How to Spend a Day in the Lower East Side, New York City
One thing I absolutely love about New York City is its selection of neighbourhoods, which all feel unique and slightly different. It’s a joy as a visitor to the city to explore each one on foot and get to know them a little better. Whilst many are well known, one of my favourite slightly less touristy neighbourhoods is The Lower East Side.
The Lower East Side is the neighbourhood right in the south east corner of Manhattan island, and it runs roughly from between the Bowery and the East River; from Canal to Houston (pronounced House-ton in case you want to sound like a local!). It’s jam packed with interesting museums, cultural heritage and local life – so read on to find out how to make the most of a day exploring.
Things to do in The Lower East Side
The Lower East Side is jam packed with wonderful things to see and do, focused around its cultural heritage. But of course, any good day trip has to start with breakfast!
Breakfast at a classic spot
There are so many amazing options to choose from for breakfast – from quick and simple, to a full diner experience. You could try and of these that take your fancy:
- Kossar’s Bialys & Bagels, for a New York classic.
- Russ & Daughters Café, which has been in the LES for over 100 years!
- Ludlow Coffee Supply, for easy and on the go.
- Clinton Street Baking Company, for the best pancakes ever.
- Katz’s Deli, of Harry met Sally fame.
Museum at Eldridge Street
This Museum has to be one of my absolute favourite hidden gems in the whole of New York. This incredible museum, which looks like an inconspicuous religious building from the outside, is a preserved synagogue which has been beautifully restored. Telling the story of the area’s Jewish heritage in the late 1800s, it’s hard not to be impressed by the wonderful building and its history.
The Tenement Museum
Traditionally, the Lower East Side was an immigrant, working class neighbourhood. from the 1700s – early 1900s, the area was home to a huge population of immigrants, ranging from Dutch to Germans, Hungarians, Poles, Eastern European Jews, Russians and Ukrainians.
Since then, the area has become home to both a Little Italy and a China Town and since the 1960s, the area has been settled by immigrants primarily from Latin America. This diverse history of immigration is what makes the Lower East Side so special.
One of the ways this heritage is preserved is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. The Museum is actually housed in two preserved tenement buildings which were home to c.15,000 people from over 20 countries between 1863 and 2011. The museum promotes understanding and you can tour the tenement buildings on various experiences, including learning about the earliest immigrants, Holocaust survivors, Latin American immigrants, Chinese residents and much more. This museum is absolutely fantastic and was actually my favourite in New York so I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Chinatown
The LES is home to New York’s China Town – it’s a big and bustling area with lots to see and do in its own right. I recommend:
- Walk Mott Street – full of shops, markets, restaurants, and food stalls. Great for soaking in the vibe of the area.
- Nom Wah Tea Parlor on Doyers Street – for an historic dim sum spot (open since 1920) in the curved, narrow “Bloody Angle” of Doyers Street.
- Eat at Fried Dumpling (Mosco Street) – a tiny, no-frills spot beloved for its cheap, delicious dumplings.
- Relax in Columbus or Seward Park – a relaxed local gathering spot — you’ll often see tai chi, mahjong games, and even musicians.
- Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) – Learn about Chinese-American history, culture, and the immigrant experience.
- Visit the Mahayana Buddhist Temple
- Chinatown Ice Cream Factory – try Asian-inspired ice cream flavors (e.g. lychee, red bean) at this long-running local shop.
- Shop the Markets & Streets – start with Canal Street and Grand Street.
Little Italy
OK this one is cheating a little bit as it’s over the border of the LES, but it’s right next to Chinatown so if you’re there you might as well visit. Step from the hustle and bustle of Chinatown’s shop fronts, to the restaurant lined streets of Little Italy – selling pizza, pasta cannoli and lots of delicious wine. Perfect for an afternoon stop off.
Local Shops & Bars
The Lower East side’s growing art scene and often indie feel means a treasure trove of independent and unique stores. A couple I discovered which I particularly like are:
- Blue Stockings – a bookstore with a difference – it’s completely volunteer run and it has a café, doubles as an activist centre and is devoted to feminism and social activism.
- Economy Candy – does what it says on the tin!
- Slipper Room – a burlesque and comedy theatre. It’s a really fun night out – and artists who have guested here include Lady Gaga, U2 and the Scissor Sisters.
- The Back Room – a speakeasy that nods to Prohibition era escapism.
- Mercury Lounge – to catch a live show.
- The Delancey rooftop – for cocktails with a view
Enjoy Local Life
Of COURSE part of the real NYC is the tourist attractions – you have to see The Empire State building, you have to go to visit Times Square, it’s great to stroll round Central Park. But that isn’t every day reality for most people in the city, and sometimes it’s nice to slow down.
I spent a good hour in the LES just wandering and absorbing every day life, and it was a lovely way to spend some of my day. l even sat to watch a couple of local football (soccer) matches taking place at Sara D Roosevelt park. I also went to watch a movie in Metrograph – it’s a super cool cinema not packed with tourists. It has two theaters, a sweet shop, a restaurant, a bar, a bookstore, and it screens archive-quality 35mm prints and new films in digital projection. It’s really quite amazing and well worth a visit.
Williamsburg Bridge
As a much less touristy alternative to the Brooklyn Bridge, you could also choose to walk across Williamsburg Bridge if you have any walking left in your legs. The view back to Manhattan is another beautiful one, and a great way to finish up your day.
Tips for visiting The Lower East Side
- Wear sensible shoes – the day will include a lot of walking.
- Take cash – some of the stores don’t take card.
- Go at a slower pace – to really take in the area properly.
- Make dining reservations – if you want to eat at some of the more popular restaurants, book ahead – especially on weekends.
- Book tours ahead – the Tenement Museum in particular can sell out in busy periods, so buy your tickets in advance.
And that’s a wrap for a day on the Lower East Side. I really love this area of New York and would highly recommend it to get off the main tourist trail if you’re visiting the city. I feel really lucky to have visited a couple of times in an era where I could still experience this diversity of culture in such a small area, and I hope in the future the area isn’t converted in to posh flats, taking away from its charm and heritage.
What do you think of the area? Let me know in the comments below – and as always, stay safe and happy travelling!
