LES local Laurie DePrete gives us the guide to Manhattan’s hipster ‘hood…
So often tourists overlook the Lower East Side on their trip to Manhattan. While it’s admittedly a bit farther away from popular attractions and hotels found in Midtown, distance shouldn’t be a deterrent to visiting one of Manhattan’s historically important neighbourhoods…
Once the heavily concentrated immigrant and working class section of the city, remnants of those roots are still visible in the architecture and street layout. Popular Delancey and Orchard streets are named after the owner and farm that comprised a large section of the area prior to the American Revolution. Orchard Street commerce has evolved from selling produce from burlap bags to carts to retail stores to its current trendy boutiques.
Tenements were long ago replaced by apartment buildings and now rents are on the rise. While the neighbourhood has undergone rapid gentrification, it’s still in a state of transition in many ways. The LES is an interesting mix of past and present, grit and chic. Artists, hipsters and students have moved in to live among the long time residents. Mom and pop shops sit next to trendy boutiques and restaurants. The constant introduction of new bars, lounges and music venues make for a booming nightlife and artists’ works are just as likely to be seen on the street as in one of the many galleries.
From Houston down to Canal, and from Bowery to the East River, the LES is packed with enough restaurants, bars and activities to satisfy the gamut of tastes.
Galleries
On the Third Thursday of each month, 30 LES galleries stay open until 9PM to allow time for visitors to experience the neighborhood’s emerging art scene. As part of the monthly event, admission to the New Museum is free and often there are special events such as receptions and walking tours. The Lo-Down is the media sponsor and features one of the participating galleries each month on its blog.
Bars
Whatever your mood, you can find a place to satisfy it on the LES. For some board game fun with your beer, head to Marshall Stack on Rivington. Nothing beats Connect4 when your swilling a few. Loreley’s (7 Rivington St) German restaurant has a biergarten out back and the best warm, soft pretzels in the world.
More refined palettes can simply walk down Rivington to Jadis (42 Rivington St) for wine and cheese. For a taste of what the prohibition was like, try The Back Room (102 Norfolk St).
Restaurants
Dining choices are as plentiful and diverse as the bar options. Famous Katz’s Deli (205 East Houston Street) is a reminder that the LES was once home to the largest Jewish population in the city before gentrification and the ever encroaching China Town.
Bobby Flay put The Doughnut Plant (379 Grand St) on the map after a Throwdown, although it would only have been a matter of time until folks discovered this absolute gem and its amazingly flavored doughnuts on Grand Street.
The Meatball Shop (170 Bedford St) says they make balls and they aren’t fooling around: tons of options you put together the way you like; it’s a great spot for late night munchies.
Tenement Museum
Tours of the tenements offer an eye-opening glimpse into the past and the working class immigrants who lived and worked in them. The guides are a wealth of knowledge about the history of the time. Actual stories of families were traced and are retold during the tours (108 Orchard St).
Music
If music is your thing, the LES has no shortage of live music venues from which to choose. The Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St), Mercury Lounge (217 East Houston St) and Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St) are some of the more well known.
Also check the line ups at smaller, indie venues like Pianos (158 Ludlow St) and Cake Shop (152 Ludlow St) for cheaper and more impromptu evenings.
Ready to book your Big Apple trip? Check out our selection of cheap New York hotels. For stays as close as possible to the Lower East Side, the Sun Bright Hotel in Chinatown has doubles from £136.36prpn.
About the Author: Laurie DePrete is a corporate marketing exec by day and blogger by night, passionate about New York City and travel. She’s the author of Scene by Laurie, which features travel news, insider tips on NYC and the occasional travel tech and social media stories. She also contributes to The Huffington Post, Business Insider and the Tree.com Travel Blog.
Flickr image, with thanks: 1
