Intro to New York's Neighborhoods: Where to stay based on your vibe
Intro to New York's Neighborhoods: Where to stay based on your vibe
Meko Rooks
Use this guide as the starting point for planning your trip to New York City. New York can be daunting, since it's so big, so choosing the neighborhood that you're going to stay in should be based on the vibe you're looking for. Do you want to focus on cool restaurants & shopping? Are you a first time visitor, so you want to do more touristy things? All of these questions are things I've taken into account for you.
In this guide, you'll find information on each neighborhood worth staying in & my notes on why you might choose to stay there. Once you've chosen your vibe & location, you can dive into my other guides that have recommendations for dining, night life, things to do with the kiddos, free things to do, and more! These guides are all linked throughout, and are built to be used as maps to help you navigate the city. Be sure to check them out to plan the rest of your trip!
This guide also contains lots of useful information on how to get from all of the NY airports to where you'll be staying, as well as my favorite app for getting around the city - CityMapper!
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NYC's Best Neighborhoods
NYC is a huge city, and choosing where to stay can be daunting. Here I've mapped out my favorite neighborhoods for you, and why.
Tap into each destination to learn more about it & why you might want to stay or visit it.
📍Midtown
For the NYC First Timer.
Midtown Manhattan
@meko
Midtown is the heart of the city and is closest to all of the sightseeing buildings.
Some of the main sights to see here are Times Square, the Theater District, Fifth Avenue shopping, 57th Street and Madison Avenue boutiques, the landmark buildings of Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Museum of Modern Art.
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If you're looking for some nightlife, check out this map of my favorite nightclubs. Not all of them are in Midtown, but a few are!
I love a night out, especially in NYC. This is a map of my favorite nightclubs I love to dance at or just grab some drinks with friends. This map has nightclubs mostly in Midtown & Chelsea, plus a couple of options in Greenwich Village, NoHo, & Harlem. I've included the classics, plus some hidden gems.
This is a living map, meaning, if you save it now, I'll continue adding places to it when I find them & you'll get the updates!
LGBTQ+ • Nightlife • City • Dance • Drinks • Clubs • Budget • Hidden Gems • Rooftop • Celebrity • Touristy • Hookah Lounge • Upscale • Famous • Dinner • Day Party • Pool • Concerts • Live Music • Techno • House • EDM • Hip Hop • Non-judgemental • Vibe
$15.00
📍Meat Packing District
For the hip, younger visitor.
Meatpacking District
@meko
Meatpacking has a hip vibe and is great for a younger crowd. It's home to the most popular clubs in NYC & is the best spot for nightlife.
My favorite thing to do in the Meatpacking is to go bar hopping in Hells Kitchen. The neighborhood has a ton of good food options & restaurants. It's a great place for bar hopping & is LGBTQ friendly, which makes a lot of the bars super fun. It's also more affordable. Some of my favorite spots are Dive Bar Lounge, The Spot, Mom's Kitchen & Bar (which isn't really a nightlife spot, but I still love it. They have the best food & the line is out the doors most of the days).
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📍Tribeca/SoHo
If food & shopping are your priorities.
I grouped these two neighborhoods together because I like them for the same reasons. If you're coming to New York for food, you'll want to stay in either one of these neighborhoods.
Tribeca
@meko
Tribeca & Soho are both great for food, and affordable & high-end shopping. You'll find restaurants here that are both high-end & also lots of good ethnic food. It's really easy to get around & is super affordable for families. You'll also still be able to get a feel for nightlife without having to "go out". It's not crazy expensive or too crowded like Times Square.
Little Italy & Chinatown are both really close by also. You can get the most authentic Italian food in Little Italy & eating in Chinatown makes you feel like you're actually in China.
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SoHo
@meko
Tribeca & Soho are both great for food, and affordable & high-end shopping. You'll find restaurants here that are both high end & also lots of good ethnic food. It's really easy to get around & is super affordable for families. You'll also still be able to get a feel for nightlife without having to "go out". It's not crazy expensive or too crowded like Times Square.
Little Italy & Chinatown are both really close by also. You can get the most authentic Italian food in Little Italy & eating in Chinatown makes you feel like you're actually in China.
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If food is your priority, check out these maps of all of my favorite places to eat in the city - they're not all in Tribeca & Soho, but some are!
Arguably, NYC has some of the best restaurants in the entire world. And though you can get amazing food at more casual restaurants, we all want a fancy night out every now and then. Yes, you deserve it. Use this map to explore my favorite upscale dining in the City - I love going to all of these places for special date nights, birthday celebrations, and sometimes, just for fun.
Most of these recommendations are in Manhattan, but there are a couple in other boroughs. The types of food range from Mediterranean cuisine, to Asian fusion, to the classic upscale steakhouse, to Italian, and more. If you are looking for options to go on a nice date have a birthday or other celebratory dinner, or just like upscale restaurants, this map is for you.
This is a living map of all of my top recommendations for upscale restaurants in New York City. By living, I mean that I will continue adding more places to this map when I come across them & you'll automatically get the updates!
Couples • Groups • 50+ • Foodie • Luxury • Romantic • People & Culture • Photography
$10.00
📍Theater District
Another great option for first time visitors.
Theater District
@meko
This neighborhood is best for first-time travelers to New York, but expect a crowd. This neighborhood extends from roughly from 42nd Street to 50th Street off 6th Ave. You'll find the greatest affordable variety of affordable accommodation choices here. Times Square is located here and everything that any first-timer to New York might want to see is within walking distance. 5th Ave is close by so you can shop till you drop! And it's home to all of the Broadway theaters. How can you visit New York and not see a Broadway show? There are also a ton of transportation options to help you get around.
Some of my favorite accommodation options here are the Row NYC (mid-range price), and The Chatwal (luxury).
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📍Upper East & West Sides
If you're looking for a quieter, more local vibe, or if you're traveling with kids.
I've grouped these two neighborhoods together because they're next to each other & I like them for the same reasons.
Upper East Side
@meko
The Upper East & West Side neighborhoods are the best neighborhoods to stay in for families. Safety is generally not a huge issue in New York, in fact, it's one of the country's safest big cities, but these two neighborhoods are the safest neighborhoods. There are fewer crowds and more locals living here. You may even spot a few celebrities in the area. The area is pretty quiet and less busy with lots of playgrounds for the kids. Many hotels here offer family accommodations and there are two main Subway lines to help you get around.
The best thing to do nearby: The Museum of Natural History!
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Upper West Side
@meko
The Upper East & West Side neighborhoods are the best neighborhoods to stay in for families. Safety is generally not a huge issue in New York, in fact, it's one of the country's safest big cities, but these two neighborhoods are the safest neighborhoods. There are fewer crowds and more locals living here. You may even spot a few celebrities in the area. The area is pretty quiet and less busy with lots of playgrounds for the kids. Many hotels here offer family accommodations and there are two main Subway lines to help you get around.
The best thing to do nearby: The Museum of Natural History!
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And if you do happen to be traveling with kids, check out my map of all the best kid-friendly activities in NYC!
As big & intimidating as New York City can seem, living in & traveling here with kids is awesome. The city has a lot of unique experiences that my kids love, and I also love doing with them!
Highlights of these activities include:
🎨 Interactive Children's Museums
🧑🎨 Arts & crafts activities
🧒 Places to play
🧑🍳 And even a cooking class!
Save this map for access to my (and my kids) favorite unique experiences in the city. These are great things to do between the other things you want to do in the city, to keep your kids happy. It includes activities in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, & even Coney Island! This is a living map, meaning that I'll keep adding to it as I find more fun activities - and you'll automatically get those updates!
Groups • Family • Children • Interactive • Museums • Arts & Crafts • Playgrounds • Cooking Class • Manhattan • Upper West Side • Midtown • Upper East Side • Chelsea • West Village • Queens • Brooklyn • Coney Island
$10.00
📍Chelsea
Great for art galleries, shopping & food.
Chelsea
@meko
Chelsea has dozens of art galleries. You'll also find the High Line Park, built on a former rail line running from 13th to 34th Streets. It's also home to a bunch of high-end clubs and restaurants.
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If you're looking for a different type of nightlife, check out this map of gameroom bars, some of them are in Chelsea!
In New York, if you want to make it in the restaurant or bar biz, you have to be unique. So a lot of places will do things to try to make themselves different from the average bar or restaurant. Enter, the Game Room Bar. These bars & restaurants offer different types of games you can enjoy during your visit - from giant jenga, to arcade games, to the classic board game, you can expect to have some fun competition with whomever you're enjoying your time out with.
These bars & restaurants are great to go to with groups of friends, or on a date. You'll be able to enjoy good food, drinks, & lots of fun while you're there!
Most of these spots have a bar-like atmosphere, but I've included one that's more of a cafe, in case you're not always looking for a night out!
Groups • People & Culture
$6.00
📍The Bowery
A more budget-friendly version of Chelsea.
Bowery
@meko
Located near the East Village, the Bowery is a hip, trendy neighborhood. If you're an artist seeking art galleries or inspiration, you'll want to stay here. Some parts of the neighborhood sometimes seem rough around the edges, but it is safe, and you'll have a fun, young experience. There's some great nightlife also, and you can bar-hop on a budget.
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📍Brooklyn - Dumbo/Williamsburg
Something different than Manhattan.
If you stay in Brooklyn you're going to want to stay in the DUMBO or Williamsburg area. They're both very up-and-coming.
Dumbo
@meko
Brooklyn is super up and coming and has a bunch of affordable accommodation options. It's cheaper than staying in Manhattan. There are a bunch of new restaurants that have opened that are hip. Most accommodations have a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan skyline. It's also a great area for families with lots of parks to enjoy. The only downside is that if you want to explore Manhattan, you'll have to travel there, but it only takes about 20-30 minutes by Uber or train!
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Williamsburg
@meko
Brooklyn is super up and coming and has a bunch of affordable accommodation options. It's cheaper than staying in Manhattan. There are a bunch of new restaurants that have opened that are hip. Most accommodations have a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan skyline. It's also a great area for families with lots of parks to enjoy. The only downside is that if you want to explore Manhattan, you'll have to travel there, but it only takes about 20-30 minutes by Uber or train!
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How to Get Around NYC
It's easy to get around New York. this is the city that never sleeps. There's always a cab on call or Uber/Lyft available.
🚕 Taxi
From JFK:
$52-$90 USD Flat rate.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
@meko
New York's largest airport. Most flights fly into here, but it's a bit of a distance to Manhattan.
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From LGA:
$29-$50 USD metered fare, plus bridge & tunnel tolls, & gratuity.
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🚝 Airtrain & Shuttles
From JFK (Airtrain):
$5 USD + a single Subway ride $2.75 = $7.75 total
Duration: 60-75 minutes to Penn Station.
Penn Station
@meko
Subway station located in the middle of Manhattan. This is where you will probably take the train to when you come in from the airport.
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Laguardia Airport Shuttle:
$1 USD one-way. $28 USD round-trip. Runs from 6 am to 11:30 pm every 30 minutes. There's Wifi on board. Duration: 60 minutes to Penn Station.
🚌 Bus & Train
From Laguardia:
$2.75 USD - free transfer from bus to train with MetroCard.
Option 1: The Q70 bus goes non-stop to 61st/Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. There you can connect with 5 different Subway lines, or you can connect to the LIRR (Long Island Railroad) for $5 to Penn Station. Both options take about 60 minutes.
Option 2: The M60 bus goes to Harlem and connects to all the major Subway lines in Manhattan.
From Newark Airport:
Newark Liberty International Airport
@meko
Located in New Jersey, this is another large airport that a lot of people fly into when they come to New York. It's still pretty close.
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Train: $18.50 USD total. This includes $5.50 USD for Airtrain Newark + $13 USD for NJ Transit Rail (Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line) to Penn Station. Duration: 30-40 minutes to Penn Station.
Bus: $16 USD one way, $28 USD Round Trip. Take the Newark Airport Express, which leaves every 15 minutes. Duration: 40-50 minutes to Penn Station.
🚙 Uber or Lyft
📍City Mapper
Download City Mapper. It's one of my favorite apps that shows you how to get around the city. It breaks down everything such as different routes, what time the bus/train comes, walking directions, and even what train you should board. As a native New Yorker, I use this app daily to figure out if trains have delays or to visit a new neighborhood I'm not familiar with. It also can be used in more than 80 cities.
To complete your trip...
Check out some more of my maps of NYC recommendations based on the ways you want to spend your trip 👇
You're in NYC baby - so of course, you want to enjoy some amazing views of the city. Might I suggest a rooftop?
Rooftop bars are probably the thing I get asked about the most when people ask me what they should do in NYC. So here's a map of my all-time favorite rooftop bars that are open year-round.
Most of these rooftops are in Manhattan - Midtown to be exact, but there are a few outliers, including a couple in Brooklyn - where you can see views of Brooklyn AND Manhattan!
Use the map function at the top right-hand corner of this guide to plan your trip & see which rooftops are closer to you. When you save this guide, all of the places will automatically appear on your main map as well. This map is living, meaning that when I come across new rooftops I like, I'll add them, and you'll automatically get an update if you've saved this guide!
Groups • Architecture • Art • Boutique • Budget • Luxury • Foodie • Wellness • History • Shopping • Design • People & Culture • Romantic • Photography • Slow Travel • Van Life • Roadtrip • Wine • Coffee • Beach • Mountain • Relaxation
$10.00
Soul food & jazz ❤️ I don't really recommend Harlem as a neighborhood to stay in during your visit. It's super local & it's a little rough around the edges, but it's safe to visit and amazing to eat at. It's really famous for jazz music, live music, and soul food. It's full of history and it's one of my favorite neighborhoods to grab a drink & a bite at.
This map contains my favorite soul food restaurants, a steakhouse, and a couple of great spots to watch live jazz. This is a living map, meaning, when I discover any new spots that I love, I'll add them in & you'll automatically get the updates! Use the map function at the top right of this guide to see what's closest to you when you visit!
Soul food & jazz ❤️ I don't really recommend Harlem as a neighborhood to stay in during your visit. It's super local & it's a little rough around the edges, but it's safe to visit and amazing to eat at. It's really famous for jazz music, live music, and soul food. It's full of history and it's one of my favorite neighborhoods to grab a drink & a bite at.
This map contains my favorite soul food restaurants, a steakhouse, and a couple of great spots to watch live jazz. This is a living map, meaning, when I discover any new spots that I love, I'll add them in & you'll automatically get the updates! Use the map function at the top right of this guide to see what's closest to you when you visit! • Foodie • History • People & Culture • Music • Soul Food • Jazz • Live Music • Neighborhood
$10.00
New York City has some of the best museums in the country, and something that not a lot of people know, is that many of them are free, either all the time or on certain days! The great thing about visiting museums in NYC is that you can do it year-round & in any weather. This map includes museums in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, & even one in Queens! It includes some of the classics (hello The Met!), as well as some you may have never heard of.
This is a living map of all of my favorite museums that you can enjoy for free. It includes museums in Manhattan, Brooklyn, & the Bronx. As I discover more, I will add them to this map & you'll automatically get the update!
Accessibility • Art • History • People & Culture
$10.00
There are obviously classic things to do in New York - see the sights, visit museums, eat lots of food, and take in the city, but have you thought about doing something more unique? These are some of my favorite unique experiences in NYC. They're worth checking out if you're looking for something different!
Couples • Groups • Wellness • Art • Adventure • Architecture • Design • People & Culture • Photography
$20.00
I love a night out, especially in NYC. This is a map of my favorite nightclubs I love to dance at or just grab some drinks with friends. This map has nightclubs mostly in Midtown & Chelsea, plus a couple of options in Greenwich Village, NoHo, & Harlem. I've included the classics, plus some hidden gems.
This is a living map, meaning, if you save it now, I'll continue adding places to it when I find them & you'll get the updates!
LGBTQ+ • Nightlife • City • Dance • Drinks • Clubs • Budget • Hidden Gems • Rooftop • Celebrity • Touristy • Hookah Lounge • Upscale • Famous • Dinner • Day Party • Pool • Concerts • Live Music • Techno • House • EDM • Hip Hop • Non-judgemental • Vibe
$15.00
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meko Rooks
Motherhood With No Limits🤱🏽 🛫
Hi! I'm a lifestyle blogger and social influencer. Being a native New Yorker has given me the ability to transition from the fast-paced city life to balancing a family while continuing to travel & explore. I have a passion for trying new foods, discovering underwater life, learning new cultures, and exploring different countries.
I'm born and raised in New York & have lived there for over 20 years now! I love traveling abroad with my kids (and without them), but when I'm home, I love exploring my City. My favorite things to do in NY are to look for new pop up activities. Depending on what season or holiday is happening, there's always a fun event going on. I also love rooftop bars & enjoying the city views.
I'm a foodie at heart so that's the number one thing I get asked for recommendations. Food & nightlife in the City. I also love to find a lot of fun unique activities for the kids because I love getting my kids out of the house to explore parks & indoor activities.
I've been featured in publications such as HuffPost, SkyScanner, Travel Noire, The Points Guy, & Seeker for my NYC & other travel expertise.
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