Hell's Kitchen - New York, NY Area Guide

The name "Hell's Kitchen" dates back to the mid-1800s, when it was a hotbed of gang activity during Prohibition. Many of the historic buildings survived, thanks to action taken by the city in the 1960s to preserve the history of the area.

The Museum of Arts and Design and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum make their home in Hell's Kitchen. Many small off-Broadway theaters cluster along Theatre Row on 42nd Street as well as throughout the neighborhood, and every October, you can let out your inner geek when New York Comic Con comes to town.

Hell's Kitchen teems with restaurants at all price points and levels of sophistication, just waiting for local residents or theatergoers wandering west from Times Square and the Theater District. Choose from wine bars, coffee shops, and all variety of cuisine, including Italian, Thai, and Creole. When you're on the run, you can find plenty of food stands or quick-serve places to grab a bite and keep going.

Make your reservations far in advance for Per Se, chef Thomas Keller's culinary masterpiece and a restaurant considered one of the best in the entire world. The menu changes constantly, but you'll probably walk away with a box of all the desserts you couldn't finish. Save up for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, because even the lunch menu costs several hundred dollars.

Deacon Brodie's Tavern welcomes one and all, earning its reputation as the friendliest bar in Manhattan. Head to the Sky Terrace at the Hudson Hotel when you're in the mood for an upscale rooftop lounge where you can drink and relax.

Don't forget that Broadway itself awaits you just a few blocks to the east, with the best plays and musicals in the world ready to delight you.

Hell's Kitchen is a NYC neighborhood; therefore it teems with transportation options. The Port Authority Bus Terminal serves as the end terminal for interstate buses, and seven NYC bus routes run through the neighborhood, heading off in all directions. Three subway stations along Eighth Avenue provide easy access to the A, C and E lines, connecting residents to Washington Heights, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Financial District. In addition, those wishing to leave Manhattan can head for Penn Station just south of Hell's Kitchen or take a cruise leaving from the cruise ship terminal on the Hudson River.

Many residents walk to work or to run errands, and bicycling remains an option for the courageous on the congested city streets. Taxis ply the major thoroughfares, with Uber or car services just a phone call away. The Lincoln Tunnel opens out in Hell's Kitchen, ready to take people to and from New Jersey.

Right next to the Hudson River, De Witt Clinton Park provides a small oasis of green for the neighborhood, complete with softball diamonds, a football field, basketball courts, volleyball courts and a running track. Local dog owners can bring their dogs here to play in the dog park and splash in the doggie pools, and they can also head to dog runs at Pier 84.

When New Yorkers really want to relax, they head to Central Park, which Hell's Kitchen residents find conveniently located just off the northeast corner of their neighborhood. Take a long walk, head to the zoo, sail your model boats, get a suntan on the Great Lawn, or just sit and people-watch while listening to local street musicians. Whatever you're in the mood for, Central Park definitely has it waiting for you.

Stop by Bryant Park, a pocket park on 43rd Street, every December to take part in its holiday market. Enjoy the free scavenger hunt, snack on tasty treats from the food booths, and pick up some jewelry or home decorating items for all the people on your shopping list. If you don't mind standing in line, you can even enjoy ice skating during the winter here.

Renters living in Hell’s Kitchen pay an average of $3,033/month to rent an apartment, compared to the New York state average of $3,675. City dwellers exploring houses for rent throughout Hell’s Kitchen can expect to pay anywhere between $3,000 and $11,000/month. For those looking to buy, the average house is valued at $1.2 million, compared to the state average of $405,327.

De Witt Clinton Park, Pershing Square Signature Center, Baryshnikov Arts Center, New World Stages, Manhattan Cruise Terminal, Bar Nine, Press Lounge, Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum