New York's Hottest Neighborhoods: The Ultimate Travel Guide
New York City is one of the biggest cities the country, so it’s no wonder there are so many must-see neighborhoods there worth visiting. Whether you’re in Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn, it won’t be hard for you to find your niche. Some will appeal to food lovers, others to fans of shopping or art, and some just provide some quality entertainment like bar hopping or upscale spots at which to sip a glass of fine wine. The next time you’re entertaining guests, or need to plan a travel itinerary, don’t miss this list which details many of the best things to see, eat, and do in spots like Harlem and Williamsburg to give you the inside scoop on the top places to visit in NYC.
Chelsea is a West Manhattan neighborhood that has it all – apartments with views of the Hudson, plenty of art to scope out, unique restaurants, and great shopping. Otherwise known as the Meatpacking district, the area has a trendy business attitude during the day before it turns into a popular nightlife locale with small bars and lounges aplenty. For a daytime activity, grab a lamb burger or fish tacos for lunch at Cookshop, and follow it up with a walk along The High Line, where you can appreciate the neighborhood’s contemporary architecture, or pay a visit to The Whitney Museum of Art or a top-tier gallery like David Zwirner to enjoy modern art. For your shopping needs, there’s also Chelsea Market, which features a ton of indie venues with affordable prices on vintage jewelry, clothing, and artworks, in addition to brand name shops like Nasty Pig and Anthropologie. Afterwards make sure to grab a drink at The Tippler. It’s an underground bar below Chelsea Market that serves killer specialty cocktails like “My Girlfriend Lives in Queens,” which has tequila, ginger, and honey.
Greenwich Village keeps a low profile during the day, aside from the occasional strolls through Washington Square Park, which serves a cultural hub for creative types and college students alike. At night is when this neighborhood really comes alive though, boasting one of the liveliest bar scenes in the city and other entertainment options like comedy clubs. If you want a laugh, The Comedy Cellar is the obvious choice, but less popular venues like The Grisly Pear also host solid weekly shows. For some of the best unpretentious sushi in the city, try Japonica, a casual spot with tasty sashimi. Afterwards, bar hop amongst places like Vol de Nuit, which specializes in Belgian beers like the Brugge Tripel; Analogue, a sophisticated Jazz bar featuring craft cocktails and inventive twists on the Negroni and a Manhattan; or Air’s Champagne Parlour, where you can sip on luxury beverages in style. If you want to keep the night going, there’s guaranteed to be live music playing at either Cafe Wha? or Le Poisson Rouge.
Williamsburg is Brooklyn’s hipster haven, boasting some of the trendiest artisan boutiques, thrift shops, vintage stores, and music venues in the borough. It’s the ideal getaway if you want to leave Manhattan without leaving behind the luxuries of 5-star restaurants and innovative bars. Fashion lovers will especially appreciate stores like Brooklyn Charm, where you can make-your-own jewelry from the wide selection of charms, chains, and pendants. Also be sure to visit Beacon’s Closet and Monk Vintage, which both offer a sizable selection of vintage and secondhand-clothing for you to browse through. For dining, treat yourself to a NY strip at the original Peter Luger, and if you save room for dessert you can’t miss one of Pies and Thighs’ legendary banana cream pies. For drinks, Baby’s All Right is always a reliable option - you’ll definitely catch an indie band playing and you can get $5 well drinks and $6 Miller Lites with a shot throughout happy hour, which runs until 8PM.
Astoria is definitely the most up-and-coming neighborhood in Queens. It’s much more affordable in comparison to Manhattan’s popular neighborhoods and other outposts in Brooklyn, but still boasts pretty solid nightlife and an assortment of worthwhile restaurants. Film buffs would enjoy a visit to Museum of the Moving Image, which exhibits the history of the film industry alongside iconic actors like Jim Henson, and frequently hosts screenings and lectures, and nature lovers can appreciate all 60 acres of Astoria Park, which claims the biggest pool in NYC. Before you grab dinner at The Bonnie, a gastropub whose BBQ pulled pork sandwich and mac n’ cheese rival its cocktail menu (which includes a special rum punch), check out HiFi Records or Astoria Bookshop to snag some rare collector’s items. To end the night, The Ditty is a strong contender. Both the bar and kitchen are open until 4AM, so you can enjoy a late-night empanada and an IPA all in the same place.
The days where this neighborhood was only alive during business hours are long over. Following 9/11, the Financial District has received a complete transformation, with a resurgence in restaurants, bars, and shopping. There are still classic monuments to be seen here like 1 World Trade and the 9/11 Museum, and you can also stop by the Oculus, where you can browse high-end shops like Michael Kors, Breitling, or Apple in a soaring architectural wonder. But once you’re done shopping, you should also check out The Dead Rabbit to grab a vintage cocktail served in a teacup. For a bite to eat, don’t miss Luke’s Lobster - you can get a “Luke’s Favorite” that includes a lobster roll, chips, and slaw for $20. It’s quick and efficient, and if you eventually get tired of the city, you could even take a trip to Ellis Island, hop on the Staten Island Ferry, or take a stroll across the nearby Brooklyn Bridge.
Harlem is a fairly inexpensive respite from all the frenzy that goes on in Lower Manhattan. It’s bursting with history, and known for hosting Renaissance leaders like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Cab Calloway. In fact, you should come here just to visit Bill’s Place, a legendary BYOB Jazz speakeasy with an amazing talent line up night after night. The earliest show is at 8PM, though, so you have plenty of time beforehand to explore. For dinner, you can’t pass up the soul food at Sylvia’s -- the menu includes comfort food classics like chicken and waffles, garlic mashed potatoes, and beef short rib. If your stomach needs a break afterwards , take a stroll around Marcus Garvey Park, where you can climb to the upper level for an even better view to prep you for some dessert at Levain Bakery. The dark chocolate or chocolate chip walnut cookies can’t be topped.
Park Slope is full of Romanesque revival buildings and hip young families who decided to move away from the bustle of Manhattan or the more rambunctious boroughs in North Brooklyn. It’s ideal for brunch, and you’ll find a slew of places like Fausto, Miriam, and Stone Park Cafe here, most of which have sidewalk seating and serve up plenty of mimosas to go around. If you’d like to engage more with the nightlife, treat yourself to dinner and one of the many popular restaurants. If you’re still feeling drinks after, the only thing left to do is bar hop: Hit Union Hall for beer and Bocce and then Royal Palms to crush the competition in shuffleboard.
What used to be a colony of eccentric artists and squatters has now become a playground for some of Manhattan’s most famous residentd. Tribeca boasts A-list events like the Tribeca Film Festival and is filled with plenty of 6-figure lofts that are home to stars like Robert De Niro. Tribeca also features a ton of shopping outposts and restaurants that are worthwhile. For the best buys, stop by Shinola or Rag & Bone. Once you’ve burned enough calories, the chili prawns at Khe-Yo or the ravioli at Locanda Verde will be calling your name. For an after-dinner activity, check out some local galleries like the Center for Italian Modern Art or Bortolami Gallery.
The Upper East Side is a classic choice for art lovers when it comes to exploring some of the best neighborhoods in NYC. It’s right off the east side of Central Park, so you can enjoy one of the most scenic locations in the whole city before you decide to step onto 5th avenue, i.e Museum Mile. Make your way up, and you’ll find dazzling institutions like The Guggenheim, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and Neue Galerie all a hop, skip and jump away from each other. If you’re willing to travel a little further uptown in East Harlem, you can also explore the world of street art with a self-guided tour. When your stomach inevitably starts grumbling, slurp some miso ramen at Naruto or grab a cupcake for dessert at Sprinkles.