- Clausthaler Dry-Hopped Non-Alcoholic
Apero
- Tapenade $9.00
- Panisse $9.00
- Croquettes De Chèvre $12.00
- Rillettes De Saumon $14.00
Others
- Cold-Pressed Green Juice $14.00
- Huîtres $25.00
- Homard $78.00
- Petit Plateau $95.00
- Grand Plateau
- Breakfast Américain $28.00
- Omelette Aux Fines Herbes $29.00
- Florentine $18.00
- Norwegian $20.00
- Bénédicte $19.00
- Iced Black Tea $7.00
- Salade De Tomates $19.00
Café Chelsea Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Delivery
- Takeout
Highlights
- Fast service
- Fireplace
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
Popular for
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Happy hour drinks
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Organic dishes
- Private dining room
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Historic
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upscale
Crowd
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Parking
- Free street parking
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
Café Chelsea Photos










Café Chelsea Location
Café Chelsea Reviews
raviolibrunchchocolate soufflémaitake30 minutessatgoat cheese croquetteseggs benedictnicoisecrudo
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1The decor and atmosphere is wonderful. Beautiful marble, ceramic and brick accents to pull together a timeless look of a popular and classy French bistro. The steak tartare and caviar dishes were wonderful. Ravioli famously good. The salmon in parchment was perhaps the best dish. We really enjoyed our meal and will be back.
July 24 · Tom VailThe Chelsea Cafe is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, you’re embraced by a beautiful, lively atmosphere that feels both vibrant and cozy. The staff radiated kindness, attention and cheer . Everything was spotless and thoughtfully arranged, creating a space that felt spacious yet wonderfully intimate. I wholeheartedly recommend this charming spot, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit!
August 12 · Dacia KIf you’re ending a stressful work week or starting a stressful work week. Perfect place to come to relax and decompress. This was definitely a very different experience from what I’m used to. Aside from everything being beautiful, they were playing some light piano music and I was greeted and sweated right away. When seating me they offered me a news paper and preference on seating to make sure I was comfortable. Which was really nice considering I am plus size. The food was great, very rich very filling and staff was very nice. I definitely would come back again. And everyone there was having a nice relaxing morning. It was also nice seeing other people eating by themselves like I was.
May 30 · Idalis DiazFew places in NYC are as famous as The Chelsea Hotel and the Cafe is deserving of its quality and historic reputation.The decor is beautiful the place steeped in history but well preserved and taken care of by all who work thereI may have sat at the corner table frequented by Dylan or Cohen as I immediately felt compelled to write a songBreakfast is wonderful the coffee perfectionThe downstairs facilities are clean and the servers and front desk both at the hotel and restaurant are courteous, professional yet friendly and aware of the importance of their place of work. Refreshing in a sometimes cold, aloof Manhattan 2025Five stars if not six
August 03 · Chaim Gwe had a fantastic dinner here! the food options are different and creative especially the cucumber desert , it’s just intriguing! enjoyed every meal ! and the manager was very caring and welcoming !The niçoise salad is excellent, the goat cheese appetizer is super delicious ! the ravioli is yummy! and thaat cucumber sorbet is so special! loved it a lot !
August 18 · ameera diana
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