SoHo is one of the most fashionable neighbourhoods in New York City. Come for cobblestones, the historic cast-iron building facades, major fashion labels and the American raw bars and classic bistros that have become New York institutions. I lived in New York City, next to SoHo in Nolita, for nearly two years. This SoHo neighbourhood guide includes my favourite things to do in SoHo and the best places to eat and drink.

The best things to do in SoHo are admiring the historic wrought iron facades, especially on Mercer, Broome and Greene Street, going for a power lunch or glamorous dinner at Balthazar or Raoul’s, designer shopping, galleries like Jeffrey Deitch and The Drawing Centre, and visiting historic taverns like Fanelli’s Cafe and The Ear Inn.

Where is SoHo?

SoHo, which stands for South of Houston, is bordered by Houston St to the north, Canal St to the south, Lafayette St to the east and West Broadway to the west. It’s a small neighbourhood, surrounded by West Village, Nolita, Chinatown & Tribeca. My favourite parts of SoHo are Prince St, Grand St and Spring St. 

Once upon a time, SoHo was anti-establishment, but these days it’s for the firmly established. You’ll find Chanel, Chloe, Zadig & Voltaire and any other fashion labels which has “made it” and landmark restaurants like Balthazar. For smaller, younger and trendier boutiques, bars and restaurants, head to neighbouring Nolita, the Lower East Side and East Village.

A brief history of SoHo, NYC

SoHo was once New York’s red light district. By the 1950’s it was an industrial wasteland of factories and sweatshops and had earned the name “Hell’s Hundred Acres” (not to be confused with Hell’s Kitchen further north – Manhattan used to be a real gem!).

It’s a tale as old as time: undesirable parts of town has cheap rent, and cheap rent attract the city’s starving artists and other creative types. The artists make the neighbourhood cool, and then everyone else wants in. Urban revitalisation and gentrification see soaring rents, and new neighbours like Gucci and Louis Vuitton move in.

The Best Things to Do in SoHo

Shop local at Artists & Fleas

Artists & Fleas is a market for locally made and designed or second hand homewares, art, clothes, spirits & jewellery with a few locations around Manhattan.

I love Artists & Fleas SoHo, because it makes it so easy to shop from local designers and find something unique. Artists & Fleas makes local designer super accessible in one convenient space, which makes it easier than ever to find a stylish souvenir in New York.

Pick up an original photography print

On a visit to New York a few years ago, I stumbled across photographer Rob Hann‘s streetside stall in SoHo. I immediately was drawn to his portraits and landscapes of Middle America and picked up a print to take home. Rob is British, but has lived in the USA for years, as he documents rural and Middle America through his photography. You can find him at 113 Prince St.

Visit the Glossier Holy Grail

Skincare addicts will love the impressive Glossier flagship in SoHo. More of a showroom than a store, the famous online beauty brand has made sure that their first in-the-flesh retail presence goes above and beyond. There’s even a “wet room” stocked with glossier products where you can test out face washes and other products using the bathroom-like space, which includes sinks and mirrors. The best part is definitely the super cute check out process, with a pink conveyer belt that sends out your products all packaged up and ready to go.

Admire the architecture

SoHo is a great neighbourhood for architecture enthusiasts and photographers. The neighbourhood is a protected historic district because of the cast-iron facades on the buildings, which make for a classic New York photography subject.

Pilates, Yoga & Barre

Naturally, a neighbourhood as trendy as SoHo is no stranger to boutique fitness studios. My favourites for pilates are Physique57, which is all about high intensity pilates and barre, and Yogaworks, which has a mind-boggling range of yoga, pilates and fitness classes.

Shopping in SoHo

If you’re looking for labels, you’ve come to the right place. SoHo is New York’s best place to shop major brands. You’ll find luxury labels as well as younger brands like The Kooples, Paige Denim, Frame Denim and Zadig & Voltaire. Skincare addicts can’t miss the impressive Glossier flagship! There’s also a Bloomingdale’s in SoHo which has a wide range of labels.

Jeffrey Deitch Gallery

SoHo is home to a number of private art galleries which are open to the public. Jeffrey Deitch gallery is great for dipping your toe into the art world – it’s a small space, has free entry and has eye-catching, cutting-edge exhibits. Deitch is the former Director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is now based in New York.

The Drawing Center

The Drawing Center is a small but considered gallery that celebrates the humble drawing. Entry is $5 and it’s not far from Jeffrey Deitch.

SoHo Street Art

There’s a lot of great public art in SoHo, you just need to keep your eyes peeled – and crucially, not glued to your iPhone. Three major pieces to be found are the Gucci Art Wall on Lafayette, Pop Art Crying Girl by D*Face at 421 Broome St and a Gigi Hadid mural by Tristan Eaton a few blocks further down, at 389 Broome St. If you turn up Mulberry St, into Little Italy, you’ll also find Eaton’s famous Audrey Hepburn mural!

Best Brunch, Cafes & Bakeries in SoHo

Jack’s Wife Freda

Jack’s Wife Freda is my favourite brunch spot in New York. The food is They’ve also got locations in West Village and Chelsea.

They have a great Croque Madame with house cured duck bacon and their cantaloupe (rockmelon) mimosas are the perfect way to celebrate a weekend brunch. This spot gets really busy but if you arrive before 9 you probably won’t wait for a table.

Sant Ambroeus

Sant Ambroeus is a gorgeous Milanese restaurant in SoHo that is perfect for brunch, lunch or dinner and is popular with New York’s fashion set. The venue has beautiful interiors, wonderful Italian food and is always warm and inviting.

Balthazar Bakery

Attached to Balthazar’s glamorous restaurant is the teeny tiny Balthazar Bakery. It’s permanently packed but their chocolate doughnuts are worth the wait.

Dominique Ansel

Dominique Ansel’s eponymous bakery in SoHo is ground zero for the infamous croissant-doughnut hybrid, along with other pastries and baked goods. It’s become somewhat of a pilgrimage for sweet teeth in New York, much like Magnolia Bakery in West Village, Milk Bar in East Village and Nolita and Morgenstern’s ice cream in the Lower East Side.

Birdbath Bakery

Formerly the historic Vesuvio Bakery, Birdbath Bakery is worth a detour if you’re after a giant New York-style chocolate chip cookie. They’re so good! To add to the confusion, the shopfront still calls it Vesuvio Bakery.

Everyman Espresso

Everyman Espresso is has some of the best coffee in SoHo and is a cosy, reliable spot.

The Best Restaurants in SoHo

SoHo’s restaurant scene is made up for a powerful trifecta of classic French bistros like Balthazar and Raoul’s, moody Italian pasta bars like Osteria Morini and all-American raw bars such as AquaGrill and The Dutch.

Balthazar

Balthazar is one of New York’s most iconic restaurants, although it is more renowned for it’s vibe than for it’s food. It was the place to go for a power lunch in the 1990s (and still is), is full of people hiding behind enormous sunglasses.

It was featured in Sex and The City as “Balzac” which was notoriously difficult to get into and does classic Paris-meets-New York bistro like nowhere else. Yes, it’s been popular with tourists for decades, but it’s still just as popular with New Yorkers. Go for dinner or brunch.

Osteria Morini

A charming and convivial casual Italian restaurant, Osteria Morini is a great spot for a low key date night. Chef-Owner Michael White has captured the spirit of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna with regional flavours such as balsamic vinegar, mortadella, prosciutto and parmigiano, and the decor, which is assembled from parts of an 18th century Italian farmhouse. For one of the best deals in Manhattan, dine on Mondays after 9pm to get any of their pastas for $12 (usually $25).

Little Prince

Little Prince is cosy, charming and always busy. I love their menu of French bistro classics and fresh, produce-driven lighter dishes – especially their salads! This is a great spot for lunch after a morning of shopping in SoHo.

Charlie Bird

Charlie Bird is a distinctly downtown neighbourhood restaurant. It was born out of a desire to deliver a casual neighbourhood hangout with excellent food, service and wine – and succeeds on all three counts. It’s particularly well known for it’s stellar wine program, run by Wine Director Grant Reynolds, which offers a stellar wine list by the glass and half bottle without any of the usual pretension.

Everyone raves about the pasta and chicken here, but I’m obsessed with their simple yet delicious farro salad which I could probably eat every day for the rest of my life.

The Best Bars in SoHo

SoHo is home to plenty of high end spots, but don’t miss the historic dives and taverns like Ear Inn, Toad Hall, Broome St Bar and Fanelli Cafe which have stood the test of time.

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Okay, so it’s not technically in SoHo but it’s only a block away and I adore this place. Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels has an exciting wine list ( wine geek alert) with interesting varietals from all over the world, knowledgeable staff and it is blessedly not a scene. A really cool spot and completely off the tourist trail.

Toad Hall

It seems very un-SoHo these days, but this cozy English-style tavern has been a local haunt for years. Come to Toad Hall for a SoHo bar thats totally unpretentious, cheerful and perennially busy.

Healthy Food in SoHo

SoHo is both trendy and a model magnet, so there are plenty of green juices, matcha lattes and kale salads to go around. These are some of my favourite spots.

Brodo

I feel like such a silly millennial for saying this, but I am OBSESSED with Brodo and their tiny broth shops. Basically, it’s delicious bone or vegetarian broth packed with natural ingredients. So hearty and delicious, and a nice alternative to a coffee.

Matchaful

Matchaful is a gorgeous SoHo cafe along Canal St that serves plenty of Matcha tea variations, but my favourite thing here is the snacks fridge – the vegan onigiri is DELICIOUS! Such a perfect healthy snack on the go.

Juice Generation and Joe & The Juice

Juice Generation and Joe & The Juice are both solid juice bars and just what the doctor ordered after a few days of eating classic American tourist food.

Have you been to SoHo? Do you have any other tips? What’s your favourite neighbourhood in New York?

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