Plie Nail Studio

Nail salons are everywhere in this city.

After a decade of watching Hell’s Kitchen fill up with glass towers, Plie Nail Studio still holds a sliver of sidewalk on 322 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019. Manicures, pedicures, gel overlays, dip powder, and the occasional paraffin dip keep the chairs turning; acrylic sets and nail art are also on the menu. The stretch between 8th and 9th Avenues has become a quiet runway for theater folks and office workers who need the polish without the midtown markup.

Walk-ins are usually fine before 4 p.m.—after that, the after-work rush starts. If you prefer to call ahead, 646-370-4660 rings straight to the front desk. No need to guess about timing; a quick phone check can save you twenty minutes of sidewalk pacing.

Directions are a tap away on the map—just don’t expect the block to look exactly like the satellite view, because another condo is already rising where the old bodega stood last summer.