Things to do and see in the Upper West Side
The Upper West Side in New York, also known as UWS by locals, is roughly the part of Manhattan west of Central Park. Some say it ends at the top of Central Park (at 110th Street), while others include the 110th to 125th Streets, right up until Harlem. This bit hits Broadway and 111th Street (area known as Morning Side Heights). Although Columbia University dominates the neighbourhood, you hardly notice the transition of neighbourhoods. The Upper West Side is mainly residential, but there are also some interesting things to see and do.
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Things to do and see in the Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a nice and relaxed neighbourhood to explore. There are several sights worth visiting. It’s a very diverse area, with a significant Jewish population. That’s why you can find many synagogues and kosher restaurants, especially between 85th and 100th Street.
The neighbourhood is also home to a lot of intellectuals. A group of baby boomer graduates from the ’70s and ’80s bought spacious apartments for relatively little and stayed around. To the North, towards 116th Street, there are many students and professors from the ever-expanding Columbia University.
River Side Park
Many residents of the Upper West Side walk west to reach a park rather than to the east, where Central Park is located. Because in the west, alongside the Hudson between 72nd and 129th Street, there is a small, very long park with an amazing view of the Hudson. The shape resembles a bit of Chile in South America. It is very beautiful during sunset in the summer, to enjoy the river breeze. Many films and TV shows are shot here, by Woody Allen, for example.
Columbia University
The only Ivy League university in New York. Very well ranked. For the real nerd: Nobel Prize Winners teach here. While New York University, NYU, is known for the cool hipsters, Columbia mainly attracts academics. A visit to the most important campus is certainly worthwhile. Do not be alarmed by the security; just walk casually onto the terrain. Take the subway 1 Uptown to 116th Street and follow the herd of students.
Unfortunately, the campus of Columbia University is currently not accessible for visitors.
Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center is the home of the world’s leading Performing Arts Center. Located on the west side of Manhattan, near Midtown, it is easy to reach by public transportation and is the centre of cultural events and entertainment, including the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City Ballet, Juilliard, New York Philharmonic and much more.
Lincoln Center is a whopping 16 acres and was built in the ’50s and ’60s of the last century. Today, thousands of visitors enjoy what Lincoln Center has to offer: tours, discounted tickets, shops, exhibitions, as well as world-class opera and ballet entertainment.
American Museum of Natural History
In the Upper West Side, right next to Central Park, you find the American Museum of Natural History. This renowned natural history museum in New York is famous for its impressive dinosaur skeleton in the main hall, but offers many other fascinating exhibits.
St. John the Divine
Do you like churches? There is a very big one on 110th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. A number of services are given a day, and you can just walk in otherwise.
Hungry? Diagonally across from the church, you will find the Hungarian Pastry Shop. Probably the most sympathetic coffee shop with pastries in New York (the Bakery next door is also part of the same company). If the weather is good, you can enjoy your food in the park next to the church, trying to figure out the statue’s meaning. Great to combine with a visit to Columbia University.
Where to eat in Upper West Side?
A great place is Community Food & Juice, a nice modern restaurant on Broadway between 112th and 113th Street. Craving Eastern cuisine? Also Italian family restaurant Carmine’s has a branch in the Upper West Side. You can find it at 2450 Broadway, between 90th and 91st Street.
Hotels in Manhattan’s Upper West Side
There are quite a lot of hotels in the Upper West Side. If you want to stay there, you have options in different price categories. Hotel Beacon is a great place to stay, as well as Hotel Belleclaire. If you prefer a more low-budget location, you can book a stay at HI New York City Hostel.
How to get to the Upper West Side
There are several trains you can take to get to the Upper West Side. Train 1 stops at multiple stations throughout the neighbourhood, such as 72 St and 96 St. And trains B C run along the west side of Central Park, with stops including 81 St – Museum of Natural History and 103 St.
History of Upper West Side
The Dutch were the first to give the beautiful area from (now) 23rd Street all the way to the 124th a name: Bloemendaal (now Bloomingdale). The rich lived here, and there were a number of farms. Hard to imagine now! Central Park was built in 1853, and many residents moved West, which became a lot busier, prompting a train to the North to be built as well as the subway.
The Ivy League University of Columbia opened in 1896 in Morningside Heights, adding to the allure of the neighbourhood. During the same time, the illustrious Dakota building was built, where John Lennon lived.
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