Affluence and arts thrive in these upper Manhattan enclaves
Where the cognoscenti come to shop, dine and play, these thriving areas of the city are known for their upscale real estate and designer boutiques, from Hermes to Prada. This is where America’s most famous families have hung their hats, from the Roosevelts to the Rockefellers.
Everything you need is at your fingertips in the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, so it’s easy to feel like you’re in your own world within a booming metropolis. The two neighborhoods are easily accessed from each other, so you’ll have the run of the area and twice as much dining, shopping, and entertainment.
It’s easy to navigate the city from upper Manhattan, thanks to easy access to the area’s many public transportation options. Those who settle here appreciate this convenience, but are just as happy to hang out on their home turf, enjoying the charm and culture of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. Life moves a bit slower here than in the rest of the borough.
Friends mingle their classic brownstone or prestigious apartment overlooking Central Park, then make their way to one of the many cultural hotspots at street level. Like the Upper East Side, there’s a more relaxed personality here — where city life takes a deep breath for a while.
All the city’s a stage when you live on the Upper East Side or Upper West Side. Head to The Mark Hotel, just blocks from home. The lively Mark Bar is the most stylish meeting spot on Madison Avenue, perfect for after-dinner cocktails or apres-theater drinks and nibbles. Check out The Empire Rooftop, located on the top floor of the swanky Empire Hotel, overlooking the Lincoln Center complex. Sip a Signature Empire Sunset Cocktail in one of two bars, next to a working fireplace.
Speaking of Lincoln Center, residents of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side practically have front-row seats — pop in for performances by one of the complex’s 12 performing arts companies dedicated to music, dance, and drama, including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet.
Shop all the high-fashion names you can imagine, as well as upscale national brands like Madewell and Lululemon. You could spend hours browsing and buying at the Shops at Columbus Circle on the Upper West Side or perusing the departments of Bloomingdale’s and Bergdorf Goodman on the Upper East Side. Madison Avenue, of course, is a must, with enticing boutiques such as Tom Ford, the Aquazzurra Boutique (a favorite of local celebs), and Hayward House.
Need a bite to eat? The Upper West Side is known for its excellent cuisine, including classic diners and delis and haute cuisine at establishments such as Per Se or Boulud Sud. Silver Moon Bakery is a neighborhood favorite for artisan bread, sophisticated cakes, and decadent pastries. Take your everyday grocery shopping up a notch as the Westside Market NYC, owned by the Zoitas family who are dedicated to bringing local New Yorkers hard-to-find items and the highest quality foods.
Looking for nightlife? Head to Second Avenue. You won’t find heart-thumping dance music or long guests lists here, instead karaoke lounges, and convivial Irish pubs that open their doors to their neighbors any night.
The Upper East Side and Upper West Side are among the most fortuitous neighborhoods in New York City when it comes to green space - they’re close to the most famous of all urban oases, Central Park. And while one could spend a whole weekend cavorting in Central Park and visiting its numerous attractions, there are other lesser-known spaces nearby that are enticing in their own right, including Andrew Haswell Green Park and Riverside Park, which stretches for four miles along the Hudson River and an officially designated scenic landmark in the City of New York.
Culture isn’t hard to come by in these intellectual neighborhoods, where it’s just as easy to pop in to a world-class institution over your lunch hour as it is to spend hours there on a weekend. Museum Mile boasts some of the country’s finest museums, including The Guggenheim, the Jewish Museum, and the Met. Meet a mammoth at The Natural History Museum or learn about New York’s past and present at the New-York Historical Society.
Aadel has acquired extensive expertise and built strong relationships with developers, local real estate investors, and buyer/seller clients from around the world.
