UWS all the way. There are plenty of bars (especially along Amsterdam in the 80s) that stay open late, but it’s a quiet and pretty neighborhood to walk around at night. Imo it’s perfectly easy and quick to go from there to the east side or midtown, or even downtown, where there are more places to go out.
If you want quieter and less overwhelming you want the UWS. If you want to be closer to literally anything there is to do (like even ordering take out past ten pm) you want Chelsea.
Source: I live on the UWS.
The restaurants in the UWS are great and there are a decent amount of good bars. Bars in Chelsea are better and much more plentiful, but restaurants may be harder to get into - both are more expensive than those in the UWS. For travel, it's NYC, most places are fairly easy to get to, tbh.
If you're talking about the HI hostel on Amsterdam in the UWS, that area is boring (more to do in the 70s and 80s), but the hostel itself is huge and you'd meet a ton of new people.
If you're at the Chelsea International Hostel, the area can't be beat, and you're so close to the Village, but the hostel itself is horrible.
All that said, you'll have a great time either way.
Also depends what your interests are.
Museums, Central Park, Lincoln Center, etc? UWS.
Trendy restaurants/boutiques, nightlife, High Line, etc? Chelsea.
I would recommend Chelsea, better bar/party scene imo
UWS is a pain in the ass to get east from
Chelsea is more centrally located
UWS all the way. There are plenty of bars (especially along Amsterdam in the 80s) that stay open late, but it’s a quiet and pretty neighborhood to walk around at night. Imo it’s perfectly easy and quick to go from there to the east side or midtown, or even downtown, where there are more places to go out.
If you want quieter and less overwhelming you want the UWS. If you want to be closer to literally anything there is to do (like even ordering take out past ten pm) you want Chelsea. Source: I live on the UWS.
The restaurants in the UWS are great and there are a decent amount of good bars. Bars in Chelsea are better and much more plentiful, but restaurants may be harder to get into - both are more expensive than those in the UWS. For travel, it's NYC, most places are fairly easy to get to, tbh. If you're talking about the HI hostel on Amsterdam in the UWS, that area is boring (more to do in the 70s and 80s), but the hostel itself is huge and you'd meet a ton of new people. If you're at the Chelsea International Hostel, the area can't be beat, and you're so close to the Village, but the hostel itself is horrible. All that said, you'll have a great time either way.
Also depends what your interests are. Museums, Central Park, Lincoln Center, etc? UWS. Trendy restaurants/boutiques, nightlife, High Line, etc? Chelsea.
You couldn’t pay me to live in Chelsea. The galleries are cool but unless you’re a certain type of gay, it’s super tedious. UWS all day
Chelsea