I’m a native New Yorker and local tour guide who has spent quite a bit of time on the Upper West Side throughout my life.
I think that for visitors to New York City, the Upper West Side (UWS) is known for Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History and Central Park.
These are three places that are not to be missed!
Some of my earliest memories are seeing the Swan Lake ballet at Lincoln Center and eating bagels from Zabar’s.
As I grew up, I came to appreciate other things about the neighborhood like its architecture, its lovely side streets and colorful avenues, and its lesser-known museums.
Many guests on my local tours in other parts of the city plan to visit the American Museum of Natural History and ask me what to do nearby.
In this post, I’ll tell you about the awesome things to do, see and eat on the Upper West Side.
I also include some places to stay in the neighborhood which is a pleasant alternative to other parts of New York City.
- Overview
- How to Get Here
- Things to Do
- Where to Stay
- Is Visiting the Upper West Side Worth It?
- Other Things To Do in NYC
OVERVIEW
The Upper West Side (UWS) is part of the larger area of NYC known as Upper Manhattan.
It is located between Central Park to the east and the Hudson River to the west.
Its southern border is West 59th Street and Columbus Circle and its northern border is W. 110th Street, where Harlem begins.
The UWS is a fairly affluent neighborhood that is more of a residential area than a commercial one.
While no neighborhood in New York has a homogenous demographic, most locals when asked about the Upper West Side, it is described as a part of the city that attracts those in the arts and culture.
It's also popular with families with children. When I am in the area, I do see more strollers than in other parts of town.
One reason I like the neighborhood is that it's nice to stroll along its leafy side streets lined with brownstones and private townhouses.
Its wide avenues are home to restaurants of all price ranges, coffee houses, chain stores and boutiques, and entertainment venues.
There are some amazing architectural gems I cover below.
HOW TO GET HERE
By subway
The neighborhood is easily reached by public transportation. Several subway lines access the Upper West Side.
- B and C trains make local stops along Central Park West.
- 1, 2, and 3 trains run along Broadway. The 1 makes local stops while the 2 and 3 run express.
To learn about the difference between express and local lines, read our post on using the subway system.
By bus
- Uptown/Downtown: M5, M7, M10, M11, M12, M104
- Crosstown: M57, M66, M72, M79, M86, M96, M106 (numbers correlate to the street the buses travel on)
THINGS TO DO ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE
Here are some of the top things to do on the UWS. The list isn't exhaustive.
These are just highlights that I think will give tourists and newbies to New York City a good feel for the neighborhood.
I wrote a separate section about museums since there are a number of excellent ones. I also recommend restaurants, coffee shops and bars.
Explore Central Park
Many of my tour guests have a visit to Central Park on their itinerary and I encourage them to explore the neighborhood a bit since they will be there.
The entire western border of the park (Central Park West between W. 59th Street and W. 110th Street) is the eastern border of the Upper West Side.
Several sites in Central Park are close to Central Park West including the Sheep Meadow, Strawberry Fields, the Imagine Memorial to John Lennon, and Belvedere Castle.
Also near Central Park West is the Delacorte Theatre, known for Shakespeare in The Park, and Bow Bridge, one of the most photogenic sites in Central Park.
Read more about things to do in Central Park.
Get a Bagel and Lox at Zabar's
Grab a Bite at this New York City institution. Zabar’s Delicatessen has been a cornerstone of the Upper West Side since 1934.
This family-owned shop sells delicious fare, the best being their Smoked fish, cheeses, baked goods, and homemade roasted coffee.
Given its proximity to Central Park, Zabars should be on your list of places to grab food for a picnic in Central Park. Here are some of my favorite picnic spots.
Zabars is at 2245 Broadway at W. 80th Street.
See our post on the best bagels near Central Park that includes a few on the UWS.
Delve into Arts and Culture at Lincoln Center
You can do a bit of everything at Lincoln Center. This world-renowned arts venue offers the chance to see many performing arts.
It's the home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic.
During the winter holidays, Lincoln Center has great Christmas performances like The Nutcracker ballet and the Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis playing jazz renditions of holiday favorites.
In the summer, Lincoln Center's plaza is home to the free Midsummer Night Swing outdoor dance series. I learned to swing dance here!
For a behind-the-scenes look at this magnificent arts complex, you can take a Lincoln Center tour.
Admire the Architecture
The Upper West Side is known for its several massive, ornate residential buildings, many of which are known from TV and film!
The stunning Dakota Building is located at the corner of Central Park West and West 72nd Street. Constructed in 1884, it is considered to be NYC’s first luxury apartment building.
The Dakota is best known for being the apartment building where John Lennon lived for many years until he died in 1980.
It was also where the 1968 horror film Rosemary’s Baby was filmed.
Read more about the Dakota here.
The Ansonia, located on Broadway between W. 73rd and W. 74th Streets, was built in 1904. The ornate exterior is decorated in the Beaux-Art style.
The Ansonia was the backdrop in the psychological thriller, Single White Female, starring Bridget Fonda.
The Apthorp is so large that it occupies a full city block, from Broadway to West End Avenue, between W. 78th and W. 79th Streets.
It was constructed in 1908 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.
Its ornamented limestone façade and gigantic iron entry gates that open into a courtyard make the Apthorp a gem of the UWS.
The San Remo was built in 1930 and its twin towers make it one of the most famous buildings along the Central Park silhouette.
If you watch the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, you can see the Belnord (the real-life name of the Anconia) at 225 West 86th Street.
One cool thing about living in New York City is that I can identify so many locations in TV shows and movies while I am watching them!
Take a Stroll in Riverside Park
Riverside Park is an incredible and huge green space that runs along the Hudson River from West 72nd Street to West 156th Street.
In the spring, you’ll see flowering trees and in the fall, the rich changing colors of the trees are beautiful.
Locals come here to take casual strolls or jogs along the Hudson River Path. I don't recommend spending time in the park after dark though.
The Grant National Memorial is inside the park at W. 122nd St. and Riverside Drive.
Perhaps you’ve heard the riddle “Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb?”
No one! Grant and his wife are entombed (not buried) in sarcophagi.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Levain Bakery
If you love chocolate chip cookies like I do, a stop at Levain Bakery is a must!
The Chocolate Chip Walnut and Dark Chocolate Chocolate cookies are divine.
Ask for your cookie to be heated up for an extra gooey experience.
Warning: Levain’s cookies are $5 each. But they are worth it!
Levain Bakery is at 351 Amsterdam Avenue and W. 77th Street.
There are eight other locations throughout the city so you can get your fix even when you aren't on the UWS.
Skip the Cookie - Get Ice Cream Instead!
While I love a good cookie, I'm a sucker for ice cream.
Emack and Bolio’s is by far one of the best ice cream shops on the Upper West Side if not the whole city!
Pick from ice cream flavors like Bananas Foster, Cake Batter, Chocolate Addiction, and Cookie Monster.
Yes, those are Fruit Loops on the first scoop below.
They also have frozen yogurt and sorbet.
I have some vegan friends who swear by E & B's vegan ice cream. Try the Chocolate Pudding, Goa Mango, Mint Chocolate Freckles and others.
Emack and Bolio’s is at 389 Amsterdam Avenue at W. 79th Street. There are five other stores around NYC.
Go Shopping Underground
Turnstyle Underground is a market beneath 8th Avenue between W. 57th and W. 58th Street.
Though this is not technically the Upper West Side it is pretty darn close and if you are passing through the station, there are some kiosks with niche items.
There are 12 food vendors, serving international foods like Bolivian saltenas, Taiwanese dumplings, Chicken tenders in a waffle cone(!), fresh juices, and more.
My fave is Doughnuttery, known for its mini doughnuts, with exotic flavors like Chai and Pumpkin Pie Brulee!
The market is accessible from the 59th Street-Columbus Avenue subway station, one of the stations you may pass through on your trip to the UWS.
Even if you are not taking the subway, you don't need to swipe a MetroCard to gain access to the market.
Take in the Splendor of St. John the Divine
When guests in my tours ask about attractions that are off-the-beaten track, I suggest the majestic cathedral of St. John the Divine.
At 601 feet, it is the world's largest Gothic-style cathedral.
The stained glass is stunning and on par with those in grand cathedrals I have seen across Europe.
The Great Rose Window is 40’ in diameter making it the third-largest rose window in the world.
Construction was started in 1892, and oddly enough, it is still under construction!
According to the cathedral’s website, St. John’s is no different than many cathedrals around the world that are built over centuries.
The cathedral is at the corner of W. 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
You'll be a hop, skip and a jump from Harlem, which is definitely worth your time. Why not join our Soul of Harlem Stroll guided tour?
I'm not thrilled that St. John's charges admission though, it's free if you come to worship. See the cathedral's website to get tickets.
TIP: You don't need to buy a ticket if you have a New York City Tourist Attraction pass like the New York Pass and the Sightseeing Pass.
Eat at Seinfeld's Tom's Restaurant
Remember Thursday nights back in the '90s when the latest Seinfeld episode aired?
I'm old enough to remember, but if you aren't I hope you've watched the quintessential NYC tv show in syndication or have streamed it.
The gang lived on the Upper West Side and met all the time at Tom's, at the corner of Broadway and W. 112th Street.
Tom’s was used only for exterior shots, though the studio set where interior scenes were filmed was modeled after the inside of this restaurant.
One of my food recommendations below is Gray's Papaya where, in the episode "The Ticket", Crazy Joe Davola lands a kick on Kramer’s head!
If you are a Seinfeld fan, take a look at our self-guided tour of Seinfeld's New York.
Shop at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market
If you are in town in December, you are in luck as the Columbus Circle holiday market is open.
It's one of several great Christmas markets in the city where you can pick up some unique arts and crafts and other holiday gifts.
The holiday market is located at Columbus Circle at W. 59th Street and Broadway (the southwest corner of Central Park).
Also, there's a pretty cool holiday light show at the Shops at Columbus Circle next to the holiday market.
It's one of the prettiest Christmas light displays in NYC.
Discover Columbus Circle
I mentioned the Shops at Columbus Circle mall above, but there is more to do at this historic roundabout.
It's located at the intersection of Broadway, Central Park West, Eighth Avenue, and 59th Street.
From inside the shopping mall, you can get a nice view of the Christopher Columbus monument in the center, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Classical music lovers should head to the famous Carnegie Hall at W. 57th Street and 7th Avenue.
It's not only classical music. I've seen all kinds of shows here over the years including folk-pop artists, comedy acts and gospel performances.
Lastly, the Southwest entrance to Central Park is just off the circle. Walk in and within minutes you'll get an incredible photo op at Umpire Rock.
See the Ghostbusters Building
Who you gonna call?!?
In the 1984 movie Ghostbusters, Dana Barrett (played by Sigourney Weaver) and Louis Tully (played by Rick Moranis) live on the 22nd floor of a building known as "Spook Central".
You can find Spook Central at 55 Central Park West at 66th Street.
There are a few more Ghostbusters sights on the Upper West Side like Columbia University and Tavern on the Green restaurant.
See our post on Ghostbusters Movie Locations in NYC.
Take a Central Park Movie Tour
Our pay-what-you-like Central Park Movie and TV Tour takes you to the most famous filming sights in and around the park.
Stop at the Plaza Hotel, the main setting for the film Eloise at the Plaza.
Visit The Mall in Central Park, where scenes were filmed from the 1979 Academy Award-winning film Kramer vs. Kramer and the popular rom-com When Harry Met Sally.
MUSEUMS
The UWS has some interesting museums you might enjoy and they are all quite different from each other!
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is one of the great museums of the world.
It's located in the heart of the Upper West Side, right across from Central Park at W. 81st Street.
Since 1871, this museum has awed New York City's children and grown-ups alike with its exhibits of fossils, mammals, sea life, minerals, gems, meteorites, and of course the Dinosaur wing.
The Hayden Planetarium is part of the AMNH which offers space shows in its theater.
For those traveling with children, visiting the American Museum of Natural History is one of the very best things to do with kids in NYC.
American Folk Art Museum
The museum showcases pieces of art made by individuals without formal artistic training. This is essentially the definition of folk art.
In a city with pricy tickets for museums, I'm grateful that admission is free.
There are other free museums in NYC as well as free days/hours at the most expensive museums.
The museum's collection has more than 8,000 artworks that span four centuries and come from almost every continent.
American Folk Art Museum is at Columbus Avenue at W. 66th Street.
New York Historical Society
As its name implies, this museum's mission is to educate the public about NYC’s history.
The society was founded in 1804 as New York's oldest museum.
The society reaches its goal through its impressive collections of artifacts and objects from four centuries, immersive movies, and lectures from historians and public figures.
Admission is free on Fridays from 6-8 pm.
The museum is located at 170 Central Park West and 77th Street.
Museum of Arts and Design
This engrossing museum is overlooked by most tourists, but you might want to consider going if design is your thing.
I really like this museum for its creative exhibits. Last season, I saw a super fun exhibit all about Barbie!
I'm frustrated though that a ticket is $20.
That's a bit steep, so I go once a year or when a particular exhibit excites me.
The Museum of Arts and Design, at 2 Columbus Circle/928 8th Avenue.
Nicholas Roerich Museum
This small but worthy museum is dedicated to the works of Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947), a Russian poet, philosopher and painter.
The most stunning works are his paintings of the wondrous Himalayan landscapes.
The setting for the more than 100 paintings is a splendid three-story townhouse built in 1898.
Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Free concerts take place between September and May.
Nicholas Roerich Museum is at 319 W. 107th St. btwn Riverside Dr & Broadway.
The Gallery at the Bard Graduate Center
This gallery is affiliated with the graduate department of the prestigious Bard College in upstate New York.
The gallery showcases decorative arts and design materials. Its excellent exhibitions are the fruits of collaboration between Bard and other institutions from around the world.
Past exhibitions include Interface Experience: Forty Years of Personal Computing; Jan Tschichold and the New Typography: Graphic Design Between the World Wars.
Admission is $15. Students pay $6 and Seniors pay $12. On the first Friday of every month, entry is free.
The Gallery at the Bard Graduate Center is at 18 West 86th St.
BEST RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND BARS ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE
The Upper West Side has a diverse restaurant and food shop scene. There's something for every budget.
Here is a small sampling of what you can eat in the area.
Best Restaurants
UNDER $20
Gray’s Papaya
A New York institution serving cheap, delicious hot dogs for decades. Read more about Gray’s from our post on Famous Foods of New York City.
Vanessa’s
Started as a hole-in-the-wall in Chinatown serving huge Chinese dumplings for a few bucks and is now known citywide with six locations.
Sido Falafel & More
Middle-Eastern food, like falafel sandwiches, and shawarma. Tasty and affordable
Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
Hong Kong-style large rice noodles rolled with succulent fillings like pork, shrimp, beef, and vegetables. One of NYC’s best cheap foods with multiple locations around the city.
$20 - $40
Jacob's Pickles
A popular southern eatery. House favorites are the fried chicken biscuit sandwich and of course, the homemade pickles.
Yasaka
A hidden gem on the Upper West Side with a fantastic lunch deal: Chirashi Bowl with 14 pieces of sashimi over rice for just $20.
Bellini
A classic Italian restaurant in a rustic setting. Lots of pasta dishes, and large individual-size pizzas with a thin, crispy crust.
$40 AND UP
Maison Pickle
It’s all about their French Dip sandwich here. Huge portions of American food like Mac n’ Cheese, Steak with fries and the tallest chocolate layer cake you’ve ever seen. Reservations recommended.
Cafe Luxembourg
A staple of NYC’s French bistros serving classics like Croque Monsieur and French Onion since 1983. Attracts celebs so keep your eyes open. A scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed here, though not the iconic scene filmed at Katz’s Delicatessen.
Best Coffee Shops on the Upper West Side
Black Press Coffee
Bold and flavorful coffees, a variety of croissants and pastries, friendly baristas and a block from Central Park.
Artisan Cafe
Cozy - but small - cafe much loved by locals. Serves drip coffee with beans from El Salvador only. Fresh baked goods and wonderful lattes.
Daily Provisions
Popular (and crowded) shop for coffees, lattes, matcha and iced drinks like iced salted caramel mocha. Grab a breakfast sandwich or cinnamon cruller. One block from the American Museum of Natural History.
Best Bars on the Upper West Side
George Keeley
Irish pub/sports bar serving 22 on-tap craft beers, stouts, ales and cider. More than 20 whiskeys and ryes. Classic pub fare. Can get crowded especially on game nights. But if you love beer, it’s for you.
Vanguard Wine Bar
Wine bar focused on French wines, but interesting choices from the West Coast and even New York State. Small plates and charcuterie boards. Warm atmosphere.
Nobody Told Me
Cocktail bar with a speakeasy feel. Creative artisanal drinks like You Didn’t Say Goodbye (gin, lemongrass syrup, lemon juice, mint, cucumber, and cava). Happy Hour every day from 3 pm to 6 pm.
WHERE TO STAY ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE
Staying at a hotel on the UWS has pros and cons.
You will be relatively close to Central Park, but not that close to other popular attractions.
While the neighborhood is charming and it is very family-friendly, the hotel options are limited
Still, it is worth looking into staying here as many people love their stay in the neighborhood.
Here are some of the best places to stay on the UWS recommended by members of our Facebook Group on NYC Travel Tips.
There are also some very good NYC hostels on the Upper West Side.
Find out about other hotels and accommodations from our post, Where to Stay in New York City.
IS VISITING THE UPPER WEST SIDE WORTH IT?
The quick answer is "It depends".
It depends on how many days you’re here for and what your interests are.
If you are here for a whirlwind weekend, then no. But if you are here for 4 or more days, then you might like to explore this charming part of the city.
Generally, I combine an outing to Central Park with some time on the UWS as the park is right there.
I love to stroll the leafy side streets, and then shop along the avenues.
The vibe is a nice change from some of the less residential areas of NYC.
UPPER WEST SIDE (UWS) COMPARED TO UPPER EAST SIDE (UES)
Before you read this comparison, take a look at our Guide to the Upper East Side, then read on.
Let’s start with what these two neighborhoods have in common.
Both have easy access to Central Park. Both have tree-lined residential side streets and busy avenues.
Both have an abundance of restaurants, bars and coffee shops of all price ranges. Unfortunately, both are expensive to live in.
What the Upper West Side has that the Upper East Side doesn’t is a laid-back feel.
The sidewalks are wider, there are fewer towering buildings and the side streets are lined with brownstones.
Conversely, many side streets of the UES have exquisite townhomes that have been home to multi-millionaires for more than a century.
This gives the UES a slightly stuffy feel, heightened by the upscale shopping scene of Madison Avenue.
But the main appeal, to me anyway, is that it has some of the best museums in NYC, if not the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim.
But the UWS has Lincoln Center, one of the most prestigious performing arts venues in the world.
I hope this guide encourages you to visit this non-touristy part of NYC!
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