Upper East Side

Understand

The Upper East Side is one of the richest neighborhoods in New York City. It may seem to the casual observer to contain nothing but expensive restaurants and shops and elaborate museums, but it also has many pretty buildings worth looking at for their own sake, and as you get farther east, especially in the upper 70s and further north, things become a bit less expensive and more informal. 5th Avenue is bordered to the west by Central Park. Toward the west of the neighborhood you can also find a plethora of museums displaying a wide variety of culture ranging from Ancient Egypt to modern-day Asian culture and sites from the very beginnings of the neighborhood. Because of its dense concentration of museums, 5th Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets has been nicknamed the "Museum Mile". Travel a bit to the east and you'll find a shopper's heaven between Madison Avenue and 3rd Avenue, especially near the UES's southern border at East 59th Street. These stores and galleries sell gooey cakes and candy, women's clothing, jewelry and watches, books, art, etc., virtually all upscale. 2nd Avenue (and to a lesser extent, 3rd Avenue) is known for its bars and restaurants, with everything from authentic Japanese ramen and sushi to New American food and ceviche. The historical influence shines its brightest along 2nd Avenue, with its Central European eateries and stores. The rest of the neighborhood, ranging along Park Avenue and from 2nd Avenue to the bank of the East River, is mostly residential, with historical landmarks and parks. If Central Park is too crowded for you, then Carl Schurz or John Jay Parks are certainly worth going to.

Demographics Historically, Yorkville was a German–dominated area (with some rich Anglo–Saxon Protestant families along 5th Avenue), and was, to a lesser extent, also populated by other Central European groups such as Austrians, Czechs, Hungarians and Slovaks, and also Irish. Although many of these folks have departed since the 1960s and 70s, th

Getting there

By bus Every avenue from 5th to York except for Park Avenue has at least one bus route. Madison Avenue (northbound) and 5th Avenue (southbound) are served by local M1, M2, M3, and M4 and limited M1, M2, and M4 buses (limited buses stop only at major intersections, such as transfer points for crosstown buses). 3rd Avenue (northbound) and Lexington Avenue (southbound) are served by the local M101, M102, and M103 buses and, during rush hours only, limited M98 and M101 buses. 2nd Avenue (southbound) and 1st Avenue (northbound) are served by the local M15 and the express M15 Select Bus Service, the latter of which instead has ticket machines at the bus stop rather than requiring payment on the bus itself, and runs along exclusive bus lanes. In addition, a crosstown bus serves each major street. Along 57th Street, the M57 runs the length of the line, along with the M31 which doubles as the York Avenue bus. 66th and 68th Streets are served by the M66, 72nd Street by the M72, 79th Street by the M79, 86th Street by the M86 Select Bus Service (with identical features to the M15 Select Bus Service), and 96th Street by the M96.

Some express buses from the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens serve this area during rush hours. Unlike regular buses, they are not useful for getting around the neighborhood but serve residents of the outer boroughs, and they are useful for getting into the neighborhood from far-flung areas of the city. These include the BxM1, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9, and BxM10 along 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue. These buses cost $7.00 rather than the typical citywide transportation cost of $2.90.[1]

By subway The primary subway service to the Upper East Side is via the 4 5 express lines and 6 local line, which run under Lexington Avenue. All three lines stop at 59th Street and 86th Street, with the 6 also stopping at 68th Street–Hunter College, 77th Street, and 96th Street. 5th Avenue is only three blocks west of Lexington Avenue. These trains can get very crowd

See

The stretch of Fifth Avenue alongside Central Park in the Upper East Side is commonly referred to as "Museum Mile" between 82nd Street to 105th Street, though museums and galleries are also to be found off this particular beaten track. Note that the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the primary museum in this area, is covered under the Central Park page. Additionally, the El Museo del Barrio and the Museum of the City of New York are on Fifth Avenue just to the north in Spanish Harlem.

1 American Irish Historical Society, 991 5th Ave (At East 80th St; Subway: 6 to 77th Street; Bus: M1, M2, M3, and M4 to Madison Avenue & East 77th Street (northbound) or 5th Avenue & East 78th Street (southbound) or M79 Select Bus Service to East 79th Street & Madison Avenue), ☏ +1 212-288-2263. M-F 10AM-5PM. Yet another unique but rich treat on 5th Avenue, the AIHS is a non-profit organization that educates visitors on Irish American culture and history. Immersive and traditional events are held often along with exhibits showcasing the array of unique art and music. If performing and visual arts aren't your thing, you can visit the library instead with over 10,000 books, newsletters, newspapers, and pieces of literature dating back to the 1700s that feature a wide variety of otherwise unknown topics that are great for anyone interested in European culture and history. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Asia Society Museum, 725 Park Avenue (At 70th Street; Subway: 6 to 68th Street–Hunter College; Bus: M102, M103, and M104 to 3rd Avenue & East 69th Street (northbound) or Lexington Avenue & East 70th Street (southbound) or M1, M2, M3, M4, and M72 to Madison Avenue & East 69th Street (northbound) or 5th Avenue & East 69th Street (southbound)), ☏ +1 212-288-6400. Tu-Su 11AM-5PM. The Asia Society is a unique educational organization like no other in the area promoting relationships and understanding among and of leaders, people, and organizations of Asia. It features a vast array of Asian art including a

Do

The Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Museum and are among the many venues in the neighborhood that host concert series.

1 92nd Street Y (92Y), 1395 Lexington Avenue (at 92nd Street; Subway: 6 to 96th Street or Q to 96th Street; Bus: M96 to East 96th Street & Lexington Avenue or M101, M102, and M103 to 3rd Avenue & East 91st Street (northbound) or Lexington Avenue & East 92nd Street (southbound)), ☏ +1 212-415-5500. May Center: M-Th 5:30AM-10:30PM; F 5:30AM-9PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-8PM. Resident Office: M W 9AM-7PM, Tu Th 9AM-8:30PM, F 9AM-5PM, Sa noon-8:30PM, Su 10AM-6PM. A full season of concerts, lectures, and other events takes place here. The Y's Kaufmann Concert Hall is one of the premiere concert halls in the city, and its lecture and concert series feature many well-known groups and individuals. Some fans particularly recommend the chamber music concerts featuring members of the New York Philharmonic. The Y also offers classes in various subjects through art, culture, and ent