Chelsea Inn – 17th Street

Situated in two adjoining five-story walk-up buildings built in the late 1800s, the Chelsea Inn was once a private residence. The primary building features a Queen Anne-style facade with molded red brick detailing and elegant bay windows. Inside, the inn maintains some of its architectural features with an oblong winding staircase with wainscoting as well as molded details and a central ceiling skylight. The hotel was built in the image of European budget properties and walks the line between charming and run-down, but guests who don’t require the typical hotel amenities seem to appreciate both the value and the historic vibe. There are few common areas -- the lobby is just a long front desk -- but the small space and lack of an elevator certainly gives guests a New York experience. As of our visit in late 2015, the hotel was undergoing extensive renovations, including replacing old carpeting with wood floors and modernizing the rooms. The work is expected to be completed by late 2016. Those who stay here are budget-minded travelers seeking something slightly outside of the more touristy Midtown area that's a step up from dorm-style hostels.

The hotel’s location on 17th Street right off Sixth Avenue puts this Chelsea hotel in close proximity to other hip Manhattan hangouts like Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park. The area is south of the hustle-and-bustle of Midtown, but still has plenty to offer. Union Square is only two blocks away, while Fifth Avenue offers lots of shopping. Restaurants and public transportation stops abound; the F, M, L and 1, 2, 3 subway stops are a quick walk from the hotel, and trains can take guests to most city attractions in under a half hour. 

• Five-minute walk to F, M, and L subway stop
• Seven-minute walk to 1, 2, and 3 subway stop
• Seven-minute walk to Union Square
• 13-minute walk to Washington Square Park
• 15-minute walk to Greenwich Village / West Village
• 10 minutes to Empire State Building via public transport
• 10 minutes to Penn Station via public transport
• 15 minutes to Times Square via public transport
• 15 minutes to Grand Central Station via public transport
• 15 minutes to Port Authority Bus Terminal via public transport
• 20 minutes to Central Park via public transport
• 22 minutes to Battery Park via public transport
• 30 minutes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art via public transport
• One hour to LaGuardia Airport via public transport
• One hour and fifteen minutes to JFK Airport via public transport

As of 2015, the hotel has been in the process of renovation, with some rooms newly refurbished, while others are dated and worn. Rooms are small, and their layouts can feel cramped, though they range in size and shape from double and twin rooms to two-bedroom suites. Older, unrenovated rooms feature green wall-to-wall carpeting, mauve curtains, and cream-colored walls occasionally accented by a framed picture or other wall art. Bathrooms may be somewhat haphazardly decorated, with terra-cotta-colored tile floors and beige-tiled showers. Some rooms have a shared bathroom, though such rooms also have their own in-room sink. Renovated rooms have nice wood floors and brick accent walls, while bathrooms are fully tiled in chic gray and white. All rooms include flat-screen TVs with cable, free Wi-Fi, safes, hairdryers, and individual toiletries. Some rooms also have mini-fridges and coffeemakers. Many guests find the rooms dark, and each only has one small window.

The hotel has no on-site property features, but it does offer free Wi-Fi (though some guests have complained that it’s slow). Additionally, in lieu of a hotel breakfast, each guests receives a three-dollar meal voucher to the Belgium diner next door, and guests are happy with the food here.