Squeezed between Central Park East and the East River sits the famed Upper East Side between E 59th St and 96th St. The classic neighborhood is sophisticated, chic and renowned for grand ballrooms, gorgeous brownstones and luxurious living. With Central Park as a backyard, this is a perfect neighborhood for young professionals looking to escape the busy streets of midtown and downtown.
The UES is not short of its fair share of attractions. Museum mile features world famous selections of art, strewn throughout the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, Neue Galerie New York, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, El Museo del Barrio, among others. For a more playful day, the Central Park Zoo is nearby, or head to the Roosevelt Island Tramway for an aerial trip from the UES to the island adjacent. Roosevelt Island offers sprawling views of the Manhattan skyline, worth the cheap trip over ($2.50 each way).
Between all the attractions are numerous eateries from famed spots like Sant Ambroeus and Daniel Boulud’s Cafe Boulud, to hidden gems like Up Thai and Two Little Red Hens. For a super quaint, authentic Italian feel, head to Uva for an excellent selection of wine and homemade pasta. For a quick pastry and cup of coffee, you can avoid the lines at Starbucks and head to Cafe Jax, a hidden gem on 84th St. If you don’t mind balling out on desert, finish your taste tour at Serendipity 3 for their esteemed frozen hot chocolate and massive sundaes.
Even though the UES is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in NYC, it is one of the only areas of prime Manhattan where renters can still find a reasonably priced room in a multi-family unit. Studios start as low as $1800 a month and one-bedrooms start around $2200. Two bedrooms start around $2500-$4000, sitting on the lower end if you are willing to venture to 1st or 2nd Ave. Three-bedrooms range from around $4000, to well over $6000 in a luxury high-rise.
Commuting from the UES is relatively simple, with easy access to Queens, downtown and Roosevelt Island. The green line 4, 5, and 6 trains run through the entire UES, as does the Q. The N, R, W and F line also make a few stops in the lower area of this neighborhood as well. FDR drive is convenient to catch a car uptown or downtown. La Guardia is only 20 minutes away, making this location great for professionals traveling often.
