MANHATTAN

Lower East Side Neighborhood Guide

Filled with a mixed array of hipsters and fashionistas alike, the Lower East Side (LES) is arguably one of Manhattan’s most eclectic and unique neighborhoods. With some of the city’s best food, drink, and shopping selections lining every corner, residents are never faced with a dull moment. The LES is unlike any other NYC neighborhood. The mix of university students and working professionals creates a motivated atmosphere that carries a sense of excitement. The Lower East Side is filled with endless expressions of New York City’s unique culture, evident through the neighborhood’s diverse and seemingly never ending array of art galleries, restaurants, parks, bars, hotels, and museums. The Museum at Eldridge Street perfectly captures and shows off NYC’s architecture and Jewish culture, while the Tenement Museum is also a favorite to New York natives.

Many iconic artists grew up on the Lower East Side, such as the Marx Brothers and Irving Berlin, who helped shape the neighborhood’s rich history. The art scene lives on to this day, and the area continues to be a center for contemporary art where many unique art galleries are located, such as Bodega and Bridget Donahue. The neighborhood is also a hot destination for nightlife, as well as NYC street artists who continuously brighten street walls and buildings with beautiful murals and other forms of street art. New York’s Lower East Side is a great neighborhood option for those looking for something quirky with that signature Manhattan charm.

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Lower East Side Real Estate Stats

MEDIAN SALE PRICE

$1,400,000

MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE

$4,170

An Abbreviated History of The Lower East Side

As one of the oldest, and most historically significant neighborhoods in America, the Lower East Side of New York City encompasses much of lower Manhattan and its east side neighborhoods below 14th Street. During its early years prior to the Europeans, the LES was occupied by the Lenape tribe, specifically the encampment called Naghtogack or Rechtauck. It later became the prime spot for immigrants as they began their new lives in America. James Delancey was one of the first true settlers of the area and, prior to the American Revolution, owned a farm on the land now known as the LES. He is the namesake of “Delancey Street” and his famous orchards are the namesake for “Orchard Street.” Upon arrival to the United States, many immigrants were directed to live near the Lower East Side. During its early development the area had a large German population, and at one time was known as Little Germany (Keindeutschland). The Irish were also early settlers to the area. Hundreds, if not thousands, of tenements were built to accommodate the large numbers of people pouring in every day. With this came an exchange of individual histories and a unique mix of cultures for the neighborhood. By the time the Second World War was over, the Lower East Side was considered New York City’s first racially integrated neighborhood. Today, although many groups have dispersed and created other neighborhoods, the streets of the LES still show decades worth of culture.

NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES

  • Bowery Street to the west
  • East Houston Street to the north
  • FDR Drive to the east
  • Canal Street to the south
Grand Street  B D
Second Avenue F
East Broadway F
Bowery Station J Z M
Delancey Street – Essex Street J Z F M

Residents Love This Neighborhood Because

  • Lively nightlife
  • Diverse restaurant scene
  • Trendy boutique shopping
  • Hip vibe
  • Creative energy
  • Street murals

What to expect

Cafés

+20
Colleges / Universities

6
Community Gardens

39
Hospitals

4
Libraries

5
Parks

15

Playgrounds

19

Restaurants

+120

Yoga Studios

7

Lower East Side Landmarks and Cultural Institutions:

A NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR

Get to know the neighborhood by visiting its most notable landmarks and sites. From museums and sculptures, to parks, markets, and hidden neighborhood gems, you’ll find everything you need to know about the neighborhood’s most unique and historical attractions.

The Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum was founded by social activist Anita Jacobson and historian Ruth Abram in 1988. It explores the unique story of American immigration with the mission to “foster a society that embraces and values the role of immigration in the evolving American identity.” The museum offers guided tours, programs, and curriculums for educators, plus interactive experiences.

The Essex Market

The Essex Market has been serving New York City as a culinary destination since 1818. The market was originally constructed to provide residents with an affordable option of fresh food and now serves as an enrichment to the history of NYC. Essex Market vendors include Luna Brothers Fruit Plaza, Cafe D’avignon, Riverdel, and more.

Pier 35

Designed by SHoP Architects and Ken Smith Workshop with sustainability at the forefront of their vision, Pier 35 is an Eco-Park in the Lower East Side with spectacular views of the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood. The design of the space is meant to resemble the tides of the nearby rivers by Manhattan along with the porch swings to look over the view as well.

The Museum at Eldridge Street

The Museum at Eldridge Street, originally the Eldridge Street Synagogue, is a landmark building and an important part of Jewish history on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It was built during a time of mass immigration to the United States in 1887 when about 75% of Jewish immigrants settled in the Lower East Side. The Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first Synagogue in America built by Eastern European immigrants and flourished for around fifty years. The synagogue had a major decline in the 1900s due to Immigrant Quota Laws and closed parts of the sanctuary for 100 years until it was rediscovered and became the landmark museum that it is today.

The Museum Of Street Art

The Museum of Street Art is a free museum that celebrates artistic creativity while restoring a significant 5Pointz New York graffiti landmark. 5Pointz originally started when real estate developer Jerry Wolkoff purchased a building and rented out spaces to artists, allowing them to use the exterior as canvases for their graffiti. Named after the five boroughs uniting as one, 5Pointz grew as an attraction for artists around the world and represented creative freedom. Eventually in 2012, the walls of the building were whitewashed and the building was demolished. So, when the Museum of Street Art was recruiting artists to display their works, it was fitting to bring together 20 artists whose original works were part of 5Pointz so their canvases can continue.

Architecture in The Lower East Side

Beaux-Arts

International

Neo-Georgian

Romanesque

Neo-Federal

Queen Anne

Second Empire

Notable New Yorkers

Who Have Lived in The Lower East Side

MARX BROTHERS

Comedy Group

IRVING BERLIN

American Composer

ADRIENNE BALLON

Recording Artist and Actress

LADY GAGA

Singer/ Songwriter

FIORELLO LAGUARDIA

Politician

MADONNA

Pop Star

YIP HARBURG

Songwriter

GEORGE GERSHWIN

Composer/ Pianist

Popular Food & Drink

Russ & Daughters

179 E Houston Street

Blue Ribbon Sushi Izakaya

187 Orchard Street

Katz's Delicatessen

205 East Houston Street

Saigon Social

172 Orchard Street

Wildair

142 Orchard Street

Gem

116 Forsyth Street

Davelle

102 Suffolk Street

Contra

138 Orchard Street

All Notable New Yorker photos courtesy of Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of Marx Brothers by Ralph F. Stitt; Photo of Irving Berlin by Unknown author; Photo of Adrienne Ballon by RumorFix; Photo of Lady Gaga by Carlos M. Vazquez II; Photo of Fiorello Laguardia by The Library of Congress; Photo of Madonna by chrisweger; Photo of Yip Harburg by katzizkidz; Photo of George Gershwin by Carl Van Vechten;

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