VYNL Chelsea, the trendy restaurant and lounge on 8th Avenue

Begun in Hells Kitchen as a somewhat campy culinary tribute to stylized comfort and kitsch-nostalgic decorative arts, VYNL (102 8th Ave., 212-400-2118) also has a fun location in Chelsea (pictured here), where it's a darling of gay clubbers and tourists. Menus come inside old Donna Summer and Dreamgirls (etc.) LP sleeves from the '70s, and disco balls and hanging records give the place a retro-sleek look. The kitchen turns out eclectic food with an international (especially Thai) spin (and in big portions) - think steamed veggie dumplings with soy-chili dipping sauce, Thai buffalo wings, BLTs with harissa mayo and chili jam), turkey meatloaf with smashed potatoes with sides of red Swiss chard and smoked bacon, and generously sized burgers. There's also a popular weekend brunch. The extensive cocktail menu makes this a fun option for socializing - try the Fiona Apple-tini, and save room for coconut-banana bread pudding with caramel sauce at the end. Other excellent restaurants nearby include Better Burger NYC, Viceroy, and Suenos.