The next neighborhood we are exploring is Midtown East! You can see our past neighborhood guides here. Midtown East runs from 59th Street to 42nd Street and Fifth Ave to the FDR. This is one of those neighborhoods that has a huge amount of people during the work day, but at night when they all go home the neighborhood gets quiet and a lot of it shuts down. It’s a convenient neighborhood in the center of Manhattan that provides cultural attractions along with easy access to anywhere in the city.
Things to do in Midtown East include paying a visit to the gorgeous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, taking a tour of Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building (the prettiest skyscraper in Manhattan in my opinion). The United Nations is also in this area, although technically it’s international territory. Although be sure to check that the UN is not in session if you plan a trip. It’s in session this week and security and traffic in the area is INSANE.
The main shopping in this area is down Fifth Ave. The iconic Apple Store, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Ave, to name a few. And you can’t miss the American Girl store if you have kids.
There are lots of great places to grab a bite to eat in this neighborhood. One of our favorite places to go when we’re craving margaritas and guacamole is Dos Caminos. If you’re looking for something quick and cheap stop into Schnippers. Order the sweet potato fries with maple dipping sauce. You won’t be disappointed. Grand Central also has endless options in the food court downstairs or pick up something to go from the market on the main level. For a unique coffee experience head to Ralph’s. As in Ralph Lauren. This coffee shop is hidden up above the crowds shopping along Fifth Ave on the second floor of the Polo Ralph Lauren store. Grab a snack at one of our favorite spots, Macaron Cafe.
There are actually a very large number of hotels located in this neighborhood. If you are visiting New York and want to stay somewhere centrally located, but away from the madness of Times Square, we highly recommend you look at options in this neighborhood. There is something for every budget. There’s the St. Regis, Four Seasons, or the Waldorf Astoria if you’re looking for more of a luxury experience. If you’re a Gossip Girl fan definitely check out The Palace. One of our favorite places to stay in this area is the Roosevelt Hotel. We’ve stayed at both the Waldorf and the Roosevelt and liked the Roosevelt better. New York City hotel rooms are notoriously tiny, but Fifty NYC is the exception. If lots of space is important to you, this is a great option.
And that’s a tour around Midtown East! Already familiar with this neighborhood? Leave a comment with your favorite spots. What neighborhood do you want us to explore next?
-Ash xx
