Manhattan
Neighborhood Guide
New York City is the best place in the world
…and I will fight you if you say otherwise. (Just kidding, but not really)
The city can seem overwhelming to anyone visiting for the first time but honestly it still amazes and surprises me every day and I’ve lived here for 4 years. It’s important to remember that you’ll never get to experience all of NYC in one day, one visit or even in a lifetime probably, but understanding the general vibes of each neighborhood will help you figure out where you want to spend your time.
I decided to start with the neighborhoods of Manhattan since that’s what most people think when they think of NYC (it’s only 1 of 5 boroughs people!) and I definitely have opinions.
If you have any other recommendations or thoughts I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Financial District (Fidi) & City Hall
Think Wolf of Wall Street, but more stress and less glamour. And, while you will probably recognize lots of places near city hall from SVU episodes, the SVU makeup trailer is probably the closest you’ll get to seeing Mariska Hargitay.
Known Spots: 9/11 Memorial, Freedom Tower, Ferries to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, the Charging Bull, NYSE, Federally Hall, Oculus
My Favorite Spot: Battery City Park, where you can people watch, read a book, and get some peace.
Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street)
Money Money Money. Lots of celebrities sightings, rich folks and gorgeous loft views.
Known Spots: The Mysterious Bookshop, Poets House, Art Galleries, Pier 25
My Favorite Spot: Brandy Library, if you want to feel like you’re living like Don Draper this is pretty much perfect
Chinatown & Little Italy
Obviously where you find the most bomb Chinese & Italian food but also if you want to buy fake bags, trinkets or souvenirs you’ve come to the right place, just prepare to be hounded.
Known Spots: Museum of Chinese in America, Soup Dumplings @ Joe Shanghai, Canal Street, Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
My Favorite Spot: Yaya Tea because among the 1000 bubble tea joints in the area, this one is my favorite!
Lower East Side (LES)
Where there’s always a line at every door to get into a too small bar or lounge but it’s also one of the few places where it’s completely normal to see a grubby dive bar neighbors with a bougie celeb hotspot.
Known Spots: Katz’s Deli, Tenanment Museum
My Favorite Spot: Empanada Mama is the perfect post drinking spot for some cheap delicious empanadas.
SOHO (South of Houston)
Boutique stores, big chain stores, trendy stores, new stores, regular stores (getting the vibe here?) The pretty cobble streets appeal to shoppers and influencers alike.
Known Spots: Broadway (the street), New York City Fire Museum, Drawing Center
My Favorite Spot: Canal Street Market is basically a foodie’s food court attached to a pop up craft market. I’d be lying if I said I have self-control in there.
East Village
If food is why you travel, then like me, this will probably be your favorite neighborhood in NYC. If you can’t make a decision on what to eat, EV will make your decision a million times harder because there’s so many restaurants and bars on every street. From dollar pizza to omakase to mango desserts, it’s really hard to not find something you’ll love.
Known Spots: St Marks Place, Union Square (giving it to EV), Tompkins Square Park
My Favorite Spot: Thursday Kitchen is probably in my favorite restaurant in NYC. Maybe because you can get a bunch of different fusion tapas style dishes, or because the people who this place are mad friendly or because I just have a lot of good memories but it’s soooo good. Be warned they don’t do reservations and the lines can be ridiculous.
Greenwich/West Village
NYU – that is all, and if you watch Friends, their unrealistically sized apartments somehow are situated here but at least the tree lined streets are real.
Known Spots: Washington Square Park, Whitney Museum, NYU
My Favorite Spot: Blind Tiger because to be fair there may be a lot of other really great places in Greenwich Village but I never spent too much time there. Blind Tiger is a pretty good beer bar that has a laid back vibe with good selection and decent bar food.
Chelsea/Meatpacking
Vague on what the vibe is exactly but there is a big art scene, ridiculously overpriced clubs and Chelsea market.
Known Spots: High Line, Chelsea Galleries, Chelsea Market
My Favorite Spot: Le Bain for the view at the top of the Standard. I know it’s touristy and overpriced but honestly the views are amazing. Do it at least once and then you can never go back again.
Gramercy/Union Square
Life happens here. It’s always busy but not Time Square busy but also still feels like people actually live and work here because they do.
Known Spots: Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, Eataly, Union Square
My Favorite Spot: Shake Shake in Madison Square Park to people watch all the people on lunch breaks, tourists looking for the Flatiron building and ALL THE PUPS
Murray Hill
Frat boys who haven’t quite figured out college is over. Also affectionately referred to as Curry Hill because…. well curry.
Known Spots: The Morgan Library & Museum
My Favorite Spot: Vezzo has my all time favorite thin crust pizza. Please don’t hate on me, I’m not a connoisseur but I know good pizza when I eat it.
Midtown
Where New Yorkers go to work and can find any fast casual restaurant known to mankind. Oh and where the midtown uniform is the standard (google it if you don’t know).
Known Spots: NY Public Library, Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Grand Central, Chrysler Building
My Favorite Spot: Top of the Rockis one of the few touristy spots I’ve dropped money on and I’ve done it more than once because the views are spectacular. Definitely worth a visit, night or day!
Hells Kitchen
Hells Kitchen is like that person who’s trying really really hard to be brand new but everyone knows they have this kinda grimy, kinda rough past that gives them an edge.
Known Spots: Intrepid Museum, Hells Kitchen Flea Market, Terminal 5
My Favorite Spot: Pony Bar, because good vibes and good beers are all you need in life.
Upper East Side (UES)
Old money and young blood (and their pups) find a way to live in harmony. The closer to the park the more money people have, but the further east you go the more likely you are to your average millennials.
Known Spots: Museum Mile (MET, Guggenheim, Frick Collection) 5th Ave Shopping, UN & all the consulates
My Favorite Spot: The MET is encaptivating, even though honestly I am not a museum person but even I can get lost in and thoroughly enjoy a day wandering around the MET. Art and history come to life
Upper West Side (UWS)
SO FAR AWAY. ha, just kidding it’s just my excuse but really it has an artistic funky vibe that makes you feel like it’s old school but also…rich people
Known Spots: Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, Beacon Theatre
My Favorite Spot: Museum of Natural History for your very own “Night at the Museum” experience, HA. Ok but actually, the Museum of Natural History is ginormous and can be enjoyed no matter how old you are.
Time Square
AVOID AVOID AVOID – What people outside think New York is but where all New Yorkers generally avoid. As a tourist you’re probably going to see it, but after about 5 minutes you’ll be over the crowds, the lights and all the damn Elmos.
Known Spots: Time Square, Theatre Shows
My Favorite Spot: Port Authority, so I can get the hell out. Is my hatred for Time Square showing yet?
Central Park
Okay Okay, it’s not really a neighborhood but it may as well be. It’s where most of the green in NYC is and is the best place to spend a summer Sunday.
Known Spots: Loeb Boathouse, Central Park Zoo, Great Lawn, Belvedere Castle
My Favorite Spot: Strawberry Fields because the name is awesome and also it’s an awesome place to people watch, play games, have a picnic and forget you’re in a concrete jungle.
Harlem
Where all the soul in NYC lives though it does tend to get a bad rep.
Known Spots: Apollo Theatre, Studio Museum, Langston Hughes Residence
My Favorite Spot: Red Rooster for all the soul food a girl needs
Washington & Morningside Heights
Honestly I have no idea, which makes me a terrible travel guide but it’s actually really far!
Known Spots: According to the internet The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park
My Favorite Spot: Guess I’ll have to go find one soon!
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