NYC Neighborhoods

Manhattan

Electric, overwhelming, unmistakable

The crossroads of the world. Forty million LED pixels blaze across building-sized billboards while 330,000 people pass through daily. Love it or hate it, standing in the middle of Times Square at night is a sensory experience you won't forget. Broadway theaters line every block — over 40 stages within walking distance.

Manhattan

Historic, artistic, bohemian

Where bohemian culture thrives. The Village birthed the Beat Generation, the folk music revival (Bob Dylan played his first NYC gig at Cafe Wha?), and the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement at Stonewall Inn. Tree-lined streets with Federal-style townhouses, jazz clubs, and Washington Square Park's iconic arch make this one of NYC's most walkable neighborhoods.

Manhattan

Chic, architectural, upscale

Cast-iron lofts and cobblestone streets. SoHo has the largest collection of cast-iron architecture in the world — 250 buildings with ornate facades that were once factories, now housing designer boutiques and galleries. Tribeca, Robert De Niro's neighborhood, is quieter and more residential with excellent restaurants and the famous Tribeca Film Festival.

Brooklyn

Photogenic, waterfront, artsy

Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass — Brooklyn Bridge views and cobblestone streets. The Manhattan Bridge perfectly framed between brick warehouses on Washington Street is the most Instagrammed spot in Brooklyn. Jane's Carousel spins in a glass pavilion on the waterfront. Brooklyn Bridge Park stretches along the East River with kayaking, playgrounds, and jaw-dropping skyline views.

Brooklyn

Trendy, creative, independent

Indie music, craft cocktails, and vintage shops. Once a working-class neighborhood, Williamsburg became the epicenter of Brooklyn's creative renaissance. Bedford Avenue is lined with record stores, thrift shops, and some of the city's best restaurants. Smorgasburg — the massive outdoor food market — runs every weekend from April through October on the waterfront.

Brooklyn

Family-friendly, leafy, brownstone

Brownstone charm and Prospect Park. Rows of immaculate brownstones from the 1880s–1900s line every street. Prospect Park — designed by the same architects as Central Park and considered their masterpiece — has a lake, meadows, a zoo, and a farmers market on Saturdays. 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue are packed with independent bookstores, bakeries, and brunch spots.

Queens

Authentic, bustling, delicious

NYC's best Chinese food scene — and it's not even close. Flushing's Chinatown has surpassed Manhattan's in size and quality. The basement food courts at New World Mall and Flushing Mall serve hand-pulled noodles, soup dumplings, Sichuan dry pot, and Taiwanese shaved ice. Take the 7 train to the end of the line and eat your way through Asia.

Queens

Mediterranean, multicultural, welcoming

Greek tavernas and Egyptian bakeries sit side by side. Astoria has been NYC's Greek neighborhood for a century — Taverna Kyclades and Bahari are institutions — but it's also home to thriving Egyptian, Bosnian, Brazilian, and Bengali communities. Steinway Street is known as "Little Egypt." The Museum of the Moving Image and the Noguchi Museum are hidden gems.

Queens

Global, vibrant, sensory overload

167 languages in one neighborhood. Walk down Roosevelt Avenue and pass Indian sari shops, Tibetan momos, Colombian arepas, Nepalese dal bhat, and Mexican taquerias — all in a single block. The annual Diwali celebration is one of the largest outside India. Jackson Heights is living proof that diversity is New York's greatest asset.

Bronx

Old-school, family-run, authentic

The real Little Italy. While Manhattan's Little Italy has shrunk to a tourist strip, Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section is the genuine article — fifth-generation Italian families running bakeries, pasta shops, salumerias, and pizzerias. The Arthur Avenue Retail Market (indoor) has been operating since the 1940s. Get the fresh mozzarella at Casa Della Mozzarella and a cannoli at Madonia Brothers Bakery.

Bronx

Historic, creative, resurgent

Birthplace of hip-hop culture. On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc threw a party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue and invented a new genre of music. The South Bronx also gave the world breakdancing and graffiti art. Today, the neighborhood is experiencing a cultural renaissance — the Bronx Museum of the Arts, street murals, and a growing restaurant scene make it worth crossing the Harlem River for.

Coney Island

Nostalgic, carnival, beachside

Classic American boardwalk. The Cyclone roller coaster has been rattling riders since 1927. Nathan's Famous has been serving hot dogs since 1916. Luna Park brings modern rides to the historic amusement zone, and the New York Aquarium sits right on the boardwalk. The annual Mermaid Parade in June is one of NYC's most joyful events. Take the D/F/N/Q to Stillwell Avenue — last stop.

Coney Island

Russian, seaside, old-world charm

Little Odessa by the sea. One stop past Coney Island on the B/Q, Brighton Beach Avenue ducks under the elevated subway tracks and transforms into Eastern Europe — Russian bakeries, Georgian khachapuri, Uzbek plov, and Ukrainian borscht. The Brighton Beach boardwalk connects to Coney Island and offers a quieter, more local beach experience. Tatiana Restaurant serves caviar and vodka with live music overlooking the ocean.