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The Vessel, The Shed, and What Else to See and Do at Hudson Yards

With restaurants, shopping, an observation deck, and more, Hudson Yards is NYC's newest neighborhood to visit.

Hudson Yards is the state-of-the-art building development, new to the West Side of Manhattan. Larger than Rockefeller Center at 28 acres, this impressive neighborhood contains a monumental sculpture, a hotel, a mall, an observation deck, an arts space, offices, residences, restaurants, and 14 acres of public space.

For decades, this patch of the Hudson River shoreline—from West 30th to 34th streets, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues—was a waystation for subway train cars. Now, floating above those trains is a luxurious collection of sights, shops, eats, and the northern terminus of the High Line. Located between Midtown West and Chelsea, Hudson Yards can be the launching point for your next visit to New York.

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High Line Park in Hudson Yards

The High Line

You already know the High Line as a beloved public space in Chelsea. Now, this converted elevated rail line extends to Hudson Yards and finds its end near the tower at 55 Hudson Yards. Like the southern portions of the park, the new portion of The High Line provides an elegant, walkable space 30 feet from the ground with beautiful greenery, waterfront views, and public art. Now you can walk all the way from the Whitney Museum to the shops at Hudson Yards without battling street traffic! 

The Vessel in New York

The Vessel

The centerpiece of the plaza at Hudson Yards is Thomas Heatherwick’s very Insta-friendly sculpture The Vessel. This enormous bronze honeycomb stands at 15 stories tall. From the inside, it’s an intricate chamber of stairs; there are 2,500 steps, 154 flights, and 80 landings in total. Unfortunately, safety concerns keep it closed to climbers. But it does make an impressive photo op.

Hudson Yards Mall: The Shops at Hudson Yards

The luxury Hudson Yards mall contains seven floors of fashion, beauty, tech, art, and so much more. Among the nearly 100 stores at The Shops, you’ll find favorite brands, innovative concept stores, and more traditional retailers like:

  • Van Cleef & Arpels
  • M.A.C.
  • Coach
  • Aritzia
  • lululemon
  • Zara
  • Pandora
  • Madewell
  • Sephora
  • Tiffany & Co.
  • Athleta
  • Uniqlo
  • Brooks Brothers
  • Camp
  • Banana Republic
  • H&M
  • Fendi
  • Dior
  • Kate Spade
  • Madewell

The Edge NYC Observation Deck

Edge

The world’s highest outdoor observation deck, Edge, is located at 30 Hudson Yards. Towering 1,100 above street level, this deck extends 65 feet into the air and provides incredible views of Manhattan on one side and the Hudson River on the other. A portion of the floor of the deck is made of glass for extra thrill seeking, and plenty of other photo ops along the terrace. 
20 Hudson Yards, Level 4 • 332-204-8500

Hudson Yards Restaurants

There are at least 25 restaurants at Hudson Yards, ranging from fast food to fine dining. Co-curated by chef Thomas Keller (of three-Michelin-starred Per Se), these establishments represent some of the brightest culinary talents. Here are four top Hudson Yards restaurants to check out next time you head over to see the spectacle.

1. Wild Ink

wild ink restaurant at hudson yards nyc

Wild Ink serves Asian fare injected with flavors from around the world. A section of the well-edited menu is devoted to dim sum, which features British and Indian accents. There are several raw seafood options (go for the hamachi tartare), snacks, small plates, and mains like duck a la kumquat. Wild Ink also caters to kids with a shrimp and bacon siu mai (dumpling) and other dishes, and there’s brunch for all on weekends. The spacious dining room overlooks The Vessel, the hybrid arts space The Shed, and the Hudson River beyond. 
20 Hudson Yards, 5th Floor646-974-7305

2. Fuku

fuku fried chicken at hudson yards nyc

There aren’t many affordable options in the luxurious mall at Hudson Yards, but count on David Chang to please the people. This fried chicken shop, a spinoff of the Momofuku empire, serves a concise menu of sandwiches, fingers, waffle fries, and snacks like a vada pav potato cake. This location is small and smells wonderful; count on a crowd pretty much all the time.
20 Hudson Yards, 2nd Floor917-201-7098

3. Mercado Little Spain

mercado little spain at hudson yards

Mercado Little Spain, located on the ground floor of 10 Hudson Yards, contains stand after stand of Spanish food. There are papas bravas, churros, a market of dry goods, a bar, and three full-service restaurants. It’s much like the Eataly of Spain, inspired by mercados that sell a wide swath of goods to Spanish communities. The three restaurants inside Little Spain are Lena, Mar, and Spanish Diner. 
10 Hudson Yards646-495-1242

4. Estiatorio Milos

Chef Costas Spiliadis brings preparations of world-class seafood to this very upscale, airy dining room with a sensational view. You’ll be treated to the Milos Special, a fried zucchini and eggplant tower, and other fresh, flavorful dishes from the Mediterranean with service befitting a white-tablecloth establishment (and prices to match). Slightly more casual, Milos Wine Bar is located on the floor below. 
20 Hudson Yards, Fifth Floor646-907-1970

5. Electric Lemon

electric lemon terrace hudson yards

Inside the Equinox Hotel is Electric Lemon, a restaurant from Stephen Starr. The seasonal cuisine is available from breakfast to dinner and beyond in a sleek dining room and outdoor terrace on the hotel’s 24th floor. The thoughtful current dinner menu includes chilled oysters, white asparagus soup, dry-aged duck with delicata squash and wild rice, and fettuccine with spring mushrooms and pea leaves. 
33 Hudson Yards, 24th Floor212-812-9202

And if the above restaurants don’t satisfy your cravings, these are the other restaurants in Hudson Yards:

The Shed in NYC

The Shed Photo: Timothy Schenk

The Shed is the multidimensional arts venue at Hudson Yards. This incredible hybrid structure serves as equal parts museum, performance space, and public meeting place. An innovative nesting design, The Shed’s transparent outer shell can extend and retract as needed for a variety of events. For a visual aid, visit this page for a very helpful video made by the architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. On any given week, you can check out a dance performance, an art exhibition, a concert, or a play at this dynamic new cultural center. 

The Shed also features a full-service restaurant from Danny Meyer (Union Square Cafe, Shake Shack). This restaurant, Cedric’s at The Shed, is open all day and offer an extensive beverage program as well as sandwiches, salads, and snacks.
545 W. 30th St. • 646-455-3494

The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK)

Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK) Neighborhood beautification by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK).

The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK) is a not-for-profit neighborhood business improvement district, taking in West 42nd Street to the north, Eleventh Avenue to the west, West 30th Street to the south and Ninth Avenue to the east. Their work involves supplemental sanitation services, streetscape improvements, neighborhood horticulture and beautification projects, and assistance to local small businesses. They're also the NYC Parks Department's official maintenance and operations partner for Bella Abzug Park in Hudson Yards, a site of music and arts festivals in the neighborhood.

Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards

Equinox is known for its killer gym game; now it’s also a hotel chain. Visit its first location at Hudson Yards, and stay in one of its luxe rooms so you’ll have ready access to the neighborhood’s shops, restaurants, and sightseeing. There’s also a fitness center at Equinox Hotel, as well as a spa and a SoulCycle studio. 
33 Hudson Yards • 212-812-9200

About the Author

Merrill Lee Girardeau lives and writes in Brooklyn.

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