Chrome used to take you to the apps page on a new tab by default, which was really convenient. Several releases ago they replaced that default with an utterly redundant search bar on new tab pages for reasons I can't begin to understand. Anyway, you can just go to chrome://apps and bookmark that page.
Seriously, it's a pain in the ass. Click the apps launcher in the upper left of the Chrome start page.
Ah much appreciated, i never would have found that.
You can always bring a list of apps up by entering 'chrome://apps' in the url bar.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only person who struggled with this.
you are not. I'm quite sure this used to be easier.