Lower East Side NY Guide

Traditionally the Lower East Side was a working class immigrant neighborhood (think “Gangs of New York”). Today it is a wonderfully ethnic and diverse neighborhood and serves as a shopping, dining and nightlife destination for many NYC locals. Even with all its modern upgrades, the LES retains a large amount of its history, especially it’s Jewish, Polish, Irish and Italian cultures.

Things to Do

Lower East Side Tenement Museum (108 Orchard St, Delancey) – focus on America's urban immigrant history. Can only be seen by guided tour, $20 adults.

Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue (12 Eldridge St, Canal/Division) – located in the Eldridge St Synagogue, the first built by Eastern European Jews in America (1887). Also includes the Eldridge Street Project, a cultural center and gift shop. Can only be seen by guided tour. Open Sun-Thu, $10 adult, $6 children 5-18.

Lower East Side Free Weekly Tour (meet in front of Katz’s) – April to Dec, Sundays 11am. If you can't make one of the live New York Tours, download their free PodTour and guided walking map for and do it yourself! Check leshp.org for other tours, such as “Gangsters of NY,” $10-$25.

Recommended Restaurants

Katz's Delicatessen (205 E Houston, Ludlow) - oldest and largest NYC deli, founded in 1888. Always a fight between Katz’s and 2nd Ave deli, for #1 in NYC, but many call it a quintessential NY eating experience and the Pastrami pure heaven – as demonstrated by Meg Ryan in the classic scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” filmed here.

The Ten Bells (247 Broome St, Orchard/Ludlow) - great wine, cheese, oysters, creative food and atmosphere

Clinton St Baking Co (4 Clinton St, Houston) – tiny space, local favorite, especially for breakfast, lunch and brunch, though still gets a crowd for dinner. No reservations accepted, waits up to an hour, cash only until 6pm.

The Pickle Guys (49 Essex), Doughnut Plant (379 Grand St), Kossar's Bialys (367 Grand) steps away from each other.

Nightlife – hundreds of bars, clubs and restaurants located around Ludlow, Rivington, and Stanton. Clinton St is one of the city’s newest and best spots for “foodies.”

Shopping

Orchard Street – this used to be the city’s best place for discount clothing, textiles, lingerie (Lolita bra shop at 70 Orchard Street), drapes, upholstery, luggage, coats, hats, scarves, and fake fur. Quality has gone down significantly, as it’s mostly an extension of Chinatown shops today, but it’s still a great place to walk around. Especially Sundays, when traffic is blocked from Delancey to Houston and it becomes a flea market.

Essex Street Market (120 Essex St, Delancey) - opened by Mayor LaGuardia when the city streets were too crowded with pushcart vendors, so he moved them inside.

Economy Candy (108 Rivington St, Ludlow/Essex) - founded in 1937, many say Economy is way better than Dylan’s Candy Bar. Huge variety of candy, from every era, packed from floor to ceiling. It’s not modern or fancy, but it is a NYC classic institution.

Hotels

Blue Moon Hotel (100 Orchard, Delancey) – visitors love this hotel, rooms are huge, staff is great and being surrounded by some of the city’s best dining and nightlife in a historic, yet trendy, area of NYC cannot be beat.