MY 4 REASONS TO VISIT HELL’S KITCHEN JUST MAY SURPRISE YOU!   I WAS DELIGHTED WITH THIS FRESH AND EXUBERANT MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD.   WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO MANHATTAN 35 YEARS AGO, THIS WAS A SEEDY LOCATION AND A FAIRLY DANGEROUS ONE. FAST FORWARD 3+DECADES,  AND WE HAVE ONE UBUR CHIC LOCALE.

About two weeks ago we had a delicious sunny day in New York. Likely you remember it; this sunny day visited many other cities, if briefly. As lovely as that warm day was, it was not so appealing , in my non-air conditioned co-op.  Trivago provided good search results for an outstanding boutique hotel right in the midst of this lively part of the city . Cool features promised a fun weekend, and would most certainly provide a different vibe than my Upper East Side perch.

4 Reasons to visit Hell’s Kitchen !

• The energy is young and diverse with its own rhythm and a lively art scene.
• Delicious global cuisine : Japanese Ramen, Thai street food, highly acclaimed restaurants and Argentinian empanadas– just for starters!
• Location, location, location!  Here we are a stone’s throw to Broadway, the High Line’s northern entrance, proximity to the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum, and the Hudson River Park Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise– set sail early from this point!
• A good variety of relatively inexpensive boutique hotels.

 Happily , I ended up at the Cachet Boutique Hotel, a chic and urban hotel that oozed a COOL vibe. Below, the entrance to this airy space which illustrates, better that words, the artsy style in the heart of  Hell’s Kitchen.

Vivid art on the walls is what struck me first, accenting so decorously the ultra modern decor. This shot below is my favorite. Okay, ONE of my favorites!  It is a fashion photo , hence my attraction. Cool and commanding,  this piece is one of many pieces that grace the hotel and provide a “dose of culture” according to Kevin Fenton, managing director of Cachet Boutique NYC.

Culinary masterpieces are served up at the Eden Local. I enjoyed delicious fare, surrounded by plants and paintings, all while enjoying a fresh breeze from the outside. The sugar snap peas tempura was a delight to the palate and the pecan pie looked so tempting!

Luxuriant outdoor spaces was one of the features of this hotel I most appreciated.  On this perfect sunny day I sat out and enjoyed my Starbucks at “The Retreat”. I was dressed very causally , with most of my summer clothes miles away at a house I am renovating. My Gucci tote held some of my sundries so I could pack light for the weekend away. I packed two kinds of sunscreens, remembering that the last time I truly needed SPF was here.

When I could finally tear myself away from this arty oasis, I wandered the streets soaking up the local flavor and abundant sunshine.

Nearby, an antique store caught my eye and I found several items I just needed! I can not remember the last time I saw a store selling books – and not just any books here! Classics, old volumes , art books and even some vintage encyclopedias caught my eye. This for one spoke to me. I have plans this weekend to go back and pick up some of books I have on hold.

I even found a Sex in the City DVD collection! Right? This find alone should be one of the 4 reasons to visit Hell’s Kitchen!

A local gourmet grocer has an appealing artisanal cheese display. I bought a wedge and enjoyed it with berry flavored seltzer and fresh lime.

Now this! Even the spools of thread were arranged with creative flair at a local dry cleaner’s and tailoring shop in Hell’s Kitchen.

Back in the hotel for the night I eye the nibbles for sale! Now these are snacks! Forget the stale candy bars and cans of Pringles in most mini bars. Tate’s Cookies, a favorite of mine, are offered along with Salty Road Salt Water Taffy, and other locally sourced delish bites. YUM ALERT!

Jay Godfrey rose gold amenities nourished my hair- no tangles with the excellent conditioner, and a wonderful fragrance greeted my nose when I used the gel in the large rain shower bathroom. When I say large bathroom,  I mean very large!

The air conditioning worked perfectly and was quiet. My view did face a city street-  not ideal for most, but a welcomed site for me, I like being reminded where I am. I am a true New Yorker ! The pillow-top Keetsa bed was very comfortable! I slept well there!

My hubby stayed at home braving the warm day, which ended in a cold night. He slept in the guest room which is cooler and I missed him. But I managed a wonderful weekend in a part of the city I never experienced before!

I think I described more than 4 reasons to visit Hell’s Kitchen, but I tend to over deliver, or so I hope. Speaking of exceeding expectations, this boutique hotel certainly exceeded mine. The staff was gracious and the loft life space such a welcome contrast to my elegant, traditionally – well transitional would be more of my eclectic decor style- appointed upper east side home and haunts.

 My neighborhood , by contrast is busy but quiet, full of upscales stores,  design shops, banks and Starbucks,  but devoid of the smaller stores that give a neighborhood a unique feel. How I wish these kinds of stores were more common in my neck of the woods. I loved the vibrant energy of Hell’s Kitchen and am looking forward to returning soon.

One thing that New Yorker’s tend to do is to stay within their little enclaves. Or perhaps that is just the people I am friendly with , who enjoy settled lives and are older.

Now  that the flu season is finally behind me,  I plan to explore more of my diverse and wonderfully nuanced city. I would also like to spend more time in Brooklyn, Dumbo, Harlem, and the Lower East Side.

I close with a snap of a pony vanity stool from the Cachet Boutique Hotel and my,  new to me, vintage enamel bracelet bought at the little antique store in Hell’s Kitchen.

***This is not a sponsored post. All opinion are my own.***  To know more about this spot, and 4 reasons to visit Hell’s Kitchen, and more-  please read this.

So let me ask you, do you travel outside of your own neighborhood often to discover what nearby places have to offer? Or do you stay within your comfort zone and visit favorites that you frequent time and time again?

LET ME KNOW. YOU KNOW HOW!   XOXO, ELLE   HAPPY WEEKEND DEAR READERS!