Welcome to Café Chelsea
Café Chelsea, a French restaurant located in New York, offers a delightful dining experience with a touch of Parisian charm. Known for its attentive service, charming ambiance, and exquisite cuisine, customers rave about dishes like the Steak Frites, Grand Plateau seafood tower, and decadent Dark Chocolate Soufflé. The seasonal menu item, La Framboise, stands out as one of the best desserts, while the ravioli and burger receive high praise. With a historic setting in the renowned Chelsea Hotel, Café Chelsea is a must-visit for foodies looking for an elevated dining experience in the heart of the city.
- 218 W 23rd St New York, NY 10011218 W 23rd St New York, NY 10011 Hotline: (212) 518-1813
Welcome to Café Chelsea, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of New York’s historic Chelsea Hotel, located at 218 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011. This enchanting French bistro offers a unique blend of culinary excellence and sophisticated ambiance, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts and casual diners alike.
As I walked through the beautifully decorated space, I was instantly transported to a quaint Parisian bistro. Natural light pours in, illuminating the stylish interior. The café’s charm is only outdone by its menu, which showcases an impressive array of dishes that artfully marry classic French techniques with fresh ingredients. Here, the dining experience goes beyond mere meals; it’s a journey through flavors.
Among the standout dishes is the Steak Frites, highly praised by patrons as one of the best you’ll find outside of Paris. Cooked to perfection, the steak is complemented by a luxurious herb butter and accompanied by generous portions of thin, crispy fries. The Grand Plateau, a seafood tower brimming with lobster, tuna crudo, clams, oysters, and shrimp, is another triumph, celebrated for its exceptional freshness and inviting presentation.
No visit to Café Chelsea would be complete without indulging in their desserts. The Dark Chocolate Soufflé, a rich and decadent treat, is worth every minute of its 30-minute wait and a true testament to the culinary prowess of the café. Seasonal offerings like La Framboise, a whimsical olive oil cake shaped like a raspberry, offers a burst of flavor that delights the senses.
The coffee selection is equally impressive, with options like a smooth Cortado or a robust Espresso, perfect for pairing with your meal or enjoying as a post-dinner treat. Each cup is crafted with care, providing the ideal caffeinated companion to your culinary adventure.
Café Chelsea captivates not just with its food but also with its ambiance and attentive service. Guests are treated to a warm and inviting experience, whether they’re savoring breakfast classics like the croque-madame or opting for a leisurely brunch featuring their wonderful ravioli. The charming atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for both romantic dinners and casual gatherings.
For anyone seeking a dining experience that tantalizes the palate and warms the heart, Café Chelsea is an invaluable destination. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this café provides a slice of French culinary artistry with a New York twist. Make your reservation today at (212) 518-1813 and indulge in the unparalleled flavors that await you.

I went here for dinner last week and was really impressed! The ambiance is lovely, the service was overall very attentive, and everything we ordered was excellent. - Steak Frites: I venture to say that this was the best steak frites I've had that wasn't in Paris. The steak was perfectly cooked and the herb butter gave it so much flavor. It was served with a very generous portion of thin, crispy fries. - Grand Plateau: The Grand Plateau seafood tower was next level. It came with lobster, tuna crudo, clams, oysters, and shrimp. We especially loved the tuna crudo but everything was so fresh and delicious. - Dark Chocolate Soufflé: A must-order! The most decadent chocolate soufflé (that is definitely worth the 30 minute wait-time). - La Framboise: This is a seasonal menu item and quite possibly one of the best desserts I've ever had. Olive oil cake, shaped like a raspberry, packed with raspberry jam and chocolate crumble. What's not to love? Will definitely be back at some point for brunch -- and I've also heard that the ravioli is amazing!

The Hotel Chelsea is supposedly very haunted. That shouldn't stop you from making a reservation to have some eye catching and mouth watering foods! Every single thing we ate was delicious. From the delightful small plates, including wonderful steak tartare, to the amazing ravioli. The burger is a slam dunk. Finally, do yourself a favor and order the chocolate soufflé! The restaurant itself is gorgeous, historic, and worth the pricey visit!

Loved this place! Came here for breakfast and immediately felt like I had walked into a French bistro in Paris. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a small seating area in the front with natural light streaming in from outside for breakfast patrons. There is also a larger dinner room in the back. We were seated quickly and greeted by our server. We ordered Americanos, the omelet with fine herbs, and the croque-madam. Everything was perfect and delicious! The croque-madam was especially tasty! Definitely try this place out!

Charming ambiance in the legendary, now refurbished, Chelsea Hotel. (Yes, *that* Chelsea Hotel, famous for endless stars staying / living there and inspiring the song by Leonard Cohen.) I found the food wonderful with a special tip to try their bread basket. That was the best bread that I've had in my life, including any and all bagels. Crusty outside, soft chewy inside, a tad warm, just delicious. I also had the Chelsea Burger which comes with a very special cheese sauce, some kind of blend of cheeses, and the "taramade" (spelling?) dip, a mix of olive and fig. Bring family or a special date. Delightful.

This place is much more than a cafe. It is a secret haven for foodies. Danny took care of us tonight. He was very polite and a good server. He made sure all our needs were met. 10/10 The ravioli is so cute and tasty at the same time. Highly recommend. The only downside is that it gets cold fast. 9/10. The food here is amazing. The dessert here is worth breaking a diet over. 10/10. I will 100% be back.

My friends and I dined at Cafe Chelsea about three weeks ago. We ordered the ravioli, broccoli rabe, burger, and chocolate soufflé. To our dismay, all but the burger, including the fries, arrived cold. The burger was simple, but tasty. Everything since it was cold, was mediocre, and not very appealing. We spoke up and the staff was so kind, comping the cold items, along with giving us two complimentary desserts. Im not sure I would return, given the quality of the food and the prices are on the higher side, but I appreciate the kindness of the staff.

Honestly, such a lovely French breakfast spot inside the Chelsea Hotel. I was stunned when we went for breakfast Saturday morning over the holiday weekend. We didn't have a reservation and didn't have to wait. Every diner in the spot was gorgeous and the interior is lovely. We chose to sit inside as it was quite humid outside but there's gorgeous outdoor seating. The coffee was lovely, albeit a bit small - and the green juice was nice but not a full pour (in a tiny tiny glass) for $12 - it is NYC but come on. We shared the croque madam - a lovely version of it with the french omelette. It was a perfect amount of food and the staff was friendly dressed in their career waiter type uniforms. I would go back anytime I'm in Chelsea for breakfast, it just set the tone right for our day!

Date: Saturday, May 4th, 2024 Time: 11:30am Party of: 5 Meal: Brunch *Frisee Aux Lardons ($24) *Benedict 2 ($24) *Steak Avec ($36) *Side of Fries ($12) *Bacon ($10) *Haricot Verts ($12) *Croque-Madame ($25) *Ginger Hubert ($18) *Bloody Mary Tequila ($17) *Clos Cibonne "Tentations" Rose '21 BTG ($18) x2 *Tissot Rose BTG ($19) x3 I was in town and wanted to meet up a few girlfriends for brunch. One of them suggested Cafe Chelsea. It's been on my list of brunch spots for a while, so I was down to check it out. I believe she made a reservation via Resy about two weeks prior. I'd just gotten off a redeye and couldn't decided what I was craving, so the hubby and I shared the steak and a few sides. The steak was cooked nicely. A good french medium rare. (I find most MR preps overcooked for my tastes.) I adore fries, especially with steak, so these hit the spot. The green beans were tastt as they still retained a nice crunch. The wine pours were generous and paired well with the food. A solid brunch spot. A nice first stop while in NYC.

Upon entering, I loved the ambiance and the black and white checkered tile floors. I noticed the bartenders were all wearing black tie and white shirt and apron. We were seated quickly and perused the menu. The hosted originally gave us the breakfast menu until we asked where were the cocktails? The waitress gave us the brunch menu which started at 11 am. The brunch menu had more of a lunch selection with cocktails. I chose the Franco Niçoise salad and to this day I am talking and dreaming about that salad. The bigger beans were so creamy and the tuna was perfection! I love salad with a lot of protein and this dish has a lot of protein. I was full without feeling bloated. The next time I am in NYC, Cafe Chelsea will be on my list.

Came here for a business dinner and would definitely come back! Started with a few apps; the fries, ravioli, and croquettes, paired with a few cocktails. The raviolis were superb and melted in your mouth! Don't miss those. Fries and croquettes were also very good, but the ravioli was definitely the star. The dirty martinis were also perfect. For entrees, I got the black bass which was cooked wonderfully. Very flaky, moist and packed with flavor. My coworkers got the steaks frites and were extremely happy, steak was also flavorful, juicy and cooked a perfect medium rare. The lemon spaghetti was also a crowd pleaser. Overall, a good experience. Service was attentive. Vibes were good. Food was yummy.