Things to 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 see. The Upper East Side is also home to Museum Mile where you’ll find a few of the most impressive museums of New York.

Things to see in the Upper East Side

The Upper East Side covers the area East of Central Park, and the Western part. 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 probably hosts the most wealthy people per square meter in America. This is also clearly visible in the prices of the houses: a reasonable apartment is a couple of million dollars but there are also enough options above 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 in New York. 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 well worth the 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, with a number of chic brands, such as Oscar de la Renta and Christian Louboutin. But also stores as Zara, Sephora and Nike 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 between 6 am and 2 am. 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 closed on Tuesdays.

Food in the Upper East Side

There is a lot to choose from, but on average the restaurants are not hip but conservative. More importantly, many are good. 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. Or go to Daniel, the classy restaurant of chef Daniel Boulud. This place has very impressive decor and is perfect for a romantic night out.

For a quick bite, you can stop at 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. Another great place for a freshly baked sweet bite is the cupcake shop Sprinkles on Lexington and 61st Street. 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.

Upper East Side Hotels

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. The Franklin Hotel is a charming boutique hotel. For five star luxury, you go to The Plaza. If you prefer a stay at a chain hotel, you can book a room at Courtyard New York Upper East Side.