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    Café Chelsea

    3.8 (245 reviews)
    Special Hours 7:00 am - 1:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Café Chelsea Photos

    Business Info

    CAFÉ CHELSEA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Café Chelsea

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    Bar
    Maggie J.

    We came for lunch on a Monday afternoon around 11:45. We were seated upon arrival in the mostly empty dining room (which filled up by the time we left). Service was attentive and we loved the food. I had the tuna Niçoise salad with a side of sautéed greens and my friend had the chicken paillard with a side of fries. I'm really sad that I can't order this salad regularly in Houston, the egg and tuna were perfectly cooked and I loved the addition of butter beans. Been thinking about it since I left. Can't wait to come back.

    Steven L.

    Cafe Chelsea is such a vibe. We went for Sunday brunch and had an amazing time. There's plenty of seating and even some space near the entrance where you can tuck a stroller without it being in everyone's way, which I always appreciate as a parent. The space itself is beautiful. The decor feels classic but trendy at the same time. It's comfortable without trying too hard. The staff was super helpful with recommendations and really friendly throughout the meal. We never felt rushed, which made it easy to just relax and enjoy being there. My daughter loved the fries and fruit bowl. Big win. I ordered the Pain Perdu and wow. It was rich, decadent, and honestly one of the better versions I've had. I couldn't finish it because it was that indulgent, but every bite was very, very good. Overall, great food, great energy, and a perfect brunch spot. Highly recommend.

    Olivia B.

    What a treat to have dinner at the Chelsea cafe with my besties! The best ambiance, was hoping it would be dimly lit and it was! The service wasn't very into conversation but was super friendly. I got the chickpea fried cubes? Was delicious but was a very interesting texture and shape. I also had the ravioli, it was so good. Came out as a little sheet and loved it felt like a simulation.

    Lemon Pasta
    Sasha A.

    Ambiance here is amazing! Came here for a birthday dinner and the birthday girl was so happy with the romantic and candlelit vibes. The appetizers were great. I wish we had gotten more appetizers as all of our entrees were good, but didn't blow us away like the appetizers did. The service was okay as well, the best customer service was definitely the sommelier. The waiter was inattentive.

    maitake
    Morlene C.

    The gorgeous sheet of pasta filled with comté and crème fraîche was exactly why I rushed to make a reservation at this french restaurant in the historic Hotel Chelsea and believe it or not it kind of lived up to the hype. After all, what's not to like about freshly made, perfectly al dente pasta filled with airy and creamy cheese? I so rarely seek out French food but quite enjoyed my meal here. While I admittedly came for that dish, I also favored the maitake, which is my favorite mushroom, turned into a whole meat-like entree prepared au poivre, like with steak. A tuna nicoise salad is a tuna nicoise salad but I did love their slices of slightly seared ahi tuna, tender in the middle and flecked with black pepper on the seared sides. With tender hard boiled potato and eggs, I'd say the French knew a thing or two about making the perfect salad. As I was dining with a friend who's friends with the chef, we were also gifted multiple dishes, including pate, and some red meat dishes I didn't eat. An amber hue soaked the walls of the swanky space. I also found the soundproofing of the walls pleasant in a way it absorbed the hum of conversation over the dining space, as I didn't feel that I had to scream to hear my dining companion, who felt far away because the tables for two were so long. French food costs feel a bit prohibitive for me to consider this a neighborhood to just drop into, as I think for two people we casually dropped $300 on a regular meal, but I'm glad to have tried it for that Ravioli Dauphine.

    Giselle P.

    Feels more like a hotel restaurant aimed at tourists than a place you'd go out of your way for. Prices are high for what you get, and the food was pretty subpar overall, nothing memorable. Ambiance is nice but there are 100s of "nice" places in NYC... The one bright spot was the service, which was genuinely friendly and attentive. If you're in the area, there are much better spots nearby worth your money.

    Bloody Mary
    Lauren W.

    First, you cannot beat the stellar details and beauty of the space. Each wall is unique and the entire place feels like a well-preserved trip back to the golden age. I enjoyed the Bloody Mary--high quality and very peppery--and my croissant was flaky perfection.

    Inside
    Maureen B.

    Decided to visit the Chelsea Hotel and found their café. We just decided to have some coffee and tea and sit and admire the café. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. The food other people were getting served looked great, but we did not eat here. It has a very nostalgic vibe inside and had great decor. Try them for yourself.

    Chocolate soufflé
    Marsha J.

    4.25 stars Ambience: Parisian Café. Decor was intimate. Lots of cute booths for privacy. Service: good. Did not feel rushed nor did they force the check on us early. Such a rarity in New York. Goes with the Parisian vibes. Food: Best: croquette (the honey makes this dish) Say yes to the Bread and butter. Butter B maybe b- bread A. Side salad- Huge. Bitter. Salty. Perfect. Tuna crudo Good Decent oysters. Panisse was unique. Chocolate soufflé was great but not OMG YES Would order next time ravioli du dauphine - the dish they are known for French fries Would definitely be back Best for small parties, family get-togethers

    Menu
    Tiffany H.

    Go to see and be seen. Great ambiance n great fun, food can be hit or miss but the drinks are always in point. What's your poison? Espresso martinis , manhattan? Or rosé. Always buzzing around 6:30 -7:30. The bar seating is where's at. The mixologist are always friendly n courteous. Neal is the best. He makes the best espresso martinis!

    Soufflé  with plate of strawberries
    Heily P.

    We came for the chocolate soufflé but while at it split the steak frites and the potatoes and it was all delicious!! The steak, cooked to perfection, potatoes delicious and the soufflé did not disappoint. Service was great and I look forward to returning to try something else. Only thing that did surprise me was the price of strawberries, we were asked if we would like to add ice cream or strawberries to our soufflé and we went with strawberries. There were 10 on the plate and it was $18 for the strawberries.

    Menu
    Ally W.

    I was meeting up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. I don't live in New York anymore so I had asked her to pick a restaurant. She picked this restaurant in the Chelsea Hotel. The hotel is historic and gorgeous. Inside in the lobby where we had drinks, I felt it was like a museum with all the artwork. Inside the restaurant was gorgeous. The food was also very good. I shared a cheeseburger with my friend and my cousin had the steak frites. I also ordered the ravioli to share. Both were really good. Also this place is very busy. My friend snagged Friday night reservations at 8:30pm. Definitely have reservations before you go. All in all, a new cool New York experience. Places like this make me really miss living in the city.

    Rebecca K.

    We visited Cafe Chelsea for brunch before a matinee in NYC at the recommendation of a friend. I easily made reservations in advance, and we were promptly seated once we arrived. The space is beautiful and elegant - it really feels like you're back in the 20s! We sat near the bar, but I wish I would have explored more of their dining area to take in the whole restaurant. Our server was kind; they seemed to be in a little bit of a hurry at first with taking our order, but then once we got our food and were finishing up, their attention tailed off. No big deal since we weren't in a rush, but the change was surprising. For food, the focus in French cuisine, featuring a variety of sweet and savory dishes as well as pastries. I went for the Florentine (eggs Benedict with spinach), and my husband went for the Croque Madame. My dish was solid, with the eggs perfectly poached and the Hollandaise being the "just right" amount without overwhelming the dish. I was a little disappointed in the English muffin that held the contents - it was a little weak, and for being a French spot, I would have enjoyed a brioche or croissant instead of the standard and lackluster muffin. The small side salad was a nice accompaniment, and I much preferred this to breakfast potatoes for a lighter touch. My husband enjoyed his dish, sharing that it was well done. We paired our meals with regular drip coffee, which hit the spot but was not overly memorable. At ~$25 per dish, Cafe Chelsea is certainly on the pricier side, but then again, it's NYC pricing and in an upscale environment so it's not surprising. The food was solid, but not my favorite brunch that I've had and could have used a little more oomph. I would definitely return for the vibes and to try other menu items that hopefully bump this review up to a 4 or 5!

    Steak Frites

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    Great food and service was wonderful. Andrew, the sommelier gave us some delightful recommendations

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    Ask the Community - Café Chelsea

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    Marseille - Soup a L'oignon - beef broth, imported gruyere, crostini

    Marseille

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    1.1 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen, Theater District
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    Great food, great service. An ideal place to grab dinner before catching a Broadway show!…read more Making and adjusting a reservation was easy. The hosts were friendly. We sat outside for a quick dinner before a Broadway show. I appreciated that our server asked if we were going to see a show, to make sure that we were on time for it. We only got entrees and drinks, and loved them. I got the Beef Short Ribs with buttered egg noodles & roasted rainbow carrots (5/5), which I highly recommend. Perfectly tender meat with al dente noodles. My friend got the salmon entree, which she enjoyed.

    It is still restaurant week here in New York snd we knew we would have to have a late dinner after…read moreour show of Masquerade, so we made reservations at Marseille to have French food and maybe their Restaurant week menu. The RW menu was nice and well worth it, but as for me, I saw something else that I would rather have than the choices on the RW menu. I decided to go with the duck confit, but I did not read the menu thoroughly to see what side it came with. When it came out I saw it was with Flageolet bean Ragout which unfortunately I cannot eat, so I had to let Anna our server know. I was hoping she would keep the duck and just replace the side, but it looked like they made a completely new order, what service. My wife and son both ordered from RW menu and chose the boeuf bourgigninon which was so delicious, very tender beef and smooth mashed potatoes. We decided to also order escargot and French onion soup. Our service was just amazing from Anna our main server and the support servers who brought out our orders and to those who made sure our glasses were never empty. Of course the prefixe dessert was also delicious. Just super happy we learned that it was restaurant week and that we were able to experience it.

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    Corner booths often used for group dining

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    Le Rivage - Steak au poivre burger

    Le Rivage

    4.0(764 reviews)
    1.2 miMidtown West, Theater District, Hell's Kitchen
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    Established in 1983

    We had a team dinner here last week, and I'm so happy we chose this place. It's a small French…read morebistro that feels cozy, intimate, and refreshingly unpretentious. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive, with a great sense of humor that made the whole dinner even more enjoyable. We started with Rockefeller oysters, escargot, steak tartare, and an heirloom tomato salad. Everything was delicious and tasted very fresh. I especially recommend the heirloom tomato salad--it was the perfect balance to all the richer appetizers. For my main, I ordered the duck à l'orange. The plating was beautiful, and they even brought some fire into the presentation (the only picture I managed to take ). The duck was cooked to perfection--juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The parsnips were okay, although I wasn't a huge fan of the pairing with the duck. We ended the night with a dessert recommended by our waiter. It was some sort of cloudy foam with candy on top. Honestly, I have no idea what it was, but it was light, not overly sweet, and a great way to wrap up the meal. Definitely recommend this place if you're around Times Square and looking for a cozy French spot that doesn't take itself too seriously!

    I stumbled upon this place in the late afternoon and was delighted to discover a true old-school…read moreNew York French restaurant. The atmosphere is wonderfully comforting--dimly lit, warmly inviting, with nicely set tables that immediately make you want to settle in. The service was quiet and very competent. As a big fan of Lyonnaise salads, I had to try theirs, and it exceeded my expectations. The lardons were large and crispy, paired with wonderful brioche croutons and a perfectly poached egg. A classic done very well. And although it's not exactly French, their burger was superb. Served on an oversized grilled English muffin, it had a juicy patty topped with melted Gruyère. And the fries? As good as any you'll find in a bistro in Paris. A terrific discovery and exactly the kind of old-school restaurant that's getting harder and harder to find.

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    Chez Josephine - Cheesecake

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    3.8(726 reviews)
    1.0 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen
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    Fantastic restaurant with amazing vibe! The piano player was excellent, my date said "the risotto…read morewas the best she ever had," and as for my meal, I don't know where to begin. I was torn between several items but found myself drawn to the spaghetti. I have NEVER ordered spaghetti in a restaurant because it's so easy to screw it up. I asked AI if it was popular at this restaurant and it was, so I took a chance. BEST. SPAGHETTI. EVER. (Full disclosure: my father was born in Sicily and I am not easy to impress when it comes to pasta). Our server, Ariel, was exceptional. This meal might be the best I've ever eaten. P.S. Try the watermelon salad!

    The service and ambiance is what made this place really nice. We walked in and it's like a whole…read moredifferent world with live piano music as well. The wonderful lady who was singing and playing the piano did a really good job, it's such a romantic place. The food was good and I split a bottle of wine with my partner. We ordered off the pre-fix menu and added oysters on top. The oysters were so good and I really liked the vinegar. For the appetizers, it was a beet salad and pate. The pate was SO good, I get it again to be honest. Then came the entrees, we ordered the medium well steak frites and pan seared stripped bass. The steak came out rare and the fish was okay, it could have been a bit more seasoned for my personal taste. I traded dishes with my partner because I can't eat rare steak but he can. We also got the peach ice cream dessert and the dessert of the day which was a coconut gelatin(?) dish and it was AMAZING. Overall experience was good, the only thing that was kinda a miss was the entrees.

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    Chez Josephine - From my table, thru the bar, to the front door.

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    Chez Napoleon

    Chez Napoleon

    3.9(344 reviews)
    1.4 miTheater District, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
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    Thursday night dinner for 3. Very charming, quaint restaurant with vintage artwork and a small bar…read more There is a front room with a small bar and another room around a wall on the other side. We ordered a traditional gran marnier soufflé with our dinner order as it takes that amount of time to make it. I came for the duck confit. It was tasty with the right amount of crispy skin. My sister ordered the Moules Marinieres which I think was the winner. It came with fries and a few small dishes of green beans. The Buf Bourguignon was rich and hearty. I've been craving a soufflé, and I'm not an expert but I wish I hadn't poured all the sauce in as the mariner was fairly strong and almost overpowered the soufflé in flavor. Overall, happy to support a small mom and pop business. You have to call for reservations. No resy or open table.

    I grew up nearby and been wanting to come here for over 30 years- since I was young- but was a…read morelittle intimidated. Im sad about that. Putting the food aside (which was VERY good), the place is beyond charming... like walking into your nonna's living room- and the staff was welcoming. As for the food: everything is "perfect" in a simple, old school, traditional way. No trendy twists. This is a GOOD thing in my book. It has been years since Ive had escorgot that I loved, but this brought me back. I had almost sworn off of it. My steak au-poivre was cooked to perfection and green peppercorn sauce was sublime. The fries were basic but in a good, I dare say perfect, way. My gf had the sole and, altho she says it wasnt earth shattering, liked it as well. The soufle was a bit of a novelty for me but worth a try. This place is Old School New York at its finest. P.S. I cant stand liver or pate but my gf ordered the foie gras (which ive never had) and tho i resisted trying it, I finally did and loved it. I think that says something about the place. She said it was perfect.

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    S'Aimer - The decor of S'Aimers exudes the best of french Caribbean elegance.

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    4.6(81 reviews)
    1.2 miMidtown West, Theater District, Hell's Kitchen

    We were able to get a last-minute reservation at 7p on the Sunday before Memorial Day and entered…read morewhat was a pretty empty establishment. There were only 2 other parties seated and we were seated immediately upon arrival. It's fairly dark inside and the decor reminds me a bit of New Orleans. I enjoyed the ambiance. The drinks were great! I had the cocobella while he had margaritas. The table bread was hot and fresh, so make sure they bring it to the table for you. We had the mussels for an appetizer, lamb chops and bass. EVERYTHING was excellent! The flavor of the broth for the mussels was Devine, so much so my husband used his bread to sop up all he could. The bass had great flavor and came with sautéed spinach that was well cooked. It initially looked like a small portion but turned out to be plenty. The lamb chops were cooked to the requested temp and seasoned well. We left no crumbs. This one is definitely worth a try!

    I came here to leave a review and am so distraught over learning that this place has closed! It was…read morehands down one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had - from the service to the drinks and the food. I dined there back in March and to this day I rave about the dish I had. The owner was extremely accommodating, pleasant and friendly. I hope they reopen somewhere else! He told us that he had another restaurant close by, I'll have to try that one if I can figure out the name of it.

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    maman - ham & cheese croissant sandwich

    maman

    4.1(270 reviews)
    0.9 miTheater District, Midtown West
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    Maman remains my favorite brunch spot whenever I'm in NYC, and this visit to a new location was…read morejust as lovely as ever. This space felt larger than the other locations I've been to, while still keeping the same cozy, charming, and beautiful vibe that defines their brand. We were a party of three, and each of us ordered different sandwiches and pastries. I got the Katie's Chicken Sandwich, which is one of my absolute favorites and something I order almost every time I'm visiting the city. For pastry, I tried the Cherry Croissant Cube for the first time, and I was honestly speechless. It was incredibly flavorful, delicious, and truly made my day. I 100% recommend trying it. For drinks, I ordered the seasonal Cherry Elderflower Spritz. It was just okay compared to everything else, but not bad. Overall, Maman continues to be my go-to brunch place in NYC, and this visit reminded me exactly why.

    We walked in and immediately loved the vibe and atmosphere. Unfortunately, when we got to the…read morecounter at 10:58 a.m., we were told, "Sorry, our kitchen is closed due to a lot going on in the kitchen." It was really disappointing, especially when you're standing there surrounded by people eating and expecting to be able to order breakfast at 11 a.m. We were really looking forward to trying this place, but unfortunately, we won't be returning.

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    maman - Menu. Had trouble deciding as so many great options

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    maman - Maman's Breakfast Sandwich

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    maman - Creme brûlée croissant

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    La Bonne Soupe - French onion soup

    La Bonne Soupe

    4.0(311 reviews)
    1.6 miMidtown West

    If you're looking to escape the tourist crowds on the UES, La Bonne Soupe is the move. I was back…read morevisiting my old stomping grounds and wanted somewhere outside with a real neighborhood feel and this spot nailed it. I snagged a seat on their upstairs patio, surrounded by the kind of older, well-heeled UES regulars that give the place such a quintessential NYC vibe. I went with the $35 lunch special, which gets you an appetizer and an entrée. For my app, the Escargots de Bourgogne- absolutely the star of the meal, I could've eaten a second order. The Crêpe Forestière for my entrée was lovely too, and I washed it all down with a lemonade. Everything was genuinely delicious. My one small gripe: I got charged for two lemonades, which stung a little given that (a) it's lemonade, and (b) the glass was on the petite side to begin with. Minor quibble, though. Other than that, it was a perfect NYC lunch, exactly what I was hoping for.

    Came here a mere week after five-star my first visit, and this experience was significantly less…read morepositive. While the French Onion soup was still a stand-out dish, the painfully slow service detracted. There appeared to be a single waitress working. I didn't notice during my first visit if there were multiple servers, but the first time I did hear the waiter advise another table that the kitchen was behind and there would be a wait for food. (This didn't affect me since on my first visit I only ordered soup.) Same thing happened this time, and there was a significant delay between our soup/salad course and entrees. We were told the kitchen was backed up. this is apparently the norm. For appetizers, the French onion soup was a gold star dish. My friend had the goat cheese salad which she said was also very good. The Chicken Cordon Bleu was good, and a hard-to-find dish in NYC. While eating our entrees, the server never checked on how things were or if we needed anything. Once finished, we sat there for a long time waiting for our plates to be cleared, and finally had to "announce" that we were done and request our dessert (as we had ordered the prix fixe menu). For dessert we ordered the Dame Blanche and Profiteroles. I would recommend neither. The ice cream (in both) was poor quality, crystallized and not creamy. A real shame. In all, the meal too 2.5 hours due to the slow service. The soup remains fantastic. I'm downgrading my review to recommend this spot only for soup and salad and not a full, hours-long meal. For that, it's 5 stars, for a full meal a middling 3.

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    La Bonne Soupe - Interior

    Interior

    La Bonne Soupe - Dame blanche

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    Outside dining on second floor rooftop

    Café Chelsea - french - Updated September 2026

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