Photos courtesy of Marcus Lloyd
A new nautical-themed restaurant will open this week atop Chelsea’s landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building. Operated by Crew, the team behind popular boat bars Grand Banks and Pilot, the Yacht Club opens this Thursday, taking up a sprawling 20,000 square feet across two floors at the former 1930s freight terminal. The 125-seat restaurant will offer top-tier seafood, indoor and outdoor dining, and panoramic views from its sunny roof deck. The Yacht Club is part of the building’s new Level 10 complex, a full-floor suite of cutting-edge amenities, many of which are open to the public.
Founded in 2014 by brothers Alex and Miles Pincus, the hospitality group Crew is known for its maritime-inspired restaurants, particularly Grand Banks, an oyster bar on a historic wooden sailing boat docked at Pier 25 in Tribeca.
The Yacht Club is Crew’s largest venue to date, stretching across an entire city block with three exposures. Its interior includes an 85-seat dining room alongside a private dining room and cocktail bar that accommodates 40 guests.
Designed by Alex Pincus in collaboration with Eric Cheong of North 45 Project, the space channels the elegance of a swanky mid-century boat club, featuring walnut booths, vintage Art Deco sconces, rope-wrapped columns, and reservable cabanas.
The decor features a large-scale mural by artist Brett Land, inspired by the city’s waterfront history and Crew’s fleet of historic vessels, alongside large-format sailing yacht photographs by Björn Wallander, sourced through Armature Projects.
Outdoors, guests can enjoy expansive waterfront views from the restaurant’s rooftop terrace, known as the Lido Deck. The open-air bar serves up spritzes, frozen cocktails, mint juleps, and more, according to Time Out.
The restaurant’s beverage program, curated by director and sommelier Anthony Gochal, offers an approachable wine list with easy-drinking wines by the glass and a thoughtful bottle selection. The cocktail menu features creative drinks suited for any time of day, whether indoors or enjoying the sunshine outdoors.
Inside, the drink menu includes three unique takes on the classic Martini—ranging from clean to savory—as well as a trio of Negronis that span bright and bitter to deep and complex flavors. The sea-themed “Rumrunners” section pays tribute to the tropics with elevated Pina Coladas and darker rum cocktails.
“Daychasers” include easy, refreshing summer sippers like vodka spritzes, gin & tonics, frozen palomas, and shareable punches. Many cocktails are named after famous yachts of the past, such as the Delphine (Planetary Stiggins Rum, Velvet Falernum, Ferrand Curacao, lime) and the Viareggio (Beluga vodka, Mathilde Creme de Framboise, Le Jay Creme de Cassis, lemon, raspberries, Gruet sparkling wine).
With a food menu curated by Chef Andres Grundy, diners can indulge in a wide variety of delicious seafood. Appetizers include starters like shrimp cocktails, ceviche, and oysters—including Crew’s exclusive Sailor Baby Oyster variety. Entrees include “Yacht Tots,” an Atlantic Skate Wing meuniere, Tomahawk Frites, and Seared Montauk Golden Tilefish.
There is also no shortage of lobster, with highlights including an upscale lobster roll, crafted by Crew’s Culinary Director Kerry Heffernan and made with a one-and-a-half-pound Maine lobster cooked to order.
Dessert options include nostalgic classics like cherries jubilee, while lunch features dishes such as the “Instant Gratification”—a mortadella sandwich with pistachio gremolata, stracciatella, and arugula—as well as a lobster salad for two and the Quintessential Club sandwich.
The outdoor terrace and cabanas offer a separate menu featuring snacks and shareable plates, ranging from Riviera-inspired pizzettes and caviar to Black Angus beef kababs and Wagyu-and-foie-gras sliders.
RXR purchased the Starrett-Lehigh Building in 2011 for $920 million. Once a hub for manufacturing and shipping, the building later housed media companies like Martha Stewart’s Omnimedia and firms tied to its industrial past, according to the New York Post.
The developer has since begun to renovate the iconic yet outdated property, upgrading it with five miles of new glass windows and attracting major retailers like Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren as office tenants.
The Olly Olly Market food hall opened at Starrett-Lehigh in 2022, which houses several diverse vendors and a cocktail bar.
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Photos courtesy of Marcus Lloyd
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