Upper West Side

The Upper West Side is a peaceful Manhattan district bounded by the green space of Central Park to the east and Riverside Park on the banks of the Hudson to the west. Running from 59th Street in the south to 110th Street in the north, the Upper West Side contains some of New York City’s premier cultural institutions, including Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Juilliard School. The vibe is laidback, low-key, and highly livable.

 

The Upper West Side’s most iconic properties are the four upscale 1930s co-op apartment buildings fronting Central Park. Ranking high among the city’s most desirable real estate since their construction, the Eldorado, Century, Majestic, and San Remo apartments feature opulent interiors and breathtaking views over the park and city skyline. Other highlights include the Ansonia, Apthorp, Beresford, and Dakota apartment buildings, along with the grand rowhouses close to Riverside Drive.

 

• Neighborhood feel
• Central Park
• Lincoln Center
• Natural History Museum
  
  

The Upper West Side is typically the neighborhood of choice for films and television shows portraying New Yorkers living daily life, from Seinfeld and You’ve Got Mail to 30 Rock and Gossip Girl. Much of the district is quiet and residential, with many young families living in the area. Bounded by sprawling parks to the east and west, the Upper West Side is a relaxing section of Manhattan that can quickly feel like home.

You can find coffee shops and bakeries on almost every street corner in the Upper West Side, along with convenient grocery stores and diverse dining options. Amsterdam Avenue is known for its stretch of casual eateries. Highlights here include vegan dishes and desserts at Peacefood Café and smoked fish platters at Barney Greengrass, an Upper West Side mainstay since 1908. The Upper West Side also offers some of NYC’s most refined fine dining experiences, including star chef Daniel Bouloud’s Bar Boulud near the Lincoln Center and the three Michelin star-rated Jean-Georges overlooking Central Park. Grocery stores include Zabar’s gourmet emporium, which sells delicious baked goods, cheeses, deli meats, smoked fish, caviar, and coffee. There’s also a Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, and other recognizable brands, along with mom ‘n’ pop stores, fashion boutiques, and cozy nightlife spots such as Smoke Jazz & Supper Club.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is one of NYC’s most significant cultural venues, home to the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, and the Metropolitan and New York Operas. Lincoln Center has 30 indoor and outdoor performance spaces which host multiple performances every day of the week. The Natural History Museum is another major Upper West Side attraction, recognizable around the world as the setting of Night at the Museum. Special nighttime exhibitions are among the many events occurring at the Natural History Museum, which attracts around five million visitors each year and features over two million square feet of exhibition space. The Natural History Museum is directly across the street from Central Park, an iconic green space running the entire length of the Upper West Side. On the opposite side of the district, Riverside Park extends for four miles along the Hudson, with sports fields, playgrounds, and paved trails.