The Upper West Side is the New York City of Hollywood and sitcoms, and walking around the neighbourhood feels a bit like walking around a movie set. While it doesn’t have as many flashy attractions as other neighbourhoods, there are still so many things to do on the Upper West Side. The best things to do on the Upper West Side include Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History, Grand Bazaar Fleamarket, seeing a show at the Lincoln Center, visiting the New York Historical Society, and hitting up Levain for cookies and Zabar’s for bagels.
I lived in New York City for two years, in Nolita, but if we’d stayed in New York we were planning to move to the Upper West Side for a bit more chill, and better access to Central Park.
Where is the Upper West Side?
The Upper West Side is a primarily residential neighbourhood in Manhattan, located between the Hudson River and Central Park. The Upper West Side spans between W 59th and W 110th.
The Best Things to Do on the Upper West Side
Central Park
Visiting Central Park is undoubtedly the best thing to do on the Upper West Side – it’s easily the best thing to do in New York City, and the greatest drawcard for living in the neighbourhood! Don’t miss the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, the Lake, Bethesda Terrace, the Bow Bridge and the Mall. Note that the loop around the Reservoir is 1.6 miles, so you might just want to walk down one side, if you plan on also seeing the other parts of Central Park I just mentioned. Enter at W 90th St for the closest access to the Reservoir and head south.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History, also known as the Natural History Museum, is one of the best things to do on the Upper West Side, especially for families. The museum offers anthropological, pre-historic and zoological exhibits, and is one of New York City’s most famous museums. This is David’s favourite! I’ve visited a couple of times, but prefer art museums and galleries. Enter on W 77th Street.
The Lincoln Center
The Lincoln Center is one of the pre-eminent performing arts centres in the world, so seeing a show or performance here is an iconic New York City experience. The Lincoln Center is home to the Metropolitan Opera, David H Koch Theater and is the stomping ground for the New York Philharmonic. For pre-theatre dining, The Smith is the closest decent restaurant option, just blocks from the Lincoln Center. Otherwise, make a reservation at John Fraser’s chic Aegean restaurant, Iris, which is a 15 minute walk or 5 minute Uber from the Lincoln Center.
Tom’s Diner (Seinfeld Restaurant)
Fans of the 90s sitcom Seinfeld won’t want to miss visiting Tom’s Restaurant, one of the most iconic filming locations from the show. Tom’s Restaurant is on the Upper West Side at the corner of Broadway and 112th Street. It’s only a couple of blocks south of Columbia University and west of the Cathedral of St John the Divine, which you may want to check out while you’re in the area.
Columbia University
Columbia University is New York City’s own Ivy League university, and is located in the upper reaches of the Upper West Side on 114th Street.
New York Historical Society
A visit to the New York Historical Society is one of the best things to do on the Upper West Side, because it’s small and compact, and located close to Central Park. I’ll never forget the wonderful and inspiring Al Hirschfeld exhibition I saw at the New York Historical Society when I first moved to New York City.
Grand Bazaar Flea Market
Browsing the antiques and vintage treasures at the Grand Bazaar Flea Market is one of the best things to do on the Upper West Side on Sundays. Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest flea market in New York City, so it’s perfect for finding a unique souvenir from your trip to New York City!
Riverside Park
Riverside Park is a four mile park, stretching along the Hudson River on the Upper West Side and into Mornington Heights. It’s a popular space for walkers, joggers and cyclists, with beautiful views over the Hudson River and to New Jersey.
79th Street Greenmarket
The 79th Street Greenmarket is one of my favourite greenmarkets in New York City, despite its relatively small size. It runs along Columbus Aveue, between 77th-81st street, often with an extension in spring and summer. The 79th Street Greenmarket is open on Sundays from 9am-4pm year-round, and is always great for browsing for fresh and delicious local produce – not always easy to come by in New York City!
Theodore Roosevelt Park
David and I stumbled across the beautiful Theodore D Roosevelt Park when we were seeking some shade and a seat on a hot New York summer’s day. While I wouldn’t suggest you make a dedicated trip across town to visit, it’s worth a detour if you’re in the area.
Best Bagels on the Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is home to a large Jewish community, which makes it one of the best places to find perfect bagels in New York City. Check out my guide to the best bagels in New York City for more spots across town.
Zucker’s Bagels
Zuckers Bagels & Smoked Fish has a handful of stores in New York City, including a very popular spot on the Upper West Side. Join the queue for hand-rolled bagels, alongside a mouthwatering range of spreads and smoked fish. It’s worth the wait! The Upper West Side shop is just one block away from Central Park, near Strawberry Fields, at the corner of 73rd & Columbus.
Zabar’s Jewish Deli
Zabar’s is an Upper West Side institution. Spanning 90 years and four generations, Zabar’s is a family owned gourmet food emporium, selling smoked fish, cheese, and gourmet deli items alongside their famous bagels. Zabar’s was established in 1934, and has been part of New York City’s food history, introducing New Yorkers to brie in the 1960s, sundried tomatoes in the 70s and accidentally starting the “caviar wars” when they helped ignite the trend in the 1980s.
Best Places to eat on the Upper West Side
The Upper West Side isn’t known for its restaurant scene, but there are plenty of decent bars and restaurants around. However, since I haven’t dined at any stand outs, instead I’ve rounded up some of the best casual places to eat on the Upper West Side – cafes, bakeries, and fast casual favourites like hot dogs, burgers and Italian American comfort food. Each of the below spots on this list is a local institution, in its own way.
Daily Provisions
Daily Provisions is one of my favourite cafe chains in New York City, with five locations around town. Their uptown location is one of the best spots for breakfast or lunch on the Upper West Side, and is conveniently located just a block away from the Natural History Museum, on the corner of Amsterdam Ave & W 78th. Their BEC (Bacon, Egg & Cheese) is one of the best in the city, and it’s firmly on the list for my return trip. It’s a great spot for a coffee & pastry, casual breakfast, brunch or lunch. They’re also well known for their croissants and crullers. Daily Provisions is owned by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, so despite the big backing & multiple locations, it’s still a gem.
Levain
Levain is one of the best bakeries in New York City, famous for their signature choc chip walnut cookies. Friends Pam Weekes & Connie McDonald opened their small bakery in 1995 on the Upper West Side, and one day decided to create a dense, chunky choc chip walnut cookie to give them energy for their triathlon training. It flew of the shelves of the bakery, and a star was born! Today their signature cookie draws locals and international visitors alike.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack is home to the best burger in New York City – no questions asked, in my opinion. While their original location in Madison Square Park is the loveliest, you can also get your Shake Shack fix on the Upper West Side. Conveniently located at the corner of Columbus & 78th, opposite the Natural History Museum, this is a very popular spot with families and museum visitors. You’ll just about have to fight for a table, so do take out & eat in Theodore Roosevelt Park across the road.
Gray’s Papaya
Gray’s Papaya is a true New York City institution. The original Upper West Side location still remains, as a reliable, no-frills spot for a hot dog & tropical juices, at bargain basement prices. I don’t know, or care to know, what goes into a New York City hot dog, but they are indisputably one of New York City’s most iconic foods. Gray’s Papaya competes with the Upper East Side’s Papaya King, and New Yorkers will swear allegiance to one or the other. Papaya King is the original, with one of the partners, John Gray, starting his own Gray’s Papaya in the 1970s. Both are classics, but my pick is Gray’s!
Parm
A relative newcomer to others on this list, Parm is a fast casual spot from one of New York’s hottest (and flashiest) hospitality groups, Major Food Group. It’s a world away from their impossible reservation, Carbone, but Parm ticks so many boxes. It’s a cozy, fast casual spot serving Italian American comfort food classics. Michelin-starred chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi created Parm as an homage to the Italian American foods they ate growing up, and it’s been a hit, earning rave reviews from the New York Times and named one of the 101 Best Spots to Eat in America by Newsweek. Try their classic chicken parm, or my favourite – the mozz sticks!
