Get to know the Upper East Side

An address on the Upper East Side has been a desirable asset for centuries. Names like Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Lenox — ones familiar to anyone traveling around the city today — all secured their spot at one time or another. What was once vast farmland became subdivided by NYC’s street grid in the 19th century. Subsequently, construction began on the first wave of iconic apartments and townhouses, many of which continue to captivate us today. Removal of elevated train lines in the 1950s opened up even more rarefied air for New Yorkers to occupy, but worry not: extensive subway service continues to run beneath these glorious streets. Elegant prewar buildings. Stunning Central Park vistas. Iconic cultural institutions. Endless shopping options. The setting of countless books, films, and television shows. For those living on the Upper East Side, however, it’s all those things and more: it’s home.

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Upper East Side History & Culture

Before it became the polished metropolitan neighborhood we know and love, the Upper East Side was considered a rural enclave, home to a series of villas. Gracie Mansion in Carl Schurz Park is the only relic of that period, but that mode of home set the stage for the refined residences of the present day. Aside from its adored architecture, the Upper East Side is nowadays renowned for its Museum Mile. Precisely what it sounds like, this near-30 block section of Fifth Avenue is inhabited by some of the world’s foremost cultural institutions. From 82nd to 110th Street, you’ll pass by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Africa Center, and several other halls of stature in between. There’s also no ignoring Central Park. Since all the grass and trees span the Upper East Side’s entire western border, nothing in that green wonderland is beyond reach.

Upper East Side Dining & Shopping

There’s shopping in any city, there’s shopping in New York City, and then there’s shopping on the Upper East Side. Fashion’s foremost names have established outposts in this section of Manhattan, becoming as celebrated as any museum or gallery. Someone could spend an entire day on Madison Avenue alone, hopping back and forth from distinguished designer to lauded label until they find the particular piece they’re looking for. While nearly every neighborhood worth its weight in salt can lay claim to being the city’s peak of dining, the Upper East Side certainly set the standard for what it takes to reach the summit. Top chefs from all over the cuisine map put a pin down in the area, with eateries ranking among the world’s best. Just don’t think the UES is too stuffy for the simpler things; you can always head around the corner to grab a slice in this town.