10 fun and popular neighborhoods in NYC

Whenever I’m in York City, I of course have my favorite places, but I try to hit most of these other places because they are the city – they are the essence of New York City.

Greenwich Village / West Village — Classic New York Charm
Tree-lined streets, brownstones, cafés, jazz clubs, comedy, Washington Square Park and some of the city’s most photogenic blocks. It has that quintessential “movie version of New York” feeling. Greenwich Village

Williamsburg, Brooklyn — Cool & Creative
One of Brooklyn’s most popular destinations, with vintage shopping, restaurants, nightlife, live music and terrific Manhattan skyline views from the waterfront. Domino Park is particularly good around sunset.

SoHo — Shopping & Architecture
Famous for cast-iron buildings, cobblestone streets, designer stores, boutiques, galleries and fashionable crowds. It’s particularly good for shopping, wandering and photography.

Chelsea — Art, Food & the High Line
A great combination of galleries, restaurants, waterfront activities and one of NYC’s most enjoyable walks. You can combine Chelsea Market with the Highline for an easy half-day outing.

Lower East Side — Nightlife & Old NYC
Historic immigrant neighborhood meets modern NYC nightlife. Expect vintage shops, bars, restaurants, music, comedy and classic New York food institutions. It’s especially fun at night.

Harlem — Music, Food & History
One of NYC’s most culturally important neighborhoods, known for the Harlem Renaissance, jazz, gospel, soul food, beautiful brownstones and the Apollo Theater.

DUMBO, Brooklyn — Incredible Views
Cobblestones, converted warehouses, Brooklyn Bridge views, waterfront parks and that famous Manhattan Bridge photo. It’s compact enough to combine with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Astoria, Queens — Food Lover’s Neighborhood
Astoria feels much more residential than tourist-heavy Manhattan while offering an extraordinary variety of restaurants. It’s especially famous for Greek food but has cuisines from around the world.

East Village — Quirky & Energetic
Independent restaurants, dive bars, music venues, unusual shops and St. Marks Place give it a youthful, less polished personality. Pairing the East Village with the Lower East Side makes a particularly fun afternoon-to-evening itinerary.

Upper West Side — The Comfortable NYC
Brownstones, neighborhood restaurants, Central Park, Riverside Park, Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History. It’s calmer than downtown while still feeling unmistakably New York.

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Until next time. . .