Lower East Side
The Lower East Side is in southeastern Manhattan, roughly bounded by the Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, Houston St, and the Bowery.
New Lower East Side condos and co-ops go up all the time, as the neighborhood is one of the trendiest in Manhattan. There are still many classic Lower East Side walkups to choose from, plus the 4,500-unit Grand Street Co-ops.
The LES combines traditional Jewish culture, and Kosher delis like Katz's, with Japanese restaurants and brand-new hotspots. Orchard Street, despite its "Bargain District" handle, is lined with upscale restaurants and boutiques. The always lively Clinton Street has amassed quite a collection of popular dining, at places like Clinton Street Baking Company, WD-50, Cube 63, and Falai. Restaurants, bars, and galleries continue to open below Delancey St, especially around Broome and Orchard.
A popular late-night destination, the Lower East Side is also home to several exciting art galleries, some taking cues from the Real Estate Show movement. C-Squat and the Bowery Ballroom are the proving grounds for many of New York City's best young rock bands.
See the Lower East Side's Best of New York
- Second Ave was recently known as Yiddish Broadway, due to its many local theater productions.
- McSorley's Old Ale House, the famous Irish bar, first opened its doors in 1854.
- The Blue Moon, a new boutique hotel on Orchard, was formerly an apartment building.
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Chinatown & Little Italy
On the downtown East Side, Chinatown runs from the Bowery to Lafayette St and Houston St to the Brooklyn Bridge. Chinatown includes Little Italy, which is north of Canal St. The span of Mulberry St between Broome and Canal Streets, lined with Italian restaurants popular with tourists, is distinctly Little Italy.
Chinatown apartments are being rapidly bought and renovated by native New Yorkers, Chinese-Americans, and newcomers. Unlike most other urban Chinatowns (like San Francisco's), Manhattan's is as much a residential area as a commercial area.
Chinese culture is the heart and soul of Chinatown -- from the Confucius statue, a common meeting place, to the more than two hundred Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood. Chinese green groceries and fish mongers are clustered around Mott St, Mulberry St, Canal St, and all along East Broadway. The Chinese jewelry shop district is on Canal Street between Mott and Bowery. There are many Asian and American banks in the neighborhood, and Canal Street west of Broadway is filled with Chinese street vendors.
See Chinatown & Little Italy's Best of New York
- Chinatown's Columbus Park rests on the setting of the movie Gangs of New York.
- The Feast of San Gennaro is an eleven day Italian street fair, taking place every September along Mulberry St.
