Manhattan, NY — Day Drinks Chelsea, a coffee and tea establishment at 425 West 15th Street in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on December 30, 2025. The establishment received a score of 68, well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating, and was re-closed by the agency after being cited for a critical food safety violation.
This closure marked the second time in approximately two weeks that the Chelsea location was closed by health inspectors, following an earlier closure recorded on December 16, 2025.
What Inspectors Found
During the December 30 inspection, inspectors documented one critical violation at the establishment:
The shop was cited under violation code 05H for not having an approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers. This violation relates to the establishment's handling of containers that customers may bring in for refills — a practice that requires specific written protocols to prevent cross-contamination and ensure food safety.
Under NYC health regulations, establishments that accept refillable containers must maintain documented procedures that outline how staff will inspect, handle, and fill these containers without introducing contaminants into food or beverage preparation areas. The absence of such written procedures represents a critical gap in the establishment's food safety management system.
Despite only one violation being recorded during this visit, the establishment received a score of 68, and DOHMH took the action of re-closing the location.
Food Safety Context
The requirement for written standard operating procedures around refillable containers is grounded in both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. These regulations recognize that refillable containers brought in by customers can introduce biological, chemical, or physical contaminants into an otherwise controlled food preparation environment.
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the framework for food service establishment inspections and the conditions under which the DOHMH may order a closure. When inspectors determine that conditions at an establishment pose a risk to public health, they have the authority to close the location until the identified issues are corrected.
The FDA Food Code provides guidance on the safe handling of consumer-owned containers, requiring that food establishments implement specific safeguards. For coffee and tea establishments like Day Drinks Chelsea, where refillable cups and containers may be common, having documented procedures is particularly relevant to daily operations.
A re-closure action, as was taken in this case, indicates that the establishment had been previously closed and either had not sufficiently addressed the underlying issues or was found to have new violations upon reinspection.
Inspection History
Public records from DOHMH show the following inspection history for Day Drinks Chelsea:
- February 9, 2026: Score 0, Grade Z (Reopened)
- December 16, 2025: Score 68 (Closed by DOHMH)
- August 7, 2025: Score 49, Grade C
- November 6, 2024: Score 18
- July 25, 2023: Score 10, Grade A
The inspection record shows a pattern of declining performance over the past two years. The establishment held a Grade A rating with a score of 10 in July 2023 and maintained a relatively low score of 18 in November 2024. However, scores increased significantly in 2025, with a score of 49 in August followed by the two closures in December.
The February 2026 entry with a score of 0 and Grade Z designation indicates the establishment was subsequently reopened, suggesting that Day Drinks Chelsea addressed the violations that led to the December closures and was permitted to resume operations.
It should be noted that this article covers the inspection conducted on December 30, 2025. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on January 1, 2026. More recent inspection results, including the February 2026 reopening, reflect subsequent activity at the location.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 68, as recorded during this inspection, falls significantly above the Grade C threshold. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations, while higher scores reflect more numerous or more serious findings.
Establishments that are closed by DOHMH must correct identified violations and pass a reinspection before being permitted to reopen to the public.
For more information about restaurant inspection results in New York City, the public can access the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which provides searchable records for all inspected food service establishments. Consumers can also look for the letter grade posted at the entrance of any NYC restaurant, which reflects the establishment's most recent grading inspection result.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Day Drinks Chelsea including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.