Things to do and see in the Upper East Side

The Upper East Side in New York is a neighbourhood located on the east side of Manhattan, next to Central Park. UES, as it’s known by locals, is a posh area, which makes it a great place for luxury shopping and other things to do and see. The Upper East Side is also home to Museum Mile, where you’ll find a few of the most impressive museums in New York.

Things to do and see in the Upper East Side

The Upper East Side covers the area east of Central Park, and then the western part of it. This New York neighbourhood is well-known for its museums, shopping and wealth. It’s home to old families, Jewish bankers (including Bernie Madoff, who lived here) and successful lawyers. Notable residents have included the Rockefellers, the Kennedys and the Roosevelts.

In short, this small piece of Manhattan likely boasts the highest concentration of wealthy people per square metre in America. This is also evident in the housing prices: a decent apartment costs a couple of million dollars, but there are also enough options for over 30 million dollars.

Museum Mile in the Upper East Side

Are you a museum lover? Then you certainly have to pay a visit to the Upper East Side. This is where the “Museum Mile” is located, an area with a variety of museums, including the Guggenheim (modern art), the Museum of the City of New York (history and art) and the Met (or the Metropolitan, they have everything here). Each and every one of these museums is famous and worth a visit.

The Museum Mile can be found on Fifth Avenue, immediately across from Central Park. Making the Upper East Side the perfect neighbourhood to visit, in combination with the famous park.

Shopping in the Upper East Side

The restaurants and shops on the Upper East Side are naturally chic and expensive, but some are really good. Madison Avenue is the more important shopping street. There are a number of chic brands, such as Oscar de la Renta and Christian Louboutin. But also stores like H&M, Sephora and Target can be found on the Upper East Side.

Roosevelt Island Tramway

Taking the Roosevelt Island Tramway from the Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island is a great way to enjoy the Manhattan skyline. You can find it on 2nd Avenue around 60th Street; it leaves every 15 minutes. On Roosevelt Island, you can visit the Four Freedoms Park, dedicated to President Roosevelt and his famous Four Freedoms Speech of 1941. (Open every day from 09:00 until 17:00 or 19:00, depending on the season, closed on Tuesdays).

Where to eat in the Upper East Side

There is a lot of choice, but on average, the restaurants are not hip but conservative. More importantly, there are lots of good ones.

• Italian: Looking for Italian? Go to Sfoglia on the corner of East 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue: a lovely restaurant in the heart of the neighbourhood. Do reserve if you do not want to be kept waiting.
• French: Daniel is a classy restaurant by Chef Daniel Boulud. This place has very impressive decor and is perfect for a romantic night out.
• Coffee: For a quick bite, stop by Ralph’s Coffee on Madison Avenue. At this pretty little coffee shop inside the Ralph Lauren store, you can sit down for a drink and a sweet treat.
• Cupcakes: Another great place for a freshly baked sweet bite is the cupcake shop Baked by Melissa on Lexington and 61st Street.
• Bagels: For one of my favourite New York bagels, head to Pick A Bagel on Lexington Avenue and 77th Street. Pick your bagel and choose one of the dozens of toppings.

Hotels in the Upper East Side

If you’d like to stay in a fancy environment and book a hotel in the Upper East Side, there are a few accommodations that I can recommend. voco the Franklin by IHG is a charming boutique hotel. For five-star luxury, head to The Plaza. If you prefer a stay at a chain hotel, book a room at Courtyard New York UES.

How to get to the Upper East Side

From Midtown Manhattan, the southern part of the Upper East Side isn’t that far, so you’ll probably be able to walk. If you want to explore more of this fancy neighbourhood, you can also take the subway to a more central part and go from there, for example, trains 456Q to the 86 St stations.