May 20, 2024
7 min read
The Best Neighborhoods to Visit in New York City
The concrete jungle of NYC is home to multi-mile long stretches of museums and all the family owned pizza joints you could dream of. There's a lot of information out there on the many neighborhoods of NYC, so we've pulled together everything you need to know about the city that never sleeps.
Chelsea
Chelsea is one of New York City's main gayborhoods, and a top area for foodies and art lovers alike.
"From great speakeasy bars and dives to flea markets and worthwhile gay bars, there's something for everyone... The completion of the High Line and the addition of Little Island have brought verdant, elevated promenades with great views of the neighborhood—a mix of industrial landmarks and gleaming new structures—which are just a few minutes' walk from the eateries and shops of the beloved Chelsea Market." -
Time Out"One of the oldest neighborhoods in Manhattan to still bear its original name, Chelsea is full of beloved NYC history and thriving businesses...Between the picturesque brownstones, beautiful High Line, incredible restaurants and tons of cultural activities, there are tons of things to love about Chelsea." -
Gotham"Chelsea is the art hub of Manhattan and is home to more than 300 galleries, including Pace, David Zwirner and Gagosian ... there’s plenty to do in this vibrant neighborhood located along the Hudson River." -
Culture Trip
East Village
The East Village is a hip area filled with restaurants and seemingly endless nightlife.
"...the East Village has blossomed into a downtown epicenter of cool where eccentricity and nightlife flourish...home to top restaurants and cultural hubs like Little Ukraine as well as generations of new college students from nearby universities that carry on the neighborhood’s stylish and bohemian legacy." -
Thrillist"Famed for its punk glory days, the East Village abounds with no-frills dives, grungy tattoo shops and record stores." -
Time Out "As one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the whole city, the East Village inevitably draws strong opinions. Home to great bars, tons of young people, creativity galore and excellent food, there’s tons to love about this sprawling neighborhood." -
Gotham
Dumbo
Dumbo is an upscale, hip area in Brooklyn with plenty of options for foodies.
"No matter how you arrive in DUMBO—by foot, ferry, or the A,C, or F subway lines—you’ll land in one of NYC’s most attractive neighborhoods. Short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, DUMBO is known for its breathtaking views of Manhattan, world-class waterfront park, flourishing art and food scenes, and what might possibly be NYC’s most Instagrammable hot spot: the intersection of Washington Street and Water Street with the Manhattan Bridge in the background." -
Thrillist"Aside from top-notch restaurants and renewed public spaces, the area draws awesome events throughout the year while the Dumbo Business Improvement District hosts community gatherings and weekend flea markets beneath the Manhattan Bridge." -
Time Out
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is an upscale area with great shopping and art galleries.
"Live the life of a true Manhattanite while strolling through the upscale Upper East Side for the day. This New York neighborhood is home to the world-famous Museum Mile, as well as a hodgepodge of retro eateries, brownstone apartment blocks and auction houses." -
Culture Trip"Known for being upscale, picturesque and dare we say a bit posh, the Upper East Side is undoubtedly one of NYC’s most iconic neighborhoods." -
Gotham"The Upper East Side is the embodiment of haute Manhattan culture, with borders along Central Park, the city’s most extensive and ornate park; Fifth Avenue, a stretch of luxury shopping; and the historic East River" -
Culture Trip
SoHo
Soho is an upscale shopping area known for its miles of designer stores and boutiques.
"Soho is one of the city's hottest shopping destinations, but this high-profile neighborhood is also home to some of NYC's best restaurants, hotels and more." -
Gotham"SoHo is for the boho-chic, the fashion-forward and the in-the-know New Yorker. What used to be the most popular artist hangout spot back in the 1960s and ’70s has turned into the fashion capital of the city." -
Culture Trip"But don’t write off Soho as a mere urban shopping mall. Though many of the art galleries that made Soho New York a contemporary-art hot spot in the 1970s and ’80s decamped to Chelsea and the Lower East Side, some excellent art spaces remain." -
Time Out
Greenpoint
Greenpoint is a hip, foodie area famous for it's rich Polish culture.
"Steeped in historic Polish culture and modern millennial influences, Greenpoint is one of Brooklyn’s trendiest neighborhoods. Relatively off the beaten path, Greenpoint retains its grounded charm due to its lack of tourist attractions—and that’s why we love it." -
Thrillist"...Greenpoint—a Polish immigrant enclave—has everything you could want out of a Brooklyn neighbhorhood. Greenpoint's gorgeous waterfront views and historic buildings suggest an atmosphere that is comparable to low-key Brooklyn Heights." -
Time Out
Tribeca
Tribeca is an upscale, chic area where celebrities are known to frequent.
"Tribeca is a combination of industrial sensibility and simple sophistication. While the renovated lofts and luxury buildings are a celebrity favorite, Tribeca is far from stuffy; downtown cool is a part of the fabric of this spacious and chic neighborhood." -
Compass"[Tribeca is]...occupied by the rich and famous like film star Robert De Niro, a founder of the Tribeca Film Center as well as the legendary Tribeca Film Festival. De Niro is the celebrity most closely associated with the neighborhood, but the area has much more to offer including some of the city’s best restaurants, cute first-date spots, bars and stores." -
Time Out"You’ll find soul food good enough for the Knowles-Carter family alongside quick lunch spots that will lure you away from a sad desk salad, and a plethora of treats between." -
Thrillist
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side is a hip area filled with incredible night life that is relatively cheap for Manhattan.
"A world away from the brownstones and penthouses of the Upper East Side, steam rises from manhole covers in scenes straight out of a movie, the buildings are crisscrossed with steel stairways and possibilities hang in the thick city air." -
Lonely Planet"The Lower East Side, NYC is one of Manhattan’s most fashionable neighborhoods. The former Bargain District meets your late-night comedy, pastrami-on-rye and tattoo needs as it’s home to some of the best comedy clubs, one of the best New York delis and great tattoo shops." -
Time Out"The Lower East Side is evocative of the always-changing nature of New York City. Settled by a wave after wave of immigrants, you can walk from one world to the next simply by crossing the street. The LES, bordered on the south and west by Chinatown, is a master class in New York City’s famed high-low aesthetic." -
Thrillist
Midtown
Midtown is situated nearby many of NYC's notable landmarks and top spots for foodies.
"Midtown is having a renaissance right about now...this slice of NYC is a veritable playground for adult fun... You may even be surprised at the pockets of calm you can unearth amidst these skyscrapers, and the unsuspecting residential streets with A+ dining gems." -
Thrillist"...the neighborhood is...home to New York landmarks like the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the headquarters of the United Nations, Rockefeller Center and Times Square." -
Culture Trip"At the very heart of Manhattan lies the land of historic hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and an abundance of riches. After a brief blimp due to the pandemic, the Old World glamour of Midtown is back thanks to a flurry of new openings. With plenty of new things to discover around every corner, there are tons of reasons why this iconic neighborhood has not lost its luster." -
Gotham
Williamsburg
Williamsburg is a hip area with niche nightlife and a trendy art scene.
"Home to some of the city’s trendiest nightlife, art, shopping and dining as well as providing excellent views, Williamsburg combines nouveau real estate with the hippest in youth culture." -
Culture Trip"Known for its indie-music and nightlife scene, Williamsburg always has plenty going down. Locals already know that the nabe is the prime place to catch live music, art shows and comedy events in the city, but there is still so much more to do by the river." -
Time Out
West Village
The West Village is known as one of New York's hip and funky gayborhoods.
"The West Village is the epitome of straight-out-of-fiction, charming New York. It’s the New York of gorgeous brownstones and equally gorgeous people going out to brunch, the New York of Friends and Sex in the City." -
Thrillist"The West Village, NYC thrives and is one of the most popular nabes to frequent. Whether you’re sifting through the area’s record and vintage stores, grabbing cocktails at a izakaya-themed drinking den with your best chums, or attending an epic drag performance, the Village is jam-packed with historic and new gems." -
Time Out"New York City’s rebel spirit is alive and well in the West Village, a section of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood that’s known for its activism, bohemianism and art. " -
Culture Trip
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is hip and close to many of New York's most iconic landmarks.
"Gorgeous real estate, lines for brunch wrapping around the block, Washington Square Park and well-dressed New Yorkers are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of [the West Village] and Greenwich Village." -
Gotham"New York's most bohemian neighborhood spawned some major historical moments, from the Beats to LGBTQ rights. It's also home to a bevy of beloved institutions and a spirit unlike any other." -
Time Out
Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen is one of NYC's most popular gayborhoods and a hot spot for good nightlife.
"In Hell’s Kitchen, the streets are saturated with local business across a spectrum of categories. Neighborhood-owned bakeries, bodegas, and bistros make it feel like a real community...Hell’s Kitchen also has a thriving bar scene. Rudy’s Bar and Grill is a favorite of neighborhood residents in the know." -
Compass"Today, the area is a LGBT hot spot—it’s home to about a dozen gay bars—and it the site of one of the best flea markets in town. In terms of Hell’s Kitchen restaurants, Ninth Avenue offers various multi-ethnic eateries which draw theatergoers who want to escape the crowds in Times Square." -
Time Out
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is hip and upscale, perfectly capturing the picturesque charm of New York City.
"The Upper West Side has many charms: Pretty brownstone-lined side streets and landmark-lined avenues. Major cultural institutions (the Natural History, Lincoln Center, Zabar’s…). Excellent restaurants, from classic diners to Michelin-starred gems. And a quainter, more relaxed character than its counterpart to the east of the park." -
Goop"With the perfect marriage of tree-lined streets and the dynamic atmosphere on Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, residents enjoy the multifaceted composition of this NYC neighborhood. Within this scenic neighborhood, you will find parents with children strolling around, adorable dogs, and residents and tourists taking in the fresh air on sidewalk restaurants." -
The Agency
