When people think of the Upper East Side, the words that come to mind usually sound something like: ‘rich,’ ‘expensive,’ ‘fancy’–and many more high-class adjectives. At its core, the UES is a vibrant neighborhood that holds nostalgia for anyone who has grown up there. Starting at any point, a quick five-minute walk east, and you are met with the great Central Park. A nice stroll along 2nd Avenue greets you with an amazing selection of cuisines. If there is still time, a quick visit to the East River esplanade will lead you to the well-loved Carl Schurz Park.
I invite you on a quick tour of all the places that I and many others love. There is so much to explore, from food to museums. By the time you finish reading this, you will already be planning a day here.
Food
I’d like to start with the number one thing everybody thinks of when they venture off into a new part of New York City: the food–an essential part of any day, especially when you’re somewhere new.
The UES has a variety of cuisine to choose from to satisfy any hunger, big or small. Whether you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up or in the mood for some fancy dining, you’ll surely find something that piques your interest.
I will be highlighting two places that I love and cannot wait to share.
If you are looking for casual but delicious food with a simple but beautiful ambience, look no further than Maman. I was first introduced to Maman in 2023 by one of my closest friends. It soon became a frequent dining spot for us. With its rustic decor and aroma of coffee and pastries, Maman is one of a kind. My go-to order is the “Smashed Avocado Tartine.” I order this every time without fail. Paired with a glass of orange juice or chai latte with almond milk, it makes for the perfect brunch meal. Some other notable dishes include Martha’s Turkey Cobb Sandwich, Martine’s Steak Sandwich, and the Croque Maman. Additionally, the pastry counter offers a diverse selection of sweet and savory baked goods.
On weekdays, customers can order what they like at the counter and enjoy it at the cafe or to go. On weekends, table service converts the cozy atmosphere into more of a restaurant style.
The perfect spot for lunch or dinner is Xi’an Famous Foods. Tucked away on Seventy-Eighth Street, this small but mighty shop makes hand-ripped noodles to order.
Their simple menu includes dumplings, cold-skin noodles, and lamb and pork burgers. A fun fact is that this son and father business received a visit from Anthony Bourdain, a famous chef, author, and TV personality known for his food reviews, back in 2007 when they were just a food stall in Flushing, Queens. This helped Xi’an Famous Foods grow into the New York City sensation it is today! This place is a must-visit when you’re in the UES. Because this place is a popular destination, be sure to set aside some time to wait for your order. Although they do deliver their food now, they used to be strongly against it because the noodles would get stuck together in one lump, so they preferred customers to eat it right away.
Here are a handful of other places not to miss out on:
Jupioca is a juice store that offers smoothies, acai bowls, and bubble tea for a reasonable price.
La Esquina is a casual Mexican restaurant. Some dishes to try are the platanos (plantains) and quesadillas that come in seven different ways.
Anita La Mamma del Gelato has some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted. My favorite flavors are “Cookieman” and “Chocolate Caramel & Almond,” but they have other tasty options such as mango sorbet and chocolate mint. Be sure to go with an appetite because you will be thoroughly stuffed by the end. While it is more on the expensive side, with a small being $9.50, you get a bang for your buck.
Heidelberg Restaurant has German cuisine from schnitzel to sausages. Their potato pancakes with applesauce are the perfect appetizer.
Tony de Napolis is one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. Its menu is sharing style, perfect for a family dining experience. I have been to Tony’s countless times, for birthdays, family reunions, and graduations, and I can say you will not be disappointed. They have too many pasta options to choose from and a huge strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Orwashers is a bakery established in 1916 by a Hungarian immigrant family. They have only two locations in all of New York city, on the Upper West Side and here on the Upper East Side. Some of the best things to get are their oatmeal raisin cookies, donuts, black and white cookies, and the pretzel.
Eighty-Sixth Street
Need to do some shopping? Want to see a movie? Looking for something to eat? Our next stop is at Eighty-Sixth Street and the surrounding area. It is the busiest place on the UES with everything you need. Eighty-Sixth Street is like the Times Square of the UES, but on a much smaller scale. The long list of recognizable fast food places located here are: Chipotle, Tal Bagels, Cava, Panera Bread, Chick-fil-a, Shake Shack, Krispy Kreme, Paris Baguette, McDonald’s, and many pizza shops where you can get a nice slice. There is also an AMC theater, which is great because many neighborhoods don’t have the convenience of a close movie theater. Some of the other stores include Lululemon, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Target, Old Navy, H&M, and Steve Madden. We now have the beloved Barnes & Noble back, just a block and an avenue away from its original location, in the same area.
Transportation
I’m going to keep this section quite brief because let’s be honest, New Yorkers walk everywhere, and in the grand scheme of things, the UES is small. The M15 local and express buses run on Second Avenue, all the way from 125th Street to South Ferry. The two subway lines that every Upper East Side resident uses to travel to other parts of the city are the yellow and green lines. The four, five, and six trains run on Lexington Avenue. They all stop at Eighty-Sixth Street, which is where you should get out to be in the center of everything. Then last but not least, the Q, on the yellow line, which is my favorite train to take because of its speed. The Q has three stops on the UES: Seventy-Second Street, Eighty-Sixth Street, and Ninety-Sixth Street.
Sights
While you’re here, I’m sure you’ll need something to do or somewhere to go, as the UES has a lot of sights to see.
There have been countless times when my friends and I needed a last-minute hangout plan, so we turned to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The MET is a huge museum filled with over 490,000 works of art spanning over 5,000 years. Whether you are an art enthusiast or looking for somewhere to stroll, the MET. It is the perfect place for any day, rain or shine. Or, if the sun is shining, the MET has a rooftop that recently reopened for the warm weather, overlooking Central Park with a gorgeous view of the New York City skyline. New York residents and NY, NJ, and CT students can pay what they like (with a minimum of one cent per ticket).
The Guggenheim and Cooper Hewitt museums are among the other museums on the UES that are worth checking out. Both are located on Fifth Avenue, which is also named “Museum Mile.”
In addition to our museums, the Upper East Side is blessed with the vast green space that is Central Park. Spanning the entire length of the UES, from Fifty-Seventh to Ninety-Sixth Street, this great park is easy to get to from any point in the neighborhood. The Central Park Boathouse, Zoo, and Alice in Wonderland statue are some of the sights located on the east side of the park.
Besides Central Park, the UES has plenty of other small parks made for children and adults alike to run around, exercise, or play a game of basketball. But any Upper East-Sider will tell you Carl Schurz Park is a staple in the community. This park is a peaceful place to go and relax. Connected to Carl Schurz is the East River Esplanade, where you can have a nice walk or run. There are two dog parks as well, where I love to go and watch all the different dogs run around and play.
The Upper East Side is a beautiful neighborhood with many beautiful aspects. Hopefully, I have shown you that it is more than just an area filled with expensive stores and people. Maybe it has even made you interested in visiting.
At its core, the Upper East Side is a vibrant neighborhood that holds nostalgia for anyone who has grown up there.