If you’re in New York City and you find yourself surrounded by dogs, strollers, or dogs in strollers, then you might be in the Upper West Side. That’s because the neighborhood’s greatest amenity is New York City’s scarcest resource: space. And that rare and expensive urban commodity is especially attractive to families and businesses alike. This is exactly why the dynamics continue to change and the neighborhood continues to grow over the years. Discover our favorite Upper West Side gems, which are just a tiny slice of the innumerable things to see, do, and eat when you pay the neighborhood a visit.

Where is the Upper West Side?

Since neighborhood boundaries can be somewhat fluid (we’re looking at you, real estate agents!), for the purposes of this guide we are considering the Upper West Side the entire area between Central Park and the Hudson River, which is bounded by 110th Street in the north and 59th Street in the south. All our featured destinations are located in the map above.

For navigational purposes, it’s helpful to note that numerical avenues change names in the Upper West Side. North of 59th Street, 9th Avenue becomes Columbus Avenue, 10th Avenue becomes Amsterdam Avenue and 11th Avenue becomes West End Avenue.

Coffee Shops in the Upper West Side

We love seeking out and supporting independent and hyperlocal coffee shops. In the Upper West Side, there are several neighborhood gems who not only survive but thrive. Plowshares Coffee has been a boutique roaster since 2008, and you can reap the benefits of their extensive experience at their retail outlet on Broadway. Solid State Coffee and Gertrude are not only new to the scene, but products of the pandemic. It’s no surprise that residents flocked to nearby coffee shops in an attempt to escape their apartments and find community. Solid State Coffee is a cozy roaster-retailer that sources its beans from smallholder farmers, doing its part to support economic empowerment around the world. Gertrude, named after a street in Melbourne, is an Australian cafe that offers delicious coffee and baked goods.

Sensuous Bean is the definition of old school, eschewing today’s ubiquitous snappy neon-sign slogans and fancy latte art. The space is consumed by an insane assortment of coffees and teas, in barrels and canisters that overwhelm your olfactory senses the second you step inside. Loyal customers are fans of the flavored coffees, many having beans shipped across the country long after they leave the city. The proprietors are happy to offer recommendations or prepare your espresso drinks--with options ranging from a simple Americano to an indulgent Tiramisu Latte--in the back. The Sensuous Bean is a necessary destination for any coffee lover.

What to See and Do in the Upper West Side

Visit unique and incredible museums

Spectrum of Life exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History

Dinosaur selfie at the American Museum of Natural History

While many of New York City’s iconic museums are found on the other side of Central Park along Fifth Avenue, the American Museum of Natural History is the Upper West Side’s crown jewel. Known to pop culture fans as Ross Geller’s employer on Friends and THE museum of Night at the Museum, AMNH is one of the city’s most popular destinations. Whether you’re visiting to learn about Mesoamerican civilizations or to nerd out at the Hayden Planetarium, it’s the perfect place to get lost in the enormity of the universe. Don’t leave without a dinosaur selfie! Across the street, the city’s oldest museum, the New York Historical Society, keeps the past alive with creative programs and exhibitions.

Pro Tip: AMNH has a pay-what-you-wish option for residents of NY, NJ and CT. You still have to reserve your tickets online; however, you have to pay in person at the window. If you opt to pay the full recommended ticket price, you can skip the line. Also download the American Museum of Natural History Explorer app in advance, which helps you plan your visit and also navigate the labyrinth of halls and exhibits while you’re at the museum.

For something a little more quirky and truly unique, make your way to the NYC Barber Shop Museum. The museum is owned and operated by Arthur Rubinoff, a 4th generation Master Barber. As the CEO of REAMIR & Co, Rubinoff owns several barber shops and a line of men’s grooming products, but his passion makes it feel less like a profession and more like a calling. The museum features over 1,400 artifacts collected by Rubinoff and his father--who inspired the endeavor after his passing--including 50 antique barber shop chairs in constant rotation. A tour of the museum will treat you to a bevy of fascinating facts, like the relationship between barbering and surgery and the origin of barber poles. Tours are currently conducted by appointment only, and are free, though a donation is recommended.

Explore New York City’s cultural center

Every aspiring actor, musician and dancer has dreamed of gracing the stage at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Home to organizations like the New York Philharmonic, the Met Opera and the New York City Ballet, Lincoln Center is the city’s one-stop-shop for arts and culture. Even if you’re not planning on attending a performance, the campus is worth a visit. From the stunning centerpiece fountain in Josie Robertson Plaza to the soaring beauty of the Metropolitan Opera House, there’s more than enough to please the eye.

Discover your secret love of architecture

The Pythian, an Art Deco delight built in 1927

The Upper West Side is blessed with the kind of architectural diversity that turns a person who remarks “hey, that’s a pretty building” into someone who subscribes to Architectural Digest. The luxury properties of Central Park West like The Dakota, John Lennon's former home on 72nd Street, are the first to whet the appetite.

Between 71st Street and 74th Street on Broadway, you’ll find two of the city’s finest Beaux-Arts buildings, the Ansonia and the Dorilton. Both were built in the early 1900s and reflect the French-inspired architecture that was popular at the time. The Pythian is more quirky but no less flamboyant, with its colorful Egyptian Revival features leaping out from the middle of an unassuming block. Architect Thomas Lamb was known for designing movie palaces, and he employed Egyptian, Babylonian and Assyrian motifs inspired by the grandeur of movie sets.

The Belnord, a full-block residential building built in 1908, is used as the fictional Arconia featured in tv show **Only Murders in the Building**

Then there’s West End Avenue, where not one, but two, historic districts mark the significance of the prestigious residential boulevard. Some of the city’s earliest apartment buildings were built here, and the luxurious structures (then called “French Flats” to distinguish them from tenements) are still credited with making multi-family dwellings desirable to the affluent. It’s still a pleasure to stroll along this street and take in all the architectural splendor.

If you’re an avid reader, you can also walk in the footsteps of some of your literary heroes. West 84th Street is also named Edgar Allen Poe Street, because the writer and poet lived in a farmhouse at approximately 84th Street and Broadway, where he wrote The Raven in 1844. From 1963 to 1966, if James Baldwin wasn’t in Paris, he was at The Belvoir on West End Avenue. Nora Ephron and Joseph Heller both resided at the Apthorp, a New York City Landmark.

Check out an authentic Banksy

The notorious British artist Banksy has visited New York City on several occasions, even occupying the iconic Bowery Wall Mural in 2018. Often considered the world’s most famous graffiti artist, Banksy’s artworks command huge sums on the open market, so his pieces are often quickly stripped from the buildings on which they appear. But on 79th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues, you can enjoy Banksy’s authentic Hammer Boy mural, which he completed in 2013. The art is protected by a piece of plexiglass, and is a must-see for fans of the artist.

Where to Eat in the Upper West Side

When it comes to food, the Upper West Side is a hodgepodge of mom-and-pops and recognizable restaurant brands. Real estate is more abundant here, so established eateries love to expand from their hole-in-the-wall spot to somewhere with a little more elbow room. But there are also die-hard UWS establishments that have been around forever and are synonymous with the neighborhood. In order to experience the Upper West Side’s full flavor profile, enjoy a little bit of both.

Neighborhood Institutions

“Is it like a Costco?” Try explaining to someone that they should visit a grocery store and sample its amazing prepared foods, and they might think you’re crazy. Zabar’s is impossible to describe, but that doesn’t make it any less of a New York City institution. At Zabar’s you’ll find specialty babka where you might normally find dinner rolls, and freshly baked knishes where you might normally find doughnuts. Its deli counter serves up sandwiches that rival some of the city’s best. Barney Greengrass also falls firmly in this camp, serving smoked fish, bagels and other Jewish deli specialties to Upper West Siders for over 100 years.

Levain Bakery’s Chocolate Chip Walnut and Double Chocolate Chip cookies

You have to make your way to the Upper West Side to enjoy the Southern-style food from Jacob’s Pickles or the signature French Dips at its chic sister restaurant Maison Pickle. And though Levain Bakery now has outlets all over the city, fans of their ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies used to wait on line at their tiny 74th Street bakery, located under a waxing salon. Their bigger, brighter spot on Amsterdam Avenue offers an expanded menu and lets you order ahead so you can skip the line.

Imports from Near and Far

Restaurants don’t just expand to the Upper West Side for the space, they also benefit from the large residential community who end up as loyal patrons. The long stretch of restaurants on Amsterdam Avenue alone puts Hell's Kitchen to shame, but additional food options on the two other main neighborhood arteries--Columbus and Broadway Avenues--seal the deal. Daily Provisions became world famous for its crullers when it first opened near Union Square. Its Upper West Side location is twice the size of the original, and Danny Meyer’s “neighborhood kitchen” is perfect for simple, yet satisfying, sandwiches. The crullers still sell out in a flash, though, so get there early if you want to try the UWS-only caramel apple flavor.

Jing Fong is a Chinatown staple and one of our favorite choices for dim sum, so pop in there when you're craving dumplings and turnip cakes. Miznon, whose whole roasted cauliflower was on everyone's Instagram feed when it popped up in Chelsea Market, offers a more upscale version of its Israeli fare at North Miznon.

Egg Sandwich with tomato and cream cheese at H&H Bagels

Despite its complicated history and changes in ownership, H&H Bagels is still one of our favorite places to go for a fluffy-yet-chewy true NYC bagel. The Upper East Side location has been around since 1974, but the Upper West Side location has been offering the same mouthwatering bagels since 2016. Janie's Life-Changing Baked Goods offers pie crust cookies at her first brick-and-mortar location, after successful runs at Queens Night Market. Emack & Bolio's is an out-of-state import, hailing from Boston. The ice cream shop started as a late-night hang for musicians, and blossomed into a New England staple. Fun flavors, including several vegan options, are always on the menu.

Looking to discover more of the real New York City? Check out these other cool neighborhoods to explore in NYC!

Conclusion

Whether you’re a tourist or a local, the Upper West Side offers a bounty of neighborhood gems that will undoubtedly delight you. Slip on some comfy walking shoes and enjoy that sense of roominess so rarely found in urban spaces. Embrace the laid back, less frenetic vibe and by all means take some fresh air. Take it all in: the history, culture, and breathtaking architecture of this unique New York City neighborhood. It is, all of it, a work in progress, ever-evolving, and exploring it is often its own reward.

25 Fun Upper West Side Neighborhood Gems You Shouldn't Miss

Where is the Upper West Side?

Coffee Shops in the Upper West Side