Traditionally, the Lower East Side was a working class immigrant neighborhood (think “Gangs of New York”). Today it is a wonderfully ethnic and diverse neighborhood and serves as a shopping, dining and nightlife destination for many NYC locals. Even with all its modern upgrades, the LES retains a large amount of its history, especially it’s Jewish, Polish, Irish and Italian cultures. The LES also has one of the best selections of hotels in NYC – tons of boutique hotels with amenities, rooftops, skyline views and seconds from 1000s of cool restaurants and hot spots.
Each of these neighborhoods is tiny in size, but jam-packed with so much to do, so please see our separate guides for the Greenwich Village & NoHo and the East Village.
Things to Do and See on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side Tenement Museum (108 Orchard St @ Delancey) – The Tenement Museum celebrates the enduring stories that define and strengthen what it means to be American, focusing on our immigration history. Tours and guided experiences are the only ways to access the historic tenement buildings. Tickets and tours start at $27.
Essex Market (88 Essex St @ Delancey) – just around the corner from the Tenement Museum is this amazing food hall/indoor market with rows of vendors specializing in meat, fish, cheese, produce & specialty foods.
Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue (12 Eldridge St, Canal/Division) – located in the Eldridge St Synagogue, the first built by Eastern European Jews in America (1887). Can only be seen by guided tour. Open Sun-Fri, Adults $14, Students/Seniors $10, Children $8, Children Under 5 Free. Free on Mondays.
Lower East Side Free Weekly Tour (meet in front of Katz’s) – April to Dec, Sundays 11am. If you can’t make one of the live New York Tours, download their free PodTour and guided walking map for and do it yourself! Check Lower East Side for the free tour and leshp.org for other tours, such as “Mafia Walking Tour,” $10-$25.
The New Museum – Founded in 1977, the New Museum is a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan’s only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program.
(235 Bowery at Prince Street between Stanton and Rivington Streets, 1.5 blocks south of Houston). More Info
Greenwich Village NYC Tours
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Lower East Side NYC Neighborhood Guide Sightseeing Passes
If using a NYC Attractions pass, you’ll want to check for admission to the Tenement Museum, Museum at Eldridge Street and local tours, especially food tours.
NY Sightseeing Pass, New York Pass, NY Explorer Pass, CityPASS Compared
- Sightseeing Pass - Unlimited Hop on Hop off Buses, One World Observatory, Edge
- New York Pass - 80+ tours and attractions, Choose 1-10 Days
- Explorer or Go Select - Choose from 55+ sights or Build your Your
- New York CityPASS - 6 top attractions, good for 9 days from first use
See All: NYC Attractions Pass Comparison Chart
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Lower East Side NYC Restaurants
Katz’s Delicatessen (205 E Houston, Ludlow) – oldest and largest NYC deli, founded in 1888. Always a fight between Katz’s and 2nd Ave deli, for #1 in NYC, but many call it a quintessential NY eating experience and the Pastrami pure heaven, as demonstrated by Meg Ryan in the classic scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” filmed here.
The Ten Bells (247 Broome St, Orchard/Ludlow) – great wine, cheese, oysters, creative food and atmosphere
Clinton St Baking Co (4 Clinton St, Houston) – tiny space, local favorite, especially for breakfast, lunch and brunch, though still gets a crowd for dinner. No reservations accepted, waits up to an hour, cash only until 6pm.
Essex Market (88 Essex St @ Delancey) – Amazing food hall/indoor market with rows of vendors specializing in meat, fish, cheese, produce & specialty foods. Dine in and grocery shops, including Moroccan, Ramen, Japanese, Spanish, Asian, Bakeries, cheese/meat shops, ice cream and other little delis and markets. Originally opened by Mayor LaGuardia when the city streets were too crowded with pushcart vendors, so he moved them inside.
The Pickle Guys (49 Essex), Doughnut Plant (379 Grand St), Kossar’s Bialys (367 Grand) steps away from each other.
Nightlife – hundreds of bars, clubs and restaurants located around Ludlow, Rivington, and Stanton. Clinton St is one of the city’s newest and best spots for “foodies.”
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Shopping
Orchard Street – this used to be the city’s best place for discount clothing, textiles, lingerie (Lolita bra shop at 70 Orchard Street), drapes, upholstery, luggage, coats, hats, scarves, and fake fur. Quality has gone down significantly, as it’s mostly an extension of Chinatown shops today, but it’s still a great place to walk around. Especially Sundays, when traffic is blocked from Delancey to Houston and it becomes a flea market.
Economy Candy (108 Rivington St, Ludlow/Essex) – founded in 1937, many say Economy is way better than Dylan’s Candy Bar. Huge variety of candy, from every era, packed from floor to ceiling. It’s not modern or fancy, but it is a NYC classic institution.
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Lower East Side Hotels
Moxy Lower East Side
New in November 2022, The Moxy Lower East Side is at the intersection of the Lower East Side, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown neighborhoods. The 18 story, 303 room hotel is the 4th Moxy by Marriott in Manhattan to open recently. Tech-savvy amenities including touchless check-in, coworking spaces and two adjoining meetings studios, as well as well-equipped fitness center. The big draw here is the five eating and dining spaces by Tao Group, a local favorite. The five include Sake No Hana (Japanese restaurant), Silver Lining (piano lounge), The Highlight Room, an indoor/outdoor rooftop, with an expansive terrace boasting unmatched views of the city skyline, Manhattan and the East River, The Fix (all-day café and lobby bar) and Loosie’s, a subterranean night club. There’s no doubt this is bound to be the new local favorite hot spot.
- Discount Rates: Moxy Lower East Side
- 145 Bowery St, b/w Grand & Broome, Lower East Side
Mr Purple @ Hotel Indigo Lower East Side
We all know the Gerber Group rarely misses a beat when planning one of their world-renowned hip hotels, always a hot spot for jet setters. The Hotel Indigo Lower East Side, with their 15th floor rooftop and heated pool is no exception. The hotel is an urban oasis with breathtaking Manhattan views and spacious accommodations who draws it’s vibe from the LES’s street style, people, galleries, tastes, flavors, libations sounds, and fashions. Mr. Purple, the rooftop, was designed to showcase panoramic views of NYC’s skyline while you socialize with NYC’s inner circles indulging in craft cocktails, locally-sourced food and fresh cold-pressed juices. If you want to stay in one of NYC’s best neighborhoods and snap a slew of insta-worthy photos, Hotel Indigo is where you go.
- Discount Rates: Hotel Indigo Lower East Side
- 180 Orchard Street
Sister City Hotel
Opened March 2019 in the Bowery (Lower East Side), Sister City offers 200 intimate, efficient rooms, an innovative ground-floor restaurant, Floret, and a rooftop bar. According to their website, "Sister City is an experiment in essentialism — a hotel distilled to its most beautiful, working parts. It gives you shelter from the elements, but orients you to the wider world, too."
- Discount Rates: Sister City
- 225 Bowery
- Sister Hotel: Ace Hotel
citizenM New York Bowery
citizenM New York Bowery is a 300-room sister hotel to the citizenM New York Times Square, very popular and known for it’s super-efficient and modern rooms as well as it’s concept of ‘affordable luxury for the people. All rooms are fitted with a desk, wall-to-wall windows, flat-screen TV, rain showers and small refrigerators. The hotel offers the expansive cloudM rooftop bar, outdoor terrace, and spectacular 360-degree views of New York. Guests rave about the comfy beds as well as the bar and cafe area.
- Discount Rates: citizenM New York Bowery
- 189 Bowery, NY NY 10002
Blue Moon Hotel
Visitors love the Blue Moon Hotel since the rooms are huge by NYC standards. The staff is great and it is surrounded by some of the city’s best dining and nightlife in a historic, yet trendy, area of NYC cannot be beat. The hotel is located along cobble stone streets once occupied by push cart vendors, pickle packers, butchers, and bakers. Now, New York City’s historic past has come to life in the authentic yet modern and comfortable neighborhood hotel.
- Discount Rates: Blue Moon Hotel
See More: New York City Boutique Hotels
The Ludlow
The The Ludlow Lower East Side has a very bohemian and chic vibe with handmade silk rugs and artisan-crafted Moroccan lamps in every room to complement the tremendous skyline views. A minibar featuring local products is also provided. The en suite bathroom, decked out in marble mosaics, includes a deep soaking bathtub and brass rain shower.
- Discount Rates: The Ludlow Lower East Side
Comfort Inn Lower East Side
The Comfort Inn Lower East Side is in the heart of one of the city’s areas with the most character. They have a rooftop terrace with views of One World Trade Center and the South Street Seaport, a fitness center, free WiFi and complimentary full hot breakfast with the all-time guest favorite waffle maker!
- Discount Rates: Comfort Inn Lower East Side
- 136 Ludlow Street
Public Hotel – Lower East Side
Opened in June 2017, Public offers 367 rooms designed by award winning architects Herzog & DeMeuron and a space with floor to ceiling windows and jaw-dropping views of the city skyline. It has opened to rave reviews of the rooms, comfortable beds, the overall smart and sophisticated vibe, rooftop bar and service. It is an Ian Schrager hotel boasting "luxury for all" – meaning a luxury hotel at a "non-luxury" price point. Rooms start at just $150.
- Discount Rates: Public Hotel – Lower East Side
- 215 Chrystie Street
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Lower East Side Subways
- J/M/Z or F to Delancey-Essex
- F to East Broadway
- General Address: 232 East 11th St, NY, NY 10003
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Lower East Side, NYC Neighborhood Guide Maps
Lower East Side NYC Map
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NYC Neighborhood Guides
Harlem
Our Harlem neighborhood guide will show you the wonderful cultural, food, music and historic value of this landmark area, which has long, strong and proud NYC roots. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s began the golden age of African-American culture, literature, music, artists, theater and art, which continues to strengthen today. If you want to eat authentic soul food, hear mind-blowing jazz and gospel and clothing shop with Alicia Keys and Jay-Z, then Harlem is on your bucket list!
- Explore: Harlem Neighborhood Guide
- To Do: Apollo Theater, Striver's Row, National Jazz Museum
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a residential neighborhood filled with young professionals and families. It is a great place to stay if you are looking to avoid the heavy crowds of Midtown, explore Central Park, The Museum of Natural History, the Beacon Theatre, Lincoln Center, the West Side Highway and still be about 20 minutes from most of Manhattan.
- Explore: Upper West Side Guide
- To Do: American Museum of Natural History & Planetarium, Beacon Theatre, Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center
Central Park
Central Park offers 843 gorgeous acres to explore and 100s of things to do, which is why we consider it an unofficial neighborhood. Central Park draws 38 million visits a year and is home to the Central Park Film Festival, SummerStage, Shakespeare in the Park, Ice Skating, Central Park Zoo, Bow Bridge, biking, playgrounds, the Carousel and much more.
- Explore: Central Park Guide
- To Do: Central Park Zoo, Carousel, TV and Movie Sites, Ice Skating, Loeb Boathouse
Times Square & Broadway
Times Square New York and the Theater District are some of New York City's most popular tourist attractions. Of course, Broadway, also known as the Great White Way, is most definitely for locals as well. Spend a bit of time here and make sure to see the lights at night, the Hershey's and M&M Stores, as well as catch a great Broadway Show.
- Explore: Times Square & Broadway NYC Guide
- To Do: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Broadway Shows NYC, Times Square Ball Drop New Years, M&M World & Hersheys Chocolate World
Midtown West, Koreatown, Hell's Kitchen
Midtown West is a huge tourist area with great neighborhoods like NYC's famous Diamond District, Hell's Kitchen and Koreatown. Hell's Kitchen, is the most western section and an "up-and-coming" residential area of New York City with new shops and restaurants opening often. Koreatown, just a block from the Empire State Building, is known for their restaurants and karaoke bars and clubs.
- Explore: Midtown West NYC Guide
- To Do: Empire State Building, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Madison Square Garden, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Javits Center
Garment District / Fashion Center
The Garment District, also called the Fashion District or Fashion Center, is home to many of the world's most famous fashion designers and showrooms. The area is an amazing resource for fabrics, beads and trims, however, unless you are trade, don't expect to walk in off the street to designer showrooms. The best way to possibly get access to private showrooms is through a private tour or a NYC Sample Sale.
- Explore: Garment District Guide
- To Do: Fashion Walk of Fame, Museum at FIT, Parsons School of Design
Chelsea & Hudson Yards
Chelsea NY is known for art galleries, nightlife and gay-friendly culture. It is a lively, vibrant neighborhood with some of New York City's top restaurants, clubs, art and things to do outdoors and along the Hudson River. While Chelsea boundaries are West 14th-34th Streets, from 7th Ave to the Hudson River, the new Hudson Yards occupies it's most North and West streets, West 30th to 34th Streets between 10th and 12th Avenues.
- Explore: Chelsea & Hudson Yards Guide
- To Do: The Highline, Art Galleries, Chelsea Market, Chelsea Piers, Little Island, Edge, The Vessel, The Shops at Hudson Yards
Meatpacking District
The Meatpacking District, also known as the Gansevoort Market, is only a few blocks, so you cannot get lost, but it is packed with upscale restaurants, night clubs and designer shopping. Like many NY neighborhoods, the MP District retains it's historical architecture, as it is lined with cobblestone streets and old warehouses, but, today, these same buildings house very modern shopping and dining. The heart of the Meatpacking District is Little West 12th Street.
- Explore: Meatpacking District Guide
- To Do: The Highline, Restaurants, Clubs & Rooftops, Little Island, Upscale Shopping
Greenwich Village & NoHo
Our Greenwich Village NYC Guide provides insight into one of NYC's most cherished neighborhoods. The Village is full of history, celebrity, politics, landmarks and so much more. The NYU campus, Washington Square Park, gorgeous brownstones and cobble stone streets, amazing restaurants, tons of trees and much more make this area a local favorite.
- Explore: Greenwich Village & NoHo Guide
- To Do: Washington Square Park, NYU Campus, Astor Place, Shopping, Restaurants
West Village
The West Village is filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful old brownstones and hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafés. It is truly a quintessential NYC neighborhood, inhabited by locals and celebrities who can afford to live anywhere they choose. If you're a Friends or Sex and the City fan, then you are already quite familiar with the West Village...now it's time to come experience it!
- Explore: West Village Guide
- To Do: Restaurants, boutique shopping, gorgeous brownstones
SoHo
SoHo (SOuth of HOuston - pronounced How-ston) is another NYC neighborhood filled with the best shopping and restaurants. Traditionally known as a haven for artists and their lofts, it has become more upscale over the years and a much sought-after place for New Yorkers to live.
- Explore: SoHo Guide
- To Do: New York Fire Museum, Shopping, Art Galleries, Brunch & Restaurants, Broken Kilometer & Earth Room
Tribeca & The Battery
Tribeca Tribeca (TRI-angle BE-low CA-nal) NYC, is home of the namesake Film Festival, Robert De Niro’s pet project, created to promote commerce downtown after 9/11. He also owns several hotels and restaurants in the area and is spotted quite frequently. Tribeca was also the home of JFK Jr and Caroline Bessette Kennedy before their tragic death in 1999 and is filled with old warehouses, now converted into lofts, beautiful views of the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty along the West Side Highway, excellent restaurants, families, parks and NYC history.
- Explore: Tribeca & The Battery
- To Do: Hudson River Park and River Promenade, Statue of Liberty Views, Upscale & Casual Dining
Financial District and Wall Street
The Financial District (FiDi), at the southern tip of NYC, is one of NYC's most bustling business and tourist areas, from Monday to Friday and is near dead on the weekends. Sights include the 9-11 Memorial & Museum, Wall Street, One World Observatory, The American Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull, the Fearless Girl and views of the Statue of Liberty.
- Explore: Financial District Guide
- To Do: One World Observatory, Staten Island Ferry, 9-11 Museum, 9-11 Memorial, Charging Bull & Fearless Girl, American Stock Exchange, The Oculus, Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport and much more.
Upper East Side NYC
The Upper East Side is an upscale, residential neighborhood and home to Museum Mile, some uber-upscale shopping and Gracie Mansion. The homes on Fifth Avenue, along Central Park, are some of the most exclusive in all of Manhattan. You've likely seen the Upper East Side on Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, The Real Housewives of New York, I Love Lucy, Breakfast at Tiffany's and dozens of other times on your screens.
- Explore: Upper East Side
- To Do: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Museum Mile, Central Park, Gracie Mansion, Upscale Shopping
Midtown East
Midtown East is a huge tourist, commercial and residential area. Around 5th Ave, the neighborhood is home to many tourist attractions, such as St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock and Radio City Music Hall. Bryant Park, the New York Public Library and Grand Central Station are close together just south. Moving towards 3rd Ave and further east, the area is more residential, and generally, the restaurants are better and more affordable, with the UN being the only attraction in that part of the neighborhood.
- Explore: Midtown East Guide
- To Do: The Plaza Hotel, Upscale Shopping, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock, Radio City Music Hall, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, Summit One Vanderbilt, New York Public Library, United Nations
Union Square, Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy
Union Square (my hood!), the Flatiron District and NoMad all have a mix of residence and business tenants. Additionally, colleges such as NYU, The New School and FIT dominate the area, making it very fun and lively. It is one of the best dining and nightlife areas in Manhattan, with something for every palate and budget and offers fabulous hotels of all kinds.
- Explore: Union Square, Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy
- To Do: Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, Eataly, Union Square Park & Greenmarket, Harry Potter Wizarding World
East Village
While originally part of the Lower East Side, an immigrant neighborhood, the East Village, has separated itself and become home to some of the City’s best restaurants, shops and nightlife. It is full of character, diversity, fine dining, shops and live music, and includes a subsection named “Alphabet City.” East Village culture ranges from tattoo parlors and “dive bars” to some of New York City’s nicest hip and trendy hotels.
- Explore: East Village
- To Do: Blue Man Group & Stomp, St. Mark's Place, Nightlife, Speakeasies, Curry Lane
Lower East Side NYC
Traditionally, the Lower East Side was a working class immigrant neighborhood (think “Gangs of New York”). Today it is a wonderfully ethnic and diverse neighborhood and serves as a shopping, dining and nightlife destination for many NYC locals. Even with all its modern upgrades, the LES retains a large amount of its history, especially it’s Jewish, Polish, Irish and Italian cultures. The LES also has one of the best selections of hotels in NYC - tons of boutique hotels with amenities, rooftops, skyline views and seconds from 1000s of cool restaurants and hot spots.
- Explore: Lower East Side
- To Do: Tenement Museum, Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue, Food Tours, Nightlife, great Hotel selection
Chinatown NYC
Chinatown NYC is a small, but very densely packed area of shops and restaurants. It is really fun to walk around, enjoy the culture, pick up some souvenirs, and most definitely, eat some delicious and affordable Dim Sum, dumplings, pork buns and other amazing Chinese cuisines.
- Explore: Chinatown NYC Guide Guide
- To Do: Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), Mahayana Buddhist Temple, Dim Sum & Dumplings
Little Italy NYC
Little Italy NYC Guide is a just a few blocks, with tons of outdoor restaurants and owners promising free wine and sangria to lure you in. Puglia is a favorite restaurant for families with their live singing and kids standing on their chairs waving napkins. Visit the new Italian American Museum, which tells the story "from Columbus to Cuomo," the original Old St. Patrick's Church and NYC Police Headquarters.
- Explore: Little Italy NYC Guide
- To Do: Feast of San Gennaro, Old St. Patrick's Church, Food Tours, Italian American Museum
NYC Boroughs
Explore the diverse neighborhoods of NYC Boroughs with our comprehensive guide to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. New York City is a melting pot of cultures and neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm. Whether you're a local or a visitor, exploring the five boroughs of NYC is a must-do experience.
- Explore:NYC Boroughs Guide
- To Do: Williamsburg, Park Slope, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Museum, Barclay's Center, Brooklyn Flea, Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Astoria, Jackson Heights, Unisphere, Citi Field, US Open, Mets, MoMA PS1, Yankees, Bronx Zoo, NY Botanical Garden, Staten Island Ferry
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