Hell’s Kitchen Local

Small businesses keep Hell’s Kitchen and our city great. The Little Pie Company boasts incredible pies, made from scratch with fantastic ingredients! What’s not to love?!

Ballet is one of my favorite hobbies and pastimes, and it’s way harder than it looks! Ballerinas do not get the respect they deserve! Hell’s Kitchen is home to so many incredible dance studios, but The Ailey is my go to.

B&D Halal is new to Hell’s Kitchen. I’ve tried it twice already and quite enjoyed the various options. The flavors span several cultures and countries. Excellent for take out.

I love this place. In a sea of chain stores in Port Authority, this shop is an oasis of creativity. It’s filled with one-of-a-kind clothes and accessories from local designers. I always pop in to see an ever changing stock of unique pieces. I love that it’s in Port Authority.

It’s an off-Broadway complex offering a variety of plays and musicals. I especially enjoy UnitedSolo.org, where up-and-coming writers and solo performers give heartfelt, expressive performances.

Having a great local izakaya nearby just makes Hell’s Kitchen that much better. The food and drinks are always on point, and they recently opened a small speakeasy-style bar in the back that’s become one of my favorite spots to unwind.

I discovered swimming when my legs told me to stop running. I’ve enjoyed this gym for many years now.

I kicked off my Life Time journey at our SKY location, and it is hands down one of the most stunning spots in all of Hell’s Kitchen! From top-notch classes (catch me at 10am on Saturdays!) to the breathtaking rooftop pool — where I also moonlight as the backstage director for the annual New York Swim Week — SKY delivers a true luxury athletic-club experience right in the heart of HK.

It supports notable playwrights, offering residencies to artists from underrepresented ethnic communities and giving them space to develop their work in a secure environment. My favorites are Lynn Nottage and Anna Deavere Smith.

PS Kitchen on W48th Street is a fully vegan restaurant that proves plant-based food in this city can be genuinely great, not just a compromise. Beyond the food, they donate 100% of their profits to charity and hire people who’ve faced barriers to employment; it’s the kind of small business that makes the neighborhood come to life.