When people declare “I’m going to New York!”, you can almost guarantee they mean Manhattan. The bright lights of Times Square and the towering skyscrapers of the Financial District are intrinsically linked to this exciting image of the Big Apple, and of the five New York City boroughs, Manhattan is where they can all be found.
It may be one of the most famous places in the world, but it’s all too easy to fall into the many Manhattan tourist traps and miss the lesser-known neighborhoods, the villages and communities that come together to create this vibrant city. Planning a trip to New York is a daunting task, and there’s so much to see it’s inevitable you’ll have to sacrifice certain activities, but that’s where we come in.
We’ve put together our favorite Manhattan neighborhood experiences, from euphoria enhancing cocktails in Chinatown to TV location tours in Harlem, so you can see for yourself the true magic of New York City that lies beneath the surface.
| Upper East Side
TV shows and films like Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Gossip Girl, and Cruel Intentions have shown us just what Manhattan’s Upper East Side neighborhood is all about; namely money.
Housing some of the most expensive properties in the world, owned by some of the most famous people in the world, the affluent neighborhood is filled with stunning architecture and luxury boutique shops. One of the neighborhood’s historic notable residents was Henry Clay Frick, a multi-millionaire businessman and industrialist who, upon his death in 1919, had his mansion on E 70th Street turned into The Frick Collection art museum, famous for its Old Master paintings.
Guests can catch lectures, special exhibits, and even concerts in the beautiful neoclassical house, perfect for those seeking New York art and culture.
| East Village
Comprising of Alphabet City, Bowery, and Little Ukraine is the East Village neighborhood, an area known for its nightlife and being the birthplace of New York’s punk music scene.
Packed with trendy bars, shops, restaurants and food trucks, East Village is a haven for gastronomes, so what better way to discover a slice of Manhattan than with a food tour? Food On Foot Tours offer a unique East Village Variety Food Tour that allows tourists to experience what ‘eating like a New Yorker’ is all about, and visit some of the best eateries in the neighborhood.
Eat as much or as little as you like, and discover one of Manhattan’s most happening regions with the aid of a local guide!
| Harlem
Heading north towards Upper Manhattan is the neighborhood of Harlem, a large African-American community known for its 19th century architecture, clubs, theaters, and notable jazz heritage.
While many movies and TV shows have been shot in Harlem (The Incredible Hulk, American Gangster, and Precious to name a few), Marvel’s Luke Cage shone a light on what makes the Harlem neighborhood unique within Manhattan, and the history of social injustice that has shaped a generation.
On this Luke Cage Locations Tour you can discover more about Harlem whilst visiting iconic scenes from the TV series, with Pop’s Barbershop, the Red Rooster restaurant, and the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant all featured – a fantastic experience for superhero devotees!
| Midtown
Empire State Building? Check. Rockefeller Center? Check. Times Square? Check. Midtown Manhattan is where you’ll find the crème de la crème of New York City; the iconic landmarks, the best shopping opportunities, and more street performers than you can shake a stick at.
If you spend any time in Midtown it may appear there’s nothing behind the façade of McDonald’s and Hard Rock Cafes, but authentic New York restaurants still exist amongst the tourist traps, and our favorite is Keens Steakhouse. Established in 1885, the exclusive gentlemen’s club is now a renowned steak restaurant that houses the largest collection of churchwarden pipes in the world.
Famous members included Albert Einstein, Teddy Roosevelt, Grace Moore and Babe Ruth, a selection of whose faces can be seen adorning the walls. Order the mutton chops, you won’t regret it!
| Lower East Side
On the Manhattan side of the Williamsburg Bridge is the Lower East Side neighborhood, a region with a solid Jewish community and heritage, upscale apartment buildings, and developed waterfront green spaces. Tucked behind the famous Tenement Museum is Top Hops Beer Shop, a self-declared “beer obsessed hybrid” of tasting bar, bottle shop, and classroom.
Seven days a week they offer a Date Night Class that invites couples to enjoy a guided beer tasting and cheese platter, followed by an ‘open draft bar’ hour in the stylish tap room. A fantastic Lower East Side experience to share with your partner, friend, or beer-loving parent!
| Chelsea
Known for its Hudson River Piers, the elevated High Line park, and having over 200 art galleries within its borders, Chelsea is a Manhattan neighborhood that has something for everyone.
Opposite Pier 57 at Hudson River Park is the 1.2 million square foot Chelsea Market, a sprawling food and retail establishment with over 60 vendors selling everything from ceviche to freakshakes. A day spent eating your way round Chelsea Market followed by a stroll along the High Line is a popular New Yorker activity, one which certainly won’t leave you hungry!
| Washington Heights
New Jersey and Manhattan are joined by several bridges across the Hudson River, but the George Washington Bridge, separating Washington Heights in Manhattan and Fort Lee in New Jersey, just so happens to be the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world.
This is because Washington Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Manhattan, and is where you can find the island’s oldest house, the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Built in 1765 for British Colonel Roger Morris, the mansion is now a museum dedicated to preserving American history, art and culture through the ages. A wonderful hidden gem to discover in northern Manhattan!
| Greenwich Village
The epicenter of New York’s gay rights movement and counterculture activism, Greenwich Village is a leafy neighborhood with a friendly vibe and fantastic music scene, packed with trendy bars and venues. Along the Hudson River, Greenway visitors will find entertaining street performers and New York skyline views, ideal for that epic Instagram shot!
Book a tour like no other with Glace Chase and explore New York’s gay rights history, visit the iconic Stonewall Inn, and sip cocktails in some of the Village’s best watering holes. We guarantee you won’t find another sightseeing tour like this in New York, a truly fabulous experience!
| SoHo
Known for its high-end stores, sophisticated dining, and cast-iron architecture, SoHo is a popular neighborhood for those who enjoy the finer things in life.
The art gallery packed region attracts thousands of visitors interested in discovering new art and modern conceptualizations, but many miss one of the neighborhood’s longest-standing installations; The New York Earth Room. Located at 141 Wooster Street in SoHo and opened in 1977, the sculpture by Walter De Maria consists of 250 cubic yards of earth covering 3,600 sq. feet of floor space at a depth of 56 centimeters.
The New York Earth Room is an utterly unique Manhattan experience, and makes a great story to take back from your trip!
| Chinatown
Last but not least we arrive at one of the world’s largest Chinatowns, home to the Western hemisphere’s highest concentration of ethnic Chinese residents.
Amongst the glittering string lights, authentic restaurants, and karaoke rooms is the Apotheke Cocktail Bar, a retro pharmacy-themed bar serving fresh cocktails using local ingredients. Known as ‘Prescriptions’, the drinks on offer range from the Siamese Twin made from vodka, sake, jasmine tea, taro root, shiso, ginger and egg white, to the Huntsman which contains scotch, duck fat, balsamic vinegar, fig, chocolate, lime, agave and peated scotch mist.
One of the ingredients on the menu is ‘Local Chinatown Aphrodisiac’, so don’t say you haven’t been warned!
| Thanks for reading!
And so we complete our Manhattan neighborhood hidden gems, our favorite experiences and attractions that show a different side to the world-famous city. If it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip you’re organizing or an epic activity gift idea, there’s no end to the exciting opportunities in the Big Apple, and the life-long memories to be made.
