El Quinto Pino
Spanish · Chelsea-Hudson Yards, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Basque-Inflected Counter Format
Dress
Casual
Why go
El Quinto Pino is a historical New York profile; Google Places lists the former Chelsea restaurant as permanently closed.
About El Quinto Pino
Google Places, Perplexity, and Gemini returned CLOSED_PERMANENTLY; the old website was unreachable during direct checks.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: Closed · Tuesday: Closed
- Location
- 401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
The take
The Take
The Vibe
El Quinto Pino reads like a classic Spanish bar transplanted to Chelsea: compact, counter-first and devoted to small-plate ritual rather than spectacle. The room is narrow and intentionally modest, and the writing emphasizes culinary rigor within a casual frame—chefs with serious credentials operating at neighborhood scale. That tension between exacting cooking and a low‑fuss bar environment creates a quietly charming, tradition-rooted atmosphere where the focus is on well-executed bites and a thoughtful pour rather than theatrical service.
Best For
This is a place built for focused, informal eating—perfect for a solo drink at the counter, an intimate date where food matters more than pomp, or an after-work stop for thoughtfully prepared small plates and a glass of something local. The bar’s compact footprint and counter-oriented layout favor individuals and very small groups who want to lean into the Spanish bar experience: quick pours, shared bites and a neighborhood-level sense of familiarity rather than a formal multi-course meal.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the bar format: order several small plates to share or nibble while you stand or perch at the counter. The menu highlights—Uni Panini, Nuestras Bravas, Garbanzos Fritos, Fideua and Croquetas—capture the kitchen’s precision and the bar’s ethos. The copy also points to a simple pairing approach: a glass of Txakoli or a cold local pour alongside those snacks, echoing the Spanish tradition the spot is aiming to replicate.
Venue details
Ambiance
Fairly dark, trendy and cozy atmosphere with a lively bar area; small intimate space that can feel crowded but energetic with mostly patrons in their 20s and 30s.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Uni Panini
- Nuestras Bravas
- Garbanzos Fritos
- Fideua
- Croquetas
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, USA
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 5–10 pm
- Thursday
- 5–10 pm
- Friday
- 5–10 pm
- Saturday
- 1–10 pm
- Sunday
- 1–10 pm
Location
401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, USA · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Le Bernardin, French, Seafood, $$$$
- Atomix, Modern Korean, Korean, $$$$
- Per Se, French, Contemporary, $$$$
- Masa, Sushi, Japanese, $$$$
- Eleven Madison Park, French, Vegan, $$$$
Restaurant context
El Quinto Pino occupies a different tier entirely from Manhattan's heavy hitters. Le Bernardin, Atomix, Eleven Madison Park, Per Se, and Masa are all multi-week reservation challenges with per-head spends well into the hundreds of dollars. El Quinto Pino books easily, spends a fraction of those prices, and delivers a quality signal, OAD casual ranked, that puts it in a different conversation from generic neighbourhood dining. If your question is where to spend serious money on a single tasting-menu experience, this is not that venue. If your question is where to eat well in Chelsea without the planning overhead of Manhattan's elite dining tier, it is a clear answer.
Within the Spanish-specific category in New York, the meaningful comparison is Txikito (also Raij and Montero) for a more structured Basque sit-down meal, and Leña at Mercado Little Spain for a higher-volume, market-hall version of Spanish casual. El Quinto Pino sits between them in terms of formality: more focused than Leña's sprawl, less structured than a full Txikito dinner. For a pair who wants to eat seriously without committing to a full multi-course format, El Quinto Pino is the right call.
If you are benchmarking the value question directly: spending at El Quinto Pino will come in at a fraction of what Masa or Per Se cost, with a peer-reviewed quality credential that the price point does not typically carry in Manhattan. The trade-off is format, you are getting a casual raciones experience, not a refined tasting menu. For diners who prefer that trade, El Quinto Pino delivers disproportionate quality for what it charges.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is El Quinto Pino operating under this old profile?
No. El Quinto Pino is a historical New York profile; Google Places lists the former Chelsea restaurant as permanently closed.
Should this page show live service details?
No. This historical profile should not publish active service or contact details for the former restaurant.
