Hell's Kitchen (also known as Clinton) is a busy mesh of tourists, theaters, restaurants, and locals. In addition to the bustling tourist attractions and Theater Row, Hell’s Kitchen also features "Restaurant Row" (West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue), where one can find almost any culinary delight imaginable. Ninth Avenue is choke-full of shops, cafes, and galleries, while West 51st St, with its brownstones and quaint row homes, is studded with Parisian-style cafes and bars, evoking a French flavor. Not surprisingly, the area tends to be busy at all hours.
High-rise doorman buildings (many of which were constructed since the late 1990s), tenement-style walk-ups, stone row homes and flats above shops make up most of the area. Not much foliage unless you have a green thumb and a roof deck!
The area’s nickname, which dates to the 1880s, is believed to be referring to the terrible riots that took place in the area's overcrowded tenements, back when factories dominated the west side. Hell’s Kitchen’s reputation began to improve (or, seen in a less favorable light, the area began to gentrify) simultaneously with the efforts to improve (Disneyfy?) Time Square.
