Hotel Chelsea

The owner Stanley is a Excellent reference for my residency along with Author Weinstien. Jerome was a courtesy door man!

«I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel.» I first heard the infamous Hotel Chelsea mentioned in the lyrics to Chelsea Hotel #2 — Leonard Cohen’s brilliant ode to his relationship with Janis Joplin. The Chelsea later popped up in Bob Dylan’s 1976 song Sara: «Staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel writing Sad-​Eyed Lady of the Lowlands for you.» I had to visit the hotel that served as an inspiration for so many of my favorite artists.
I stayed at the Chelsea after attending the Broadway revival of Nine and left only hours before the New York blackout of 2003. Fourtanely I didn’t get stuck in the hotel elevator, nor did I experience any of the hauntings the front desk man warned me about; Sid Vicious allegedly murdered his girlfriend in one of the Chelsea’s rooms and the hotel has been prone to reported ghost sightings ever since.
My room was fairly standard and indistinguishable from any other hotel room. I didn’t stay at the Chelsea for luxury, but to stay in the same hotel that served as a temporary home to some of the most talented artists of the past several decades.

I cannot believe the Chelsea has been bought and is closed– and that it took me this long to hear about it!!! This is awful news. :(
I’ve stayed here twice with my then-​fiancée (now husband). My aunt suggested it to us the first time– said she’d heard it was really affordable. I was really shocked to hear that, considering its extensive history. In this city, any excuse to charge more is a good one.
But sure enough – our stay ran us just around $ 100 a night on both visits (last year and the year before)– which is pretty much an unthinkable price in NY. The rooms were clean but humble– nothing fancy whatsover– but, in my opinion, that just added to the experience. The place definitely seemed untouched by the modern world and certainly more than a little haunted.
«Don’t worry,» warn articles. «The artwork will stay up.» Yeah and the whole place will be redone and it’ll suddenly cost at least 5 times more to stay there too, I’m sure! Or it’ll just become swanky condos.
RIP Chelsea Hotel. RIP CBGBs, Astroland, The Limelight (not to mention Twilo, Tunnel, Sound Factory, etc etc etc). RIP Lucky Cheng’s (moving to Times Square = dead to me). The list could go on and on…
What’s happening to New York?

Le passé disparu de New York, nos ancêtres sont parmi nous, un vrai désastre, ce n’est plus un hôtel, en ce moment c’est un immeuble locatif, il est en rénovation, pour une seconde vie je l’espère, qu’il redevienne un hôtel et plus une résidence pour sociaux.

My favorite place in New York City, THE HOTEL CHELSA.
If walls could talk. We stayed there for 5 nights. The best part of the Chelsea is the lobby. To watch the comings and goings of such interesting people who luckily live in such a FANTASTIC place. Do yourself a favour go on the Internet and read some of the history and who has stayed there. On a sadder note it is also the same hotel that was witness to the terrible death of Nancy. There has been alot of stories about that night again… IF WALLS COULD TALK

Unfortunately the Hotel Chelsea has been bought and is now closed. They removed all the art (except the pink lady as of this writing) and padlocked all the rooms.
I’m sure in no time they will change it into a swanky boutique hotel…

REVIEW OF DOWNSTAIRS BAR/​CLUB ONLY:
So here’s the first reason I like this spot for a Thursday night bender. One of my friends was flying in from Toronto, set to arrive around midnight. I simply told the doorman she’d be the one with the suitcase showing up and he says no problem. They walked my cool as blue gatorade on a hot summer’s day friend Kimmer in wearing her high tops, ripped jeans and hat. They let her change in the office to throw on some heels and a dress. Sensational on both the bar’s part, and of course Kimmer. She is such a super trooper.
It has style and good tunes, yet I was perfectly OK in there in a casual shirt, nice jeans and my mean green asics sneakers (originally purchased as a part of hallowe’en 2011 Gumby, where I learned that getting too into character and performing the FULL splits can and did result in a torn glutious maximus muscle — but I digress).
My overall impression was good. Good venue. Dark and mysterious. Good crowd. Good music. Good service.

Stayed once… April 2011
This is no «5 star» hotel like the Ritz Carlton, but if you are looking for a cheap and clean hotel in Manhattan with free WiFi, this is the place for you. If you are an art lover and love European culture, you will absolutely love this hotel. People also rent and buy rooms at the Hotel Chelsea on 23^rd St to make as their residence. These people tend to be friendly and knowledge Europeans who are happy to tell you all about Manhattan or about their European country lives. One of them even took me out for coffee after I got settled in :)
For those not familiar with Manhattan, the hotel is the perfect location from several subway stations and parks (i.e., easy access to JFK Airport or New Jersey). If you are worried about parking, don’t be. They have valet or you can park your car yourself in parking garage.

It was just OK. Funky but musty. You have to take the place in stride as it has its own unique style and culture. Some of the rooms are a bit rough. I moved three times before a was in a room that had adequate AC and fully functioning outlets and lights.
The location can’t be beat if you’re in NY and want to stay close to screenings at the Tribeca Film Festival or if you’re doing business in the fashion district. It’s also close to many of the better galleries. Would I stay there again? Maybe.

I stayed here in March of 2011 with a few friends to celebrate my friend and I’s birthday. We were really excited to stay here simply due to the history of the place. I loved everything about this hotel. The staff was incredibly friendly, even at 2 am when we ran out of toilet paper, they were quick to run some up to us. The room we had was incredibly clean and had a great view. It was the perfect distance from two of the main trains that we had to take while spending time in NYC so that was an added bonus. Just walking the hallways to see all the art was fun too.
And it was reasonably priced too, especially for a double room with a private bath.
Bottom line, if you love art and history and don’t care about super fancy hotels, this is an amazing place to stay. I can’t wait to go back! It really is an experience!

You want perfection, stay in a damnable chain. This is legendary. Just stayed here in room 722. Short history of the room:
Doris Chase, painter and teacher, sculptor of monumental kinetic forms, was best known as a pioneer in quite another field. Beginning in the 1970s, she produced more than 50 videos regarded as key works in the history of video art.
She moved into room 722 of the Chelsea Hotel, which since 1883 had been a residence for artists ranging from Sarah Bernhardt and O. Henry to Janis Joplin and Jasper Johns. Mark Twain had lived there; Dylan Thomas died there. Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey there.
Was the room perfect? No. Quibbling bitches about things. If there had been cockroaches the size of meerkats (no bugs seen anywhere at all) I would have taken away a star but still loved being here.

NOTE: The Chelsea is not accepting guests now. So this review is just for those who want to know what it was like before they closed for revovations:
I adore the Chelsea Hotel. It’s not for everyone, but if you are interested in history, literature, or music, it is a living museum. Read Ed Hamilton’s «Legends of the Chelsea Hotel» before coming here so you’ll know what to expect.
I checked in and headed for the elevator with an elderly gentleman who asked me «Who are you?» I said «I’m Peter Smith from DC. And you?» He replied «I’ve lived here 39 years. I’m just an old drunk! Ha ha ha ha ha!» Turned out he lived next door to my room. Welcome to the Chelsea!
Wandering the hallways to see the art on each floor is a must. Be respectful and discreet, since some people LIVE here, but you can’t leave here without seeing the art. You’ll pass rooms where so many great artists, writers & musicians have stayed… Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Arthur Miller, Dylan Thomas, Lance Loud, Holly Woodlawn, Gore Vidal, Jack Kerouac, Arthur C. Clarke (who wrote «2001: A Space Odyssey» here), Virgil Thomson, Zaldy, Katherine Dunham, Patti Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe, Sam Shepard, William Dean Howells, Sarah Bernhardt, Storme DeLarverie, Thomas Wolfe and so many other important figures in our cultural history.
Mr queen-​size room cost me $ 324 for one night after taxes, and that is expensive, but if you can afford it, it’s worth it for the history. My room was very large by New York City standards, and it had high ceilings. It’s not immaculate or in perfect condition, but if you have lived in Europe or other places with many old, worn buildings, it will seem fine to you.
I understand there is no air-​conditioning in some rooms. If you stay in NYC from May through October you may need air-​conditioning, so be sure to ask about air-​conditioning in your room before making a reservation.
The staff was very helpful and friendly every time I encountered them. And most important of all: There are no bedbugs!
If you need a bite to eat there are many options within a block of the hotel, but the best overall bet is the New Venus diner just around the corner on 8^th Avenue. Walk down the block from the Chelsea Hotel to 8^th Ave. & go left onto 8^th Ave: It’s right there near the corner. It is a wonderfully friendly and cozy diner, open 24 hours a day, where you can get anything you want for a good price and you can feel like part of the neighborhood for a while. They have take-​out, too.

You go to Hotel Chelsea for the experience of it all and not for luxury. This is no Marriott Hotel. At first I decided that I just needed to take a deep breath and suck it up because I was on an interview and on a really tight budget and $ 100– a night in Manhattan in a neighborhood that I felt safe in was why I made the choice. On my stay here, I didn’t even have my own bathroom, but instead had to leave my room and go down the hall. I found that my bathroom key opened several different bathroom doors, and I was not confined to using only one — which caused me to investigate the premises much further. You cannot get this kind of experience at a new hotel or one that is just plain awful. The mystique of this place is the art that is EVERYWHERE. When I was there, they were having a special exhibition and there were art pieces that were even hanging from the ceilings.
If you have a taste for adventure, this is your place. Everything is old, but seems almost enchanted. The gentleman at the service desk when I checked in, made extra certain that I understood that I had a shared bathroom, and was concerned (I guess because of my matching lugguage and other accessories) that I perhaps had made a mistaken reservation. To that I say, I was made even more comfortable by the care and consideration of the staff– and their knowledge and understanding of the establishment that they work for. I for sure slept on my own blanket that I brought, and walked around in night slippers rather than upon the old carpeting, but again, for whatever reason, I found all of this to be spectacular instead of grusome. My room had a great view of the street, and had some crazy chairs on the balcony that you couldn’t sit on, but were definitely cool to look at.

If you like name dropping, then you can fool yourself into thinking this place I worth a damn. I love hotels with culture and the idea that I might have slept in Bob Dylan’s room, but the staff can’t run this place on that notion alone. The staff was downright apathetic, the rooms were never once cleaned, there is no air conditioning (which would be fine if it were communicated anywhere), and there is literally one toilet and shower for a whole floor of people to share. My dorms had better conditions. Bob Dylan would’ve been much happier there.
Go

It wasn’t terrible. And it was OK for an old historic hotel. Although, we didn’t have air conditioning in our room, the internet was touch and go, the front desk attendants weren’t the most receptive, and our neighbor (who lived there) had his jazz music playing loudly all day… I CAN’T say that it was the worst experience ever. I actually had the best sleep on those beds than I’ve ever had at any other hotel. Thanks to our front desk attendant, Victor, we got a room with two open door windows and a balcony that overlooked 23^rd and he told us about some good restaurants nearby (Trailer Park has decent margaritas, burgers and sweet potato fries).
I’ve stayed at an older hotel in the upper east side before where we shared a bathroom with other guests/​residents, so I knew what to expect. If you get a room w/​shared bathroom just bring your water shoes, ;) ! And make sure you know how to work their showers (kinda tricky). But at least they’re clean and lock behind you.
I mean, just like any other hotel, someone came in to make the beds when we were gone, we got fresh towels and wash cloths, and soaps, shampoos, etc. There was a mini fridge (that was open to use), desk/​chair, night stand w/​lamp, sink/​vanity area, and an older tv w/​cable (which lost service for a bit b/​c of rain). But, my sister and I were out most of the time, so it wasn’t bad to just come back to and rest our heads.
But anyone coming to NY should enjoy the city! You shouldn’t be cooped up in a hotel all day! Get out and enjoy the city that never sleeps! Save the hotel for when you pass out. But, you can definitely admire the gorgeous art work and architecture while you’re there!

Cool landmark with sweet art. That’s about it.
Staff was horrible. They refused to give us the same discount they gave someone else when both of our air conditioning units broke in the middle of the night (and it was in the 90s).
The beds were horrible, and left us with stiff backs the next day.
TVs in the room were from 1964, and the shower head was broken and spraying water every direction but straight.
Did I mention THE AIR CONDITIONING DOESN’T WORK?

Its not the ritz, but its not supposed to be. This place has great character. If you’re into an artsier place, or a place that is 420 friendly (at least all the other people I met staying here were) then stay here.
The rooms are ok and location is pretty good, especially for the price.
And hey theres a nightclub right underneath, which had a pretty good crowd the night i went, I think its called the «Star Lounge».
Dont stay here with kids, its really not a great place for them tho.

5 Stars for the history, all the sorted stories, all the crazy stories your friends had that you were never a part of.
4 Stars for the art in the hallways
3 Stars for the actual accommodations my friend who I was visiting was on the 3^rd Floor in a room that had no bed bugs or syringes but I have stayed in Hampton Inns with a better view (however Dylan Thomas never lived there)
2 Stars for my friends story about a dude passed out in his own vomit in a hallway
1 Star for a sketchy story she has about her stay that she is way reluctant to even tell me.
The Chelsea has a long way to go before it is Château Marmont (which why does everything always have to get upgraded and be all bright and shiny all the time?) I kind of hope it stays middle of the road adequate and keeps the quirk.

This hotel was beautiful, artistic, old and creepy which is why I fell in love with this place.
It’s located in a non-​touristy neighborhood so bars, shops and locals were equally unique and hella cool. Yes, I said hella.
Our room was very large for a NY hotel room. I loved our shared balcony that overlooked the city streets. By the way, the shared balcony is a great way to meet your neighbors. (Make friends with your neighbors. They are less likely to give you the universal, «keep it down» pound on your wall later if you have a beer with them now. I’m just sayin’.)
And remember:
*Inexpensive room rates =
1. One roll of toilet paper per housekeeping visit. (So don’t get drunk and run to the bathroom all night. Housekeeping hated the 4am, «May we please have more toilet paper?» call.)
2. There was no iron, blow dryer or extra towels in the room. So when you call housekeeping, ask for all of these together… oh and extra TP. (Sorry for being a pain in your ass housekeeping. At least we tipped well.)
3. Here’s where the old and creepy but cool part comes in. Everything creaked and moaned when ANYONE in the hotel moved. The elevator was tiny and ready to bust a nut. The paintings on the walls were amazing but I swear were staring back at me… Haunted Mansion style. Oh and the best part, our balcony door was locked by a folded piece of paper shoved under the door. Talk about living on the edge.

I stayed here a couple of nights while visiting a friend. I tried a shared bathroom room (I go cheap when I travel alone) — I do not recommend it. It looks NOTHING like the pictures on the website.
I think you REALLY need to appreciate the hotel’s history to enjoy staying here in a shared bathroom room. You also need to be there during Goldilocks weather — no air, no heat. The room looked clean, but it didn’t feel clean. I don’t mind that the building looks the same way it looked decades ago, but the rooms are quite bad. Same thing with the bathroom — it looked, but didn’t feel, clean. The bath tub backed up with water — nasty.
On the positive side, there is free wifi in the lobby and the location is good. There were plenty of (good-​looking, dressed to party) people out late at night and there is a type of swap meet that I guess sets up every so often on the same block as the hotel. There is a club below the hotel that seems to be hip but hard to get into. I wanted to check it out, but you need to sign up for the guest list and even then you might not get in.
I’d give it 1 star, even with the price I paid, but it looks like they have better rooms, so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.

Human After All w4m — 20s
It was almost perfect. The sun wasn’t out, the djs were great, Daft Punk was the dance party of our lives, and then it was just a block from the train to room 121 in the Hotel Chelsea. The headboards were cheap replacements, the walls yellow, and the balcony beckoned. My friends and I sipped our oh so classy Sutter Home white zin and they smoked their colored hipster cigs. That’s when you trapsed up from an adjacent room window. And I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel, you were talking so brave and so sweet, giving me head on the unmade bed, while the limousines wait in the street.
We mocked the mediocre folk drawn to the club in the basement, danced to bass traveling up the walls, and then curled up under the covers. We didn’t mind that the kitchenette mentioned by the old gent at the front desk was nonexistent. It didn’t bother us a bit that there was no fridge. The ceilings were high, the weather was cool, and great characters were wandering around in all sorts of get-​up for our entertainment.
It’s a shame you never came out on the balcony, missed connection from room 122. It would have made the night complete. JayChan is probably right; without the religious concert experience the $ 209 might not have been worth it for the three of us sharing the room that night. But it’s nice not to sleep in a sterile box anyway.