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20 Manhattan Neighborhoods:
What To Expect

 4 October 2021  Best neighborhoods

Where to Live in Manhattan: the Best

Neighborhoods in Manhattan
Want to know where to live in Manhattan? Or all about the best Manhattan

neighborhoods for you and your needs? Homelike is here to help—in this

detailed guide, we’ve brought you practical information on 20 (very!) varied

districts.
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districts.

As you probably already know, Manhattan is absolutely massive, with a

population of around 1.6 million people.

So if you’re planning a move to the area, it’s hugely diFcult to know which
neighborhood you might want to live in, especially if you’re a Grst-timer.

Around 450,000 expats and foreigners live in Manhattan—and at Grst, most

of them struggle to work out where to live.

Some even live in one neighborhood for a while before realizing they should
have picked another. And they discover that working out where to live in

Manhattan is a notoriously diFcult task.

So luckily for you, we’ve put this guide together. We’ve brought along
something for everyone, including party places, hip hangouts, the best areas

in Manhattan for families, the most affordable areas in Manhattan, and the

best places in Manhattan for students.

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And on top of that, we’ve covered the best neighborhoods in Upper
Manhattan, the best neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan and all the parts in

the middle. Broadly speaking, Upper Manhattan is the area north of Central

Park’s southern section, while Lower Manhattan is the area south of Union

Square. The area in the middle is usually known as Midtown Manhattan.

Quite where these areas begin and end (and quite what they should be
called!) is up for debate, but we’ve separated our list into those three

categories.

Anyway, no matter who you are and what you’re looking for, we’ve got some
perfect Manhattan neighborhoods for you.

Pro tip: if you don’t have time to read the full guide (we’re all busy people!),

head to the bottom of this article. There, we’ve assembled a handy table for
quickly Gguring out the best Manhattan neighborhoods for you and your

needs.

In our guide to the best neighborhoods in Manhattan, we’ve included these

20 top spots:
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 1. Upper East Side
2. Upper West Side
3. Harlem
4. Hell’s Kitchen
5. Chelsea
^. Kips Bay
7. Murray Hill
`. Garment District
9. Flatiron District
10. Lower East Side
11. East Village
12. Greenwich Village
13. West Village
14. Noho
15. Soho
1^. Nolita
17. Financial District
1`. Tribeca
19. Battery Park
20. Little Italy

We’ve covered what you can expect from each area, how pricey they are, and

what type of people usually like living there. Don’t know where to live in

Manhattan? You will soon!

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Okay, let’s get started—here are the 20 best neighborhoods in Manhattan…

Find apartments in New York

Best neighborhoods in Upper Manhattan

1. Upper East Side

Best for: Good schools, fancy living, great green spaces, and throwing your

money around

One of the biggest Manhattan neighborhoods, Upper East Side is a very

wealthy area, packed with big earners and big spenders. So if you’re on a

budget, it’s not a good option—some of the apartments, penthouses and

houses here are some of the priciest in Manhattan.

It’s one of the best areas in Manhattan for families, with excellent schools.

One of the best private schools on Upper East Side is Brearley School, but

there are plenty more options (both public and private)

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If you want a sensible life that revolves around work and family, you’ll think

this is one of the best neighborhoods in Upper Manhattan—you get Central

Park, lots of great museums and galleries, a lengthy stretch of waterfront,

and endless places to eat and drink.

That said, if you’re a young person looking for parties, this isn’t the
neighborhood for you.
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2. Upper West Side
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Best for: Endless green spaces, raising kids, Upper Manhattan on a relative

budget, and living a slightly quieter life

Okay, imagine you’re on Upper East Side. Cross Central Park to get to the

opposite side of Manhattan, and you’ve made it to Upper West Side.

Another of the biggest Manhattan neighborhoods, it’s less pricey than Upper

East Side, but it’s an equally great place to raise a family. You’re very close to

great green spaces (both Central Park and Riverside Park are brilliant), you

share a neighborhood with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the

American Museum of Natural History, and you get lots of brilliant schools.

One of the best private options is Dwight School (it’s one of the best in

Manhattan), but there are lots of excellent public schools too.

But Upper West Side isn’t all about families. There are some great places to

eat, drink and party, and it’s an excellent choice for young people.
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North of Upper West Side, there’s a huge student community on the

Columbia University Campus, making the area one of the best places in

Manhattan for students. So if you’re young, or like hanging around with a

young crowd, the Upper West Side is a great place to be.

3. Harlem
Best for: Diversity, friendly faces, living on a budget, and feeling part of a

community

One of the most diverse and friendly Manhattan neighborhoods, Harlem is

fantastic fun, and full of warm welcomes. People from all over the planet live

here, so it’s one of the best areas in Manhattan for expats from around the

world.

There’s also a great sense of community in the neighborhood. No matter

how long you decide to live in Harlem, you’ll feel like you really belong in

Harlem. Because of that, and because there are some brilliant public schools

in the neighborhood, it’s one of the best areas in Manhattan for families.
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There are also lots of universities in the area, making Harlem one of the best

places in Manhattan for students. Some of the biggest education

establishments in and around Harlem include City College of New York,

Manhattan School of Music, and Columbia University.

And on top of all that, it’s one of the most affordable areas in Manhattan.

If you want soul food, jazz clubs, friendly neighbors, and an affordable

existence, Harlem is without doubt one of the best neighborhoods in Upper

Manhattan.

Best Neighborhoods in Midtown Manhattan

4. Hell’s Kitchen
Best for: Good nightlife, great theater, being surrounded by tourists, and

having lots of fun

Alright, time to head to Midtown Manhattan.

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Directly south of Upper West Side is the bizarrely-named neighborhood of

Hell’s Kitchen.

The district was once gritty and undesirable. But like most of Manhattan, the

area has been upgraded, improved and gentriGed beyond recognition. As a

result, it’s now one of Manhattan’s most trendy districts, with loads of places

to eat, drink, make friends and have fun.

Because Hell’s Kitchen is so close to Times Square and other tourist

hotspots, you see lots of travelers and vacationers here. So if you’re planning

to move to Manhattan for a while, you might prefer some of the area’s other

neighborhoods.

That said, the nightlife is great, the theater scene is brilliant, and there are

loads of places to eat and drink. So if you like Glling your time with fun, you’ll

probably love the place.

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All in all, Hell’s Kitchen is one of the best areas in Manhattan for expats who

want to live like tourists, or eat, drink, party and play. So if you’re young, you’ll

likely love it here.

5. Chelsea
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Best for: Endless art galleries, brilliant nightlife, LGBT residents, and hanging

with hipsters

Just south of Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea is amuent, edgy and artistic. It’s not one

of the most well-known Manhattan neighborhoods, but it’s bold, brilliant and
exciting, with endless places to eat, drink, have fun and make friends.

The neighborhood is (allegedly!) home to more than 400 art galleries, making

it arguably the most artistic neighborhood in Manhattan. Some of the best

and biggest names include the Petzel Gallery and the Agora Gallery, but there

are also plenty of small-scale venues for enjoying local art and hip
exhibitions.

Chelsea is one of the best Manhattan neighborhoods for LGBT newcomers,

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Chelsea is one of the best Manhattan neighborhoods for LGBT newcomers,
with lots of gay bars, popular hangouts and LGBT residents. Since the 1970s,
it’s been one of Manhattan’s biggest, best and most famous LGBT areas.

All in all, Chelsea is best suited to artists, hipsters, young people, couples and
singles. It’s not a great spot for families or business brains, but it’s brilliant

fun for the right people.

6. Kips Bay
Best for: Living the quiet life, excellent education institutions, and living a
pricey family life

East of (and pretty close to!) Chelsea is Kips Bay, one of the smallest
districts we’re bringing you. It’s also one of the lesser-known Manhattan
neighborhoods on our list.

If you want to live in a relatively peaceful area (we say ‘relatively’ because
this is New York!), it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Manhattan.
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Because it’s pretty quiet, and because the neighborhood has some fantastic
schools, it’s one of the best areas in Manhattan for families. Here, you’ll Gnd

Maryel School and the British International School of New York, two of the
best and most prestigious private schools in Manhattan.

But just because Kips Bay is quiet, that doesn’t mean you’re isolated. You’re
very close to many of Manhattan’s more bustling districts, including lots of

Lower Manhattan—so you can easily travel (or even walk) for nightlife and
atmosphere.

Broadly speaking, if you have money and a family, Kips Bay is a great place to

be. But if your priorities aren’t raising kids and relaxing, you’re not gonna like
living here.

7. Murray Hill
Best for: Young professionals, relatively affordable living, and under-the-radar

places to eat and drink

Directly north of Kips Bay is Murray Hill, another of Manhattan’s lesser-known

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(and most underrated) neighborhoods.

If you’re looking for affordable areas in Manhattan, this is one of them. It’s
also a great choice for young professionals, who come here to drink, work

and socialize.

If you’re moving to Manhattan without a job, Murray Hill can be a great place

to Gnd one— Microsoft, the United Nations and lots of other household
names have headquarters here.

For newcomers (and you’re gonna be one of them!) Murray Hill is actually a

brilliant overall choice. It’s affordable without being on the outskirts, it’s a
decent place to Gnd a job, it’s well-located for exploring the rest of

Manhattan, and it’s a good place to make friends (assuming you largely want
to make friends with young professionals).

And on top of all that, you’re close to some of Manhattan’s most famous

places, including Koreatown, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and
plenty more.
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Last of all, Murray Hill is known for its excellent Indian food. Known as ‘Curry

Hill’ (nice pun), this is where you’ll Gnd the best South Asian food in
Manhattan. And lots of it!

8. Garment District
Best for: Fashionistas, shopping, good schools, and people seeking a quieter

life

West of Murray Hill, and close to Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen, is the

Garment District.

Pretty small, it’s the clothing center of Manhattan, with more than 6,000
fashion retailers and businesses packed into its diminutive conGnes. Lots of

people come here to buy clothes, fabrics, accessories and more. It’s sort of
like Lower Manhattan’s Soho, but less busy, less well-known, and with way

fewer tourists.
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Because it’s famous for business, the Garment District isn’t a particularly

popular residential area, and the property prices are pretty high. And on top
of that, there aren’t a huge number of fun things to do in the neighborhood—

so if you’re moving to Manhattan for business, living here can be a great

idea. But if you’re not, it probably isn’t.

That said, it can be a good place to live for the right people. Because the
Garment District is safe, quiet, central and pleasant, it’s a good place to raise
kids. It’s right beside Kips Bay, so you’ll Gnd two of Manhattan’s best private

schools in the area: Maryel School and the British International School of
New York.

If you’re looking for the best areas in Manhattan for families, you’ve found
one.

9. Flatiron District
Best for: Big businesses, remote working, young professionals, and feeling

like you’re in a movie

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Just south of the Garment District is the Flatiron District. Here, you really feel

like you’re ‘in’ Manhattan, surrounded by skyscrapers, businesses, and people

with somewhere to be.

Named after the iconic Flatiron Building that looms over the area (it’s one of

the most famous towers in New York), the Flatiron District is one of the
prettier neighborhoods in Midtown Manhattan, with some really beautiful

architecture.

It also has great eateries, fun bars, Madison Avenue, and excellent proximity
to lots of other Manhattan neighborhoods—for getting around, it’s hard to

Gnd a better location than this.

But because the Flatiron District is a business hub with lots of rich residents,

all that fun and convenience comes at a price.

That said, if you can afford to live here, it’s a brilliant place to work.
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There are lots of innovative startups, huge oFce buildings and co-working

spaces, all where you can make big bucks. So if you’re a remote worker, and
you’re only going to be in the area for a short while, the Flatiron District is a
fantastic place to get a serviced apartment in Manhattan.
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Best Neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan

10. Lower East Side

Best for: Diversity, mixing the rough with the smooth, fantastic food and non-
stop nightlife

Alright, let’s head south—and let’s get things started with one of the best

neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan.

The southeast pocket of Manhattan, the Lower East Side is crammed with a

huge number of varied people and places, and it’s right in the middle of a
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gentriGcation boom. Once a little dangerous, now very welcoming, it’s
becoming more popular every day.

Because of that, lots of people who don’t know where to live in Manhattan

oock to the Lower East Side. And that’s a brilliant choice—the neighborhood
is eclectic, edgy and energetic, and it’s absolutely packed with fun.

Most people associate the district with its excellent food scene—Little Italy

and Chinatown are very close by, while you get much more food from around
the world. For culinary diversity, the Lower East Side is one of the best

neighborhoods in Manhattan.

It’s also really well-known for nightlife, so if you’re young, moving without a

family, and looking for lots of parties, it’s without doubt one of the best
Manhattan neighborhoods.

Best of all, because it’s so diverse, the Lower East Side is very welcoming

and friendly—so it’s one of the best areas in Manhattan for expats from
around the world.
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11. East Village
Best for: Excellent nightlife, live music, great food, and hanging out with a

young crowd

Bordering Lower East Side to the north, East Village is just as eclectic and
interesting as its next-door neighbor.

Again, it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan for a diverse

range of people. The expat community here is very big, with residents from
all over the world. And just like its neighbor, you get diverse food, excellent

nightlife, and a cool crowd of people to hang out with.

If you like Glling your nights full of fun, alcohol and lots of live music, you’ll
probably love living in East Village.

The neighborhood is also one of the best places in Manhattan for students.

There are lots of universities in and around the area, including St. John’s
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University and the imaginatively-titled New York University.

12. Greenwich Village

Best for: Hipster hangouts, LGBT visitors, students, and becoming buddies

with bohemians

Just west of East Village is Greenwich Village. Once the bohemian epicenter

of Manhattan, it’s now a little more gentriGed, but it’s retained lots of its

alternative charm. Here, you’ll Gnd jazz cafes, live music bars, trendy eateries,
off-Broadway theaters and lots of fun events. It’s one of the best areas in

Manhattan for expats who like to party.

But because it’s gentriGed, prices have rapidly gone up—so Greenwich Village
deGnitely isn’t one of the more affordable areas in Manhattan.

LIke nearby Chelsea, Greenwich Village is one of the most LGBT-friendly

parts of Manhattan, with lots of great bars (including the iconic Stonewall
Inn!), and an excellent LGBT community.
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And last of all, because there are lots of New York University buildings in and

around the neighborhood, it’s one of the best places in Manhattan for
students.
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13. West Village
Best for: Making fashionable friends, slurping on expensive drinks, and living

in the pricier part of Greenwich Village

West Village is actually a smaller part of Greenwich Village. Confusing.

The two neighborhoods share space, and they share a similar vibe. But the

West Village parts of Greenwich Village are a little less residential, and
arguably even more fun. That said, the residential parts of West Village are

pricey—so unless you’re moving on a limitless budget, you might not want to

live in the neighborhood.

Whatever you can do in Greenwich Village, you can also do in West Village.

You’ll just pay more to do it.

14. Noho
Best for: Young professionals, spending time trendily, and great connections
to other Manhattan neighborhoods
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No, we haven’t spelled Soho wrong.

Instead, Noho is a real place—and it’s a tiny neighborhood sandwiched

between Greenwich Village and East Village.

Absolutely one of the smallest neighborhoods we’ve covered, most people

who live here are young professionals in rented apartments. Densely urban,

the district is little else but a small patchwork of trendy streets, hip venues

and artistic hangouts. And that’s exactly what it feels like.

If you want to live right in the heart of Manhattan, you’ll love Noho. You’re

dead in the center of lots of the area’s best neighborhoods, surrounded by

fast-moving people who like to eat, drink, hang out and party. If you can

afford to live here, it’s a brilliant place to be.

15. Soho
Best for: High-end shopping, city slicking, and living like a long-term tourist
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Next up, it really is Soho.

South of Greenwich Village and Noho, Soho is one of Manhattan’s most

popular shopping neighborhoods.

If you like clothing stores, you’ll absolutely love the place—you get big names

like Alexander Wang, Céline, Isabel Marant and plenty more. Soho is most

well-known for designer boutiques, but the neighborhood now has lots of

independent stores too.

Living in Soho is a good choice if you’re only planning to be in Manhattan for

a short while. Here, lots of tourists come to shop, eat, drink, spend chunks of

money, visit trendy art galleries, and enjoy the big-city vibes. If you want to
feel like you’re living inside Sex and the City, it’ll absolutely be one of your

favorite Manhattan neighborhoods.

It’s not among the most affordable areas in Manhattan, but it’s a ridiculously
fun place to spend time—and for the right person, it’s a great place to live.
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16. Nolita
Best for: Expensive stores, a cosy (but classy) atmosphere, and a relatively
quiet life in a very busy area

Another small district, Nolita is close to both Soho and Noho—and it’s equally

trendy.

This tiny neighborhood basically feels like an extension of Soho, with lots of

designer stores, chic boutiques and places to buy jewelry, clothes, shoes and

handbags. Upmarket and classy, it’s a neighborhood for people who like to
show off, spend big and look good.

So if you’re young, stylish and trendy, and you’ve got a lot of money, you

might just love Nolita. Again, just like Soho, it’s a great place to be if you’re
only in Manhattan for a short few months.

Strangely, even though it’s sandwiched between some of Lower Manhattan’s

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most busy areas, Nolita inexplicably feels quiet, cosy and quaint. So if you
want to live in a busy area without feeling like you live in a busy area, you’ll

probably love living in Nolita.

17. The Financial District

Best for: Getting a well-paid job, being a young professional, and pretending
you’re in Wolf of Wall Street

The very southern tip of Manhattan is the prestigious Financial District.

Unsurprisingly, the place is home to Wall Street, so it’s a great place to be if

you’re looking for a well-paid job in a well-known place. Packed with

skyscrapers, big businesses, and endless money, the Financial District feels

just like you imagine it does.

Living here, you don’t just get unparalleled job opportunities. You also get

great proximity to some other top places—you’re close to the waterfront,

Battery Park, and many other Lower Manhattan neighborhoods.

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The Financial District is also a surprisingly good neighborhood for remote

workers, with lots of innovative and interesting co-working spaces.

Serendipity Labs is one of the most popular, but WeWork also have a huge
number of spaces in the area.

If you don’t know where to live in Manhattan, but you’re moving for

professional reasons, the Financial District is a great place to start your

search. It’s therefore the perfect place to get a serviced apartment in

Manhattan while you work out your long-term plan.

All in all, the Financial District is one of the best neighborhoods in Manhattan

for young professionals, but it’s not a great choice if you’re moving with
family, or if you’re on a budget.
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18. Tribeca
Best for: Hanging with celebrities, living in a loft, and exploring one of the

hippest neighborhoods in Manhattan

Northwest of the Financial District is Tribeca, probably most well-known for

its Glm festival and its celebrity associations. Jake Gyllenhaal, Justin

Timberlake, Harry Styles, Blake Lively and many more famous faces live here.

That’s because it’s one of the trendiest places in all of New York. It’s one of
the best neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan for anyone who likes hip parties,

happening hangouts and going to all the coolest places in town.

But it’s also one of the best Manhattan neighborhoods for spending lots of

money— property here is very expensive. If you can afford it, you get a
surprising combination of swanky and vibrant, with beautiful architecture,

low-level homes, cobbled lanes, and lots of enticing eateries. But the

problem is, few people can!

19. Battery Park City

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19. Battery Park City
Best for: Waterfront views, spending lots of money, and a tiny commute to

the Financial District

In the most southern stretch of Manhattan, there’s a small residential area

jutting out west into the Hudson River.

That small residential area is Battery Park City, with its waterfront views, rich

residents and upscale apartments. One of the most expensive areas in an

already-expensive area, Battery Park City is popular with high earners, high

spenders, and high-life livers.

It’s not a great place to have kids, raise a family, or live a bohemian life, but

it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Manhattan for Gnding a job—and one of
the best neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan for commuting to the Financial

District.

The most famous part of Battery Park City is Battery Park itself, a great green
space with views of (and trips to!) the Statue of Liberty.
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20. Little Italy
Best for: Pizza, pasta, endless eating, and living like a tourist

Last up, we have Little Italy, possibly the most tourist-heavy neighborhood in

all of Manhattan.

If you’re only planning to stay in the area for a short while, living in Little Italy

can be super fun. It’s one of the best neighborhoods for feeling like a long-

term tourist, and that makes it a great place to get a short-term serviced

apartment in Manhattan. You’re close to good bars, better eateries, and lots
of potential new buddies.

But if you’re gonna be around for a while, there are deGnitely better places to

live. Over time, you’ll likely get tired of Little Italy’s constant noise and
endless tourists.

Overall, Little Italy is one of the best neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan for
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pure fun, but only for a short while.

Apartments in New York

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 Best Best Best Best Best

Manhattan Manhattan Manhattan Manhattan Manhattan

neighborhoods neighborhoods neighborhoods neighborhoods neighborhoo

for millenials neighborhoods for young for food lovers for nightlife
for families professionals

Greenwich Upper West Financial Harlem Lower East

Village Side District Side

Hell’s Kitchen Harlem Noho Soho East Village

Harlem Upper East Murray Hill Murray Hill Greenwich

Side Village

Upper West Kips Bay East Village Lower East Chelsea

Side Side

Lower East Garment Hell’s Kitchen Little Italy Harlem

Side District
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