A Local’s Guide to the Best Coffee Shops, Restaurants, and Bars in Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood located in the heart of Manhattan. As locals, we came by our unique perspective through volunteering for City Meals-on-Wheels. Delivering meals to residents of the neighborhood on weekends took us down streets we wouldn’t normally have noticed, and we got to know the character of Hell's Kitchen intimately. Hell’s Kitchen is known for its varied food scene, but it’s also home to some great coffee shops and unique bars, and the sheer volume can be overwhelming. But over the years we’ve spent a lot of time dining, caffeinating and socializing in the neighborhood, so here's a guide to our favorite spots in this dynamic neighborhood.
Where is Hell’s Kitchen?
Hell’s Kitchen is a neighborhood within Midtown Manhattan, covering much of its west side. For the purposes of this article, we’ve used the boundaries outlined by Google Maps. Hell’s Kitchen stretches north to south, from 59th Street to 34th Street, and east to west, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River. (There are a couple of outliers, but they’ve been included with delicious intent.)
A Very Brief History of Hell’s Kitchen
The name Hell’s Kitchen is not a misnomer. It’s the nomenclature of the neighborhood’s history as one of the rougher–if not one of the roughest–areas of New York City, replete with lawlessness and violence. It was a hotbed of speakeasies, prostitution and organized crime before, during, and after Prohibition. Throughout its history, inhabitants included hardened German and Irish immigrants, who made their livings as dock, factory, and cattle car workers. It also became a stronghold for members of the Irish mob as recently as the early 1980’s. Gentrification, however, took hold in the mid-80’s, eventually shaping the character of the neighborhood into what it is today.
Best Coffee Shops in Hell’s Kitchen
Snowy Owl and Americano at Bird & Branch
While we’ve published a list of our favorite coffee shops in New York City, we can’t stress enough how much we enjoy hyperlocal spots. Coffee shops, like bodegas, are the cornerstones of any neighborhood, often reflecting its unique character. They are also small businesses providing employment and important services in the community, and Hell’s Kitchen has some really good ones. Take Bird & Branch, where you can get an excellent espresso beverage or choose from an array of stellar coffee concoctions. Lynn tends to drink an iced Americano in the summer and a hot Americano in the winter. But Justin loves to try new things, and he particularly loves Bird & Branch’s iced Dirty Horchata in the spring and summer and the Snow Owl in the winter. The Snow Owl is a hot tonic made up of espresso, chocolate, cinnamon and cayenne, served in a cup rimmed with toasted honey and vanilla marshmallow fluff.
Another superb local coffee destination is Afficionado Coffee Roasters. You’ll find a carefully curated selection of single origin coffee beans from around the world, all roasted at their nearby New Jersey roastery. The spot has a cozy living-room vibe, and it attracts locals who linger while they enjoy their coffee along with delectable pastries (from one of our favorites, Breads Bakery) and small plates. Afficionado has a loyalty program and offers discounts to neighborhood residents.
Jolly Goat Coffee Bar
If you’re looking for precision-brewed beans from a variety of fantastic roasters, Aussie cafe St. Kilda Coffee has you covered. They partner with such excellent roasters as Sey Coffee, Seven Seeds, and La Cabra Coffee, to name a few. Finally, The Jolly Goat Coffee Bar is a diminutive, cozy cafe offering very tasty coffee sourced from their sister company Urban Rooster Coffee Roasters. If, like us, you like pairing a bite to eat with your coffee, they also offer a curated selection of breads, pastries, and single-serve ice cream. During the spring and summer, we particularly enjoy their Kyoto Cold Brew on tap.
Best Restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen is known for its large number of eateries, which come from its rich history and diverse cultural makeup. Originally a working-class neighborhood, Hell's Kitchen was home to many immigrants who brought their unique cuisines and culinary traditions with them. As the area gentrified over the years, new restaurants and bars have continued to spring up, offering a wide range of dining options from upscale bistros to classic diners.
Cheap Eats
The Margherita and White Slices from Corner Slice
If you’re looking for an affordable meal, you have a number of excellent options in Hell’s Kitchen. In Gotham West Market, make a beeline for Corner Slice, where you’ll find some of the best crispy, airy square slices of pizza in the city. Ivan Orkin, of Chef’s Table fame, opened the slice shop in 2017. One of his chefs labored over the dough recipe, finally landing on a combination of spelt, durham and wheat which is fermented for 60 hours. At the Hell’s Kitchen flagship of Sullivan Street Bakery, you’ll find incredible sandwiches on freshly baked breads, super tasty Roman-style pizzas, and fresh, plump bomboloni (filled donuts). Jim Lahey started Sullivan Street Bakery in 1994 and pioneered small-batch bread baking in the US, eventually earning him the first James Beard award for Outstanding Baker.
Poseidon Greek Bakery
Another way a few dollars can go a long way is to indulge your sweet tooth. For an old-school option, you’ll find much to enjoy at Poseidon Greek Bakery. With gobs of traditional Greek cookies, a solid selection of flaky, cheesy pies and numerous cakes on offer, you’ll have some tough decisions to make. Lynn is obsessed with the koulourakia, which is delightful in its simplicity. Just a hair outside the official Hell’s Kitchen boundaries, Angelina Bakery is where Pastry Chef Tony Park mixes techniques learned from his hometown, Palermo, Sicily, with his Korean heritage. Though there are many delectable treats, the specialty is the wide variety of bomboloni. A standout is the Mont Blanc, filled with half Nutella, half Chantilly Cream. Full disclosure, though, Angelina Bakery is right by the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and the crowds can be maddening. We recommend avoiding the area during rush hour.
Little Thailand
Before quality Thai cuisine became ubiquitous throughout the boroughs of New York City, it was Hell’s Kitchen you came to for your Thai food fix. Residing on a stretch of 9th Avenue, roughly between 34th and 57th streets, were some of the best examples. Arguably, that’s still the case today, though restaurants focusing on regional Thai cuisines have expanded the varieties on offer in this corner of the city. So, if you are jonesing for some solid Thai food, you’ll find that Hell’s Kitchen offers both reliable, longtime institutions, like Wondee Siam and Yum Yum Too.
Shrimp with Chili and Pad See Ew at Pure Thai Cookhouse
But there are also newer, buzzier additions to the scene like Pure Thai Cookhouse, whose owners hail from Ratchaburi and Bangkok. With two other successful restaurants, the husband-and-wife team of David and Vanida Bank bring lots of experience to the table, but Pure Thai is dedicated to highlighting homestyle favorites and regional specialties from different parts of Thailand. Another pair with food service in their blood are LumLum owners and sisters Sommy and Mo Hensawang. Their mother and grandmother owned a popular seafood restaurant in Ayutthaya, and they wanted to bring that casual, beachy vibe to their own spot on 49th St. They refuse to compromise on ingredients, staying completely true to the dishes they grew up with. Three Roosters showcases a completely different side of Thai cuisine by focusing on chicken and rice. The Lemongrass Grilled Chicken, Zab Fried Chicken, and Hainanese-style Poached Chicken offer a fun, casual approach to Thai cuisine.
The Ramen Capital of NYC
When Japan ended two centuries of isolationism in 1858, it saw an influx of foreign cuisine. It wasn’t long before Chinese noodles became a mainstay, and the first ramen shop opened in Tokyo. We’re the happy beneficiaries of that delicious amalgamation, and your options in Hell’s Kitchen range from major players straight out of Japan, to Michelin Bib Gourmand finds.
Ippudo Westside
There are two heavy-hitting chains imported directly from Japan, and both offer Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu is a variety of ramen with broth specifically derived from pork bones. The Hell’s Kitchen outpost of Ippudo is sleek, clean and spacious. Along with a short menu of ramen and a la carte items, they also offer two vegetarian versions of their most popular noodle soups. Ichiran is technically outside our defined border of Hell’s Kitchen, but is so close and has such a unique approach to ramen, we felt compelled to mention it. Ichiran is laser focused on precision. Ramen is cooked to optimal texture and flavor, and must reach your table in seconds. Unique to the Ichiran experience are solo, distraction-free ramen booths (imagine a line of cubicles at the bar and along the opposite wall), just an arms-length away from the service staff for optimal table delivery, and a hand-written ordering system that allows for trouble-free customization.
Chicken Paitan at Totto Ramen
Totto Ramen is somewhat notorious for its cramped space and long lines, but also acclaimed for its excellent tori Paitan dashi, a distinctive ramen based on chicken broth instead of pork broth. Simplicity is the name of the game here, so the noodles are minimally adorned with scallion, a single sheet of nori, and your choice of meats, though some customization is available. There are also vegetarian options. In keeping with the Chinese origins of ramen, we would be remiss to omit Real Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen. You’ll find the aforementioned steamed buns and excellent hand-pulled ramen–both soup and fried varieties–but the star of the show, and likely the reason for the Bib Gourmand designation, are the soup dumplings–arguably some of the best in the city.
Best in Class
Though Hell’s Kitchen has some clearly dominant cuisines, its diversity is inherent to its charm. It would be impossible to cover every type of fare, so here are some standouts at the top of their game.
Chinese-Cajun Crawfish Boil at Le Sia
The original and acclaimed location of Le Sia opened in the East Village back in 2018. An outpost–now the sole location–was a welcome addition to Hell’s Kitchen back in 2020. With their unique seafood boil, skewers, and appetizers, Le Sia is a Chinese restaurant that fuses Cajun-style seafood boil with traditional wok frying techniques. From staple Chinese dishes to massive boil platters, you can’t go wrong.
We’ve visited Don Antonio for their delicious Neapolitan pizzas on many occasions, and never been disappointed. Our favorite is the excellent pie with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh ricotta, and basil. As a bonus, the location is optimal for a pre- or post-theater meal.
When you find yourself in the unenviable position of feeling indecisive about your dinner plans, in an area with so many cuisines to choose from like Hell’s Kitchen, going simple is often the best solution. Istanbul Kebab House has been plating solid Turkish and Mediterranean dishes since 2010. It’s reliable, tasty, and if you have a diverse group with eclectic tastes, everyone will find something satisfying.
Best Bars and Lounges in Hell’s Kitchen
Classic New York Establishments
There are so many bars and clubs in Hell’s Kitchen, it’s a popular destination for bar crawls. We are, however, fans of spots that feel distinctly Old New York. Birdland, with its ground-floor jazz club, has been around since 1949 and hosted such legends as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and many, many others. Since 2018, The Birdland Theater has also occupied the lower level. Both Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater offer a full service dinner menu and bar for an incredible evening’s entertainment.
Don’t Tell Mama is another New York City institution. The piano bar and cabaret showroom has been a pre- and post-theater destination since 1982. Legends such as Liza Minelli, Bette Mitler, and Kristin Chenoweth, to name just a few, have passed through its doors. Talented artists maintain a playful atmosphere, and anyone interested in joining in the fun is always welcome to. It’s a must for theater junkies who want to keep the Broadway magic going.
Rooftop Bars with Unbeatable City Views
With a skyline as iconic as New York City’s, there are several famous NYC Observation Decks dedicated solely to admiring the view. In our Local's Guide to New York City, we include an option with invisible glass walls that put you against a seamless backdrop, and one that offers an artistic, interactive experience. But spending an evening at a rooftop bar can be a nice alternative, or a fun complement, to a formal observation deck outing. Located on the 40th and 41st floors of Hotel Eliz, Dear Irving at Hudson Rooftop Bar covers the hit list: panoramic views from the highest open-air hotel bar and lounge in Manhattan, swanky vintage decor, outdoor spaces, and cozy nooks to sip wines and craft cocktails.
Another elegant option in Hell’s Kitchen is the Press Lounge at Ink48, perched 16 floors above its sister venue, Print Restaurant, with extraordinary views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. For a little more casual, fashion-forward feel, there’s Starchild Rooftop Bar & Lounge, a climatized, glass-enclosed space perched 27 stories up, with a retractable roof that transforms it into an open-air venue in seconds. On weekends, legendary international DJs and emerging artists provide a diverse soundtrack including classic house, funk, soul and disco.
Conclusion
As locals, we have a deep appreciation for the history, character, and diversity of Hell’s Kitchen. We encourage you to explore the neighborhood, meet its friendly residents, and experience its many wonders for yourself. If nothing else, just remember that when you’re in Midtown Manhattan–whether you’re taking in a Broadway show, perusing MoMA’s latest exhibition, or participating in the NYC Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival–just walking a few blocks west can open up a host of delicious options.
