Which Manhattan Neighborhood is Right for You?
With an overwhelming amount of deals to choose from this winter season, our NYC-based Deal Experts put together a list of their favorites, broken down by different neighborhoods, and a guide on selecting the right area for you.
Upper West Side
Notably one of the most family-friendly areas in the city and the focal neighborhood in "You’ve Got Mail," the Upper West Side is stroller central and families visiting with children will feel right at home. Central Park and Riverside Park border the neighborhood so there is no shortage of walking paths; perfect for nature-lovers and those needing to stretch out or go for a quick jog. For a dose of culture, Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts and the Museum of Natural History are right there as well.
Every vacation allows for a little sugar high, and the Upper West Side's Levain bakery makes one of America's best chocolate chip cookies according to Food & Wine Magazine.
Where to Stay?
- Housed in an ornate historic building, Belleclaire sits on a quiet block within a 10-minute walk to museums … $109 midweek through March; +$10 weekends
Tribeca
If you are on the hunt to spot celebs, you just may cross paths with the likes of Robert De Niro or Leonardo DiCaprio, two of the many celebrities that take up residence in the city’s most expensive precinct.
Down cobblestone streets, you’ll stumble upon high-end shops, top-notch restaurants with prices to match, and rehabbed industrial lofts owned by the rich and famous. Dollar signs and desirability go hand in hand, and this neighborhood, albeit pricey, has everyone longing.
Where to Stay?
- Newly renovated Sheraton fits in with the neighborhood’s stylish vibe; comes with hot breakfast and nightly wine and beer reception … $119 into March
Times Square, Midtown West
Despite all New Yorkers’ pleads to avoid Times Square at all costs, to be fair, if this is your first visit to the Big Apple, you have to check off all of the tourist boxes. The best way to do that in a quick trip is to stay in the heart of the action. While strolling the main strip, make a pit-stop at the TKTS booth for discounted tickets to last-minute Broadway shows, and if you are craving Italian, Carmine’s is a favorite in the area and Becco’s offers one of the best pre-show dinner deals in town.
Where to Stay?
- Spacious studio suites within walking distance to Times Square and Bryant Park ... $159 with breakfast through February
- Courtyard Times Square, five blocks from world's largest Macy's ... $119-$139 through March 6
Midtown East
Photo from Flickr by Eric Wüstenhagen
Home to Bryant Park, the Empire State Building and the iconic New York Public Library, this neighborhood is quieter outside business hours and weekends, plus it is a convenient starting point with five subway lines at Grand Central. We especially love Grand Central’s food court -- it includes NYC staples like Magnolia Bakery and Shake Shack -- (but skip it during rush hour!), and the far more elegant Oyster Bar, which has been open since 1913.
Where to Stay?
- Boutique hotel featuring a top-floor lounge for panoramic city views ... $99 weekends through March
- On a quiet tree-lined part of the street 70 Park Avenue offers much-loved Kimpton perks like nightly happy hours ... $159 weekends through February; +$30 in March
Flatiron District
pisaphotography / Shutterstock.comMarked by the iconic building of the same name, it's steps from Madison Square Park (more Shake Shack!), Eataly, walking distance to Union Square, and just a block away from the south area of Fifth Avenue shopping, which is comparable to SoHo (but with FAR less crowds). This is a great spot for visitors who are looking for more of a local vibe near fantastic shopping (the more affordable kind – think J. Crew vs. Gucci).
Where to Stay?
- Cozy 4-star hotel with daily hot breakfast and free cocktail at the hotel's lounge ... $135 into March
Meatpacking District
stockelements / Shutterstock.comSee and be seen scene: Arguably the city's most glamorous neighborhood; cobblestone streets line the short walk to great eats and shops at Chelsea Market. Plus this puts you just north of the quaint West Village – where we love to wander and stumble into great little coffee shops. Be warned: at night it turns into club haven; however, art lovers will be pleased to know the Whitney American Museum of Art recently relocated to this area and its renowned onsite restaurant serves up dishes as artistic as the masterpieces the museum houses. Reservations well in advance are recommended.
Where to Stay?
- 5-star stays at Gansevoort also include a bottle of prosecco ... $200 through February
Chinatown
Photo from Flickr by Daniel X. O'NeilBrace yourself as you turn the corner on Canal Street because you will feel as though you entered a whole other world. Peddlers will bombard you with designer knockoffs, and it's your perfect chance to test out your bargaining skills and score the cheapest goods in Manhattan. Strolling Mott and Grand Street you'll walk past stalls of exotic fruits and fishes and more Chinese restaurants and bubble tea shops than you can count. You'll find cuisine from all provinces in China, but if you are stumped on where to choose, seek out restaurants with long lines like at Joe's Shanghai. They are experts at efficient seating, so you won't be waiting too long to feast on award-winning dumplings.
Where to Stay?
- No-frills with a lot of value: Comfort Inn with free breakfast and Wi-Fi … $89 through February; +$30 in March
- Top-rated hotel on the edge of Chinatown with floor-to-ceiling windows ... $99 per night for a Superior Room, Sundays-Fridays through January; +$30 per night Saturdays
Outside Manhattan: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Cooler than cool, the hipster central has Manhattanites flocking to live in the Burg, and real estate is now a premium. The Williamsburg Music Hall lures in indie-rock fans, and the Brooklyn Bowl doubles as a popular concert venue. The Brooklyn Flea Market sells local crafts, and Smorgasburg features some out-of-this-world food trucks where you can nosh on ramen burgers, a must-try, and my personal favorite, the cemitas. To wash it all down, head to the Brooklyn Brewery for a sampling of beers by award-winning brewmasters, or head to the Wythe Hotel for swanky rooftop cocktails. In a nutshell, Williamsburg has enough to offer to keep you from ever leaving the borough.
Where to Stay?
- Trendy hotel with a rooftop lounge that boasts Empire State views; sits along the neighborhood's mega park with an outdoor track ... $109 midweek through March; +$15 for weekends
Upper East Side
On the opposite side of Central Park, you'll cross into the Upper East Side, and similar to its counterpart on the West, families flock to this quieter section of the city. Museum Mile claims a stretch of Fifth Avenue from 104th Street down to 82nd Street.
Along here you'll find El Museo del Barrio, Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the list goes on. If you visit outside of winter, the Met has a rooftop garden with sprawling views of Central Park and Midtown.
Where to Stay?
- Swanky boutique hotel boasting panoramic city views from rooftop bar and restaurant and a location near shops on Madison Ave. ... $129-$179 most dates through March 14
Chelsea
If you have a penchant for art galleries, nightclubs and unique interpretations of parks, then Chelsea is the place for you. The Highline, an elevated park converted from an old rail track, is the star attraction in this section and a must-see on any visit to NYC.
Chelsea Market is a one-stop shop for an eclectic sampling of food, boutiques, and if you are lucky, a knockout sample sale in true NYC fashion. Despite the commercialized feel of this area, though, you’ll still find plenty of hidden gems.
Where to Stay?
- Dream Downtown hotel where guests receive exclusive access to the hard-to-get-into PH-D nightclub and rooftop lounge ... $225-$265 per night through February
Lower East Side
From drab to fab, the Lower East Side is one of the city’s most dramatic transformations. The once shabby area is now home to some of New York’s most legendary eateries like Katz’s Delicatessen, indie boutiques, and enough bars to make LES the place to be on any given night. Tour the Tenement Museum followed by drinks and tapas at the swanky Stanton Social for a taste of both past and present.
Where to Stay?
- Lower East Side's only luxury hotel with nightly wine reception for guests ... $245 most dates in January
Financial District
Located at the Southernmost tip of Manhattan, the Financial District is more than just an epicenter for Wall Street tycoons. It's the entry point of the Brooklyn Bridge, the address of City Hall, and home to the World Trade Center Memorial. If your to-do list includes a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you are in the right spot since Statue Cruises picks up from the World Financial Center Ferry Terminal. No need to trek up to Central Park either. New York's other famous park, The Battery, sits at the downtown tip of the island and overlooks the New York Harbor.
Where to Stay?
- A Thompson Hotel and New York Magazine Critics' Pick is just a short walk to Wall Street and South Street Seaport ... $159 weekends in January
- 4-star hotel near the 9/11 Memorial Museum and Freedom Tower ... $119-$157 per night, most Thursdays-Mondays, Jan. 2 - March 13
SoHo
Most NYC visitors will flock to Fifth Avenue for high-end retail therapy, but I suggest you head south to downtown Broadway for a trendier shopping experience in SoHo, aptly named for it's location South of Houston Street. Once New York's manufacturing district, SoHo has since transformed into the city's prime shopping section. Old warehouses have converted into cast-iron storefronts selling hip bargain garbs, top brand labels, chic home-decor, sample sale clothing, and so much more.
Where to Stay?
- 'Gold List' Hotel with complimentary bike rentals ... $215-$263 per night January-February
For more hotels and deals with exclusive perks, search by the location and dates you want to travel.