The Upper East Side Guide
Beyond the cliches of money and museums, the Upper East Side runs on neighborhood restaurants, serious bars and the best park access in Manhattan.
Neighborhood
Upper East Side.
The NYC Holiday Window Displays 2026: Where and When to See Them
Plan your route through the best department store windows, light shows and festive stops in Manhattan this season.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2026: Lighting Date, Viewing Tips and What Is Nearby
The 2026 tree arrives November 7 and lights up December 2. Here is how to see it without the crush, where to eat, and which other trees to check out.
You can ride a vintage 1930s subway train to Green-Wood Cemetery this weekend
The New York Transit Museum is pulling its beloved R1/9 train cars out of the vault for an afternoon trip to Brooklyn.
New Year's Eve in NYC 2026: Where to Celebrate That Is Not Times Square
Skip the barricades and the freezing crowds. Here is how to actually enjoy the last night of the year in New York.
The Best Afternoon Tea in NYC
Fourteen afternoon teas in New York, from the Plaza's Palm Court and the Baccarat's crystal salon to a Japanese tea at the Waldorf and a $60 pot in the West Village, with prices, booking windows and the 2026 holiday teas.
The Best Breakfast Spots in NYC
Sixteen places to eat a real weekday breakfast in New York, from a 1925 soda fountain and a 24-hour Williamsburg diner to Chinatown roast pork buns and mangú in Washington Heights.
The Best Cookies in NYC
Twenty cookies worth crossing the city for, from Levain's six-ounce chocolate chip and Red Gate's toffee cookie to black and whites on the Upper East Side and pignoli by the pound in the Bronx.
The Best Happy Hours in NYC
Fifteen happy hours worth leaving work early for, from $1.50 oysters in the West Village to $10 negronis on MacDougal and half-price wings in Williamsburg, with the days and hours for each.
The Best Places to Write and Work Creatively in NYC
Find your muse at these quiet, inspiring nooks across the city, from stunning public library reading rooms to cozy cafes that actually tolerate laptops.
The Best Tailors and Alteration Shops in NYC
A good tailor is a New Yorker's best kept secret. Here is where to go for invisible denim repairs, bespoke suits, and emergency hems.
First Time in New York: What Locals Actually Tell Their Friends
Where to stay, which landmarks are worth the line, how the subway works now that it is all tap to pay, what to tip, what to skip, and a three day plan.
How to Watch the 2026 NYC Marathon: Best Spots Along the Route
A mile by mile guide to watching the five borough race, from Brooklyn dives to the Central Park finish line.
NYC With Kids: The Guide for Parents Who Live Here
The best museums, playgrounds, food halls, and climbing walls for keeping toddlers, kids, and teens entertained in the city right now.
Things to Do Alone in NYC
A bar seat at Via Carota, a 10 p.m. set at the Vanguard, free Friday nights at the Morgan. The best solo plans in New York, and how to do them well.
Things to Do in NYC as a Couple (Beyond Dinner)
You have done the dinner. Here is what to do with the rest of the night, or the whole Saturday: classes, museum evenings, late jazz, a trolley through Green-Wood and day trips up the Hudson.
Where to Eat Near the Met Museum
A 1925 soda fountain, Viennese cake across Fifth Avenue, Milanese panini, a cash-only burger and Bemelmans before the cover: where to eat before and after a day at the Met.
The Best Arcade Bars in NYC
Combine craft cocktails with vintage pinball and classic cabinet games for the perfect nostalgic night out.
The Best Gluten-Free Restaurants and Bakeries in NYC
Dining out with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity does not mean sacrificing flavor in New York City.
A pack of 12 giant dog sculptures has taken over Central Park
French artist Camille Henrot just debuted 'Dogs,' a free public art installation featuring a dozen large-scale canine sculptures.
The Best Antique Stores in New York City
Hunt for historical treasures, unique artifacts, and enduring furniture at the city's premier antique shops.
The Best Cabaret Venues in New York City
Experience the intimate magic and theatricality of New York's enduring cabaret scene.
The Best French Restaurants in New York City
From classic brasseries to intimate natural wine bistros, New York's French food scene is thriving. Here is where to find the perfect steak frites.
The Best Pottery Classes in New York City
Get your hands dirty and channel your inner artist at these welcoming ceramic studios across the five boroughs.
How to Tackle The Met Without Getting Overwhelmed
Navigating the largest art museum in the Americas is a daunting task. Here is our strategic guide to finding the highlights, quiet wings, and best times to go.
The Best Board Game Cafes in New York City
Where to roll the dice, pull a card, and drink a good beer while you ruin your friendships over Catan.
The Best Comic Book Stores in New York City
From massive megastores to strictly independent zine shops, here is where to buy comics in the five boroughs right now.
The Best Dog Parks and Runs in NYC
Let your furry friend off the leash at the city's top canine playgrounds. We rate the best dog runs based on space, cleanliness, and community vibes.
The Best Ice Cream and Gelato in NYC
We rounded up the artisanal shops, classic parlors, and authentic gelaterias in New York that are actually worth standing in line for.
The Best Jewish Delis in New York City
From mile-high pastrami on rye to perfect matzo ball soup, these classic delicatessens are true New York institutions.
The Best Barbershops and Hair Salons in New York City
From a quick fade in a classic barbershop to a transformative color treatment, these are the New York City spots we trust for great hair.
The Best Omakase Menus in New York City
Treat yourself to a masterclass in sushi at the city's finest tasting counters, from the $600 blowout to the $69 weeknight steal.
The Best Photography Galleries and Museums in New York
From the Chelsea powerhouses to vital non-profits and museums with world-class collections, here is where to see the best photography in New York City.
The Best Piano Bars in New York City
From rowdy, show-tune sing-alongs in landmark rooms to quiet corners for a classic cocktail, here is where to find the keys to the city.
The Best Speakeasy Bars in New York City
Secret phone booths, hidden doors and unmarked stairwells lead to the city's best cocktails, if you know where to look.
The Best Sushi in NYC
From affordable neighborhood hand-roll counters to life-changing luxury omakase, New York has it all.
Literary New York: The Landmarks Worth Visiting
From the bar where Kerouac got kicked out to the library where generations of masterpieces were written, these are the places that tell the story of the city.
New York Art Fairs: The Calendar and How to Do Them
A guide to the big tents, the downtown discoveries, and the specialist shows that make up the New York art market calendar.
The Best Burgers in New York City
From the perfect, simple smash burger to a dry-aged steak on a bun that costs more than your Con Ed bill, here is where to find the best burgers in NYC right now.
The Best Cocktail Bars in New York City
Twenty bars pouring the best drinks in New York right now, plus a straight answer on whether the hidden-door speakeasy is still worth the hunt.
The Best Hotel Bars in New York City
From storied piano lounges on the Upper East Side to cinematic rooftops downtown, these are the New York hotel bars worth the trip, whether you're checking in or not.
The Best Independent Bookstores in New York City
Twenty-five shops across four boroughs where the staff picks are sharp, the readings are free and nobody minds if you browse for an hour and buy one paperback.
The Best Jazz Clubs in New York City
From the Village basements where the music was invented to Brooklyn listening rooms with a donation jar, here is where to hear live jazz in New York now.
The Best Libraries in New York City to Read, Work and Wander
From soaring reading rooms and rare book collections to cozy neighborhood branches, these are the best public and private libraries to know in New York.
The Best Literary Bars in New York City
From historic taverns where Dylan Thomas drank to modern bookstore bars hosting the city's sharpest reading series, here is where to drink with writers.
The Best Museums in New York City
From the big names on Fifth Avenue to the experimental spaces in Queens, this is your guide to the New York museums that are actually worth your time and money.
The 30 Best Novels About New York City
Gilded Age drawing rooms, Harlem tenements, Brooklyn stoops and a Manhattan apartment where a woman tries to sleep for a year. The city, told by the people who wrote it best.
The Best Ramen in New York City
From rich, porky tonkotsu to delicate shio, here is where to find the most satisfying bowls of ramen in the city, and how to get a seat.
The Best Record Stores in New York City
Eighteen shops worth the subway ride, from Rockefeller Center's two-level Rough Trade to a Ridgewood crate-digger's haven and a jazz specialist tucked into an eighth-floor office.
The Best Small Museums in New York City
Leave the big crowds behind for these focused, fascinating collections, from Gilded Age mansions to a 1936 subway station and the city's last single-family home.
The Best Thrift Stores in New York City
Charity shops with Upper East Side closets, a Bushwick warehouse priced for students, and the buy-sell-trade counters that turn your old clothes into new ones.
The Best Vintage Stores in New York City
From Orchard Street designer racks to a Bushwick warehouse where the denim never ends, these are the vintage shops worth your Saturday and your rent money.
The Museum and Gallery Shows to See in New York This Fall
Krasner and Pollock at the Met, manga in Brooklyn, Arthur Jafa on the Bowery and a Chelsea season stacked with heavy hitters. Our list for fall 2026.
Free Live Music in New York City, All Year
The big summer stages, the no-cover bars that run every night of the year, and the in-stores and atriums where rising artists play for nothing. Your wallet can stay home.
Free and Pay-What-You-Wish Museum Hours in New York, Verified for 2026
The Met, MoMA, the Whitney and two dozen others can cost you nothing or close to it, if you know the right day, hour and ID to bring.
Where to Hear Writers Read in New York: The Reading Series Worth Your Night
A red room above an East Village bar, a poetry church turning sixty, a Crown Heights bar that books future prize winners. The best readings in the city, most of them free.
