Upper East Side Neighborhood Guide
I’ve been visiting every NYC neighborhood, trying to explore my own city the way I do when I travel. I’m 100 neighborhoods deep now and have documented it all on TikTok.
Now, I’m on a mission to write it all out—next up: the Upper East Side.
I grew up on the UES, so this is my itinerary from a local’s perspective.
Take the ferry to Carl Schurz Park, where you can read a book in the Peter Pan Garden or bask in the sun. It’s such an underrated NYC park and is home to Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor.
If you’re a fan of independent bookshops or the show YOU, head to Logos Bookstore to browse their collection.
There are so many quaint cafes—try Moulin Cafe to get a taste of York Avenue, where I spent most of my childhood. Le Petit Parisien and Hutch & Waldo are also great options.
While walking around, you’ll run into so many small businesses—one of my favorite parts of the Upper East Side. 81st Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue has a few I love: Niche Shop, Designer Revival, and Living Green.
Next stop: this isn’t my usual coffee spot, but Ralph’s Coffee feels like the Upper East Side’s version of Aimé Leon Dore. I love the architecture here too. It was fun to play NYC influencer for a moment—and honestly, the coffee was pretty good. But if you want to stick to local-only spots, Madame Bonte is a solid option.
Head into Central Park. In this area, I love the Alice in Wonderland statue and the model boat sailing pond—where Stuart Little was filmed. End your tour with the Reservoir and the Conservatory Garden, an English-inspired courtyard.
As you make your way through the UES, don’t forget to look up and admire the architecture. The best streets for this are:
72nd (between York & FDR)
78th (between 2nd and Park)
73rd (between 3rd and Lex)
95th (between Park & Lex)
93rd (between 5th and Madison)
91st (between Park & Lex)
79th (between 5th and Madison)
End your day at Lexington Candy Shop. Open for almost 100 years, they still make soda the same way they did in the 1930s.
That’s all for now—there’s so much more I could include, but these are a few of my favorites!
heavy on the best streets for architecture!!!