Upper East Side

The Upper East Side is a classic New York neighborhood known for its affluent residents and refined atmosphere. From the Rockefellers to the Roosevelts, the majority of New York City’s most famous old money families own grand residences on the Upper East Side. Attractions and amenities in this prestigious stretch of Manhattan include Madison Avenue shopping, Museum Mile, and Central Park.

The Upper East Side is home to many standout restaurants. Poke on 85th Street serves great sushi in a relaxed no-reservations spot with a BYOB policy. Altesi offers refined Italian dining with dishes inspired by the traditional cuisine of the Amalfi Coast. Their menu includes seafood specialties such as insalata di gamberi made with sautéed shrimp alongside regional classics from owner Paolo Alavian’s hometown of Lecce. UES Ice Cream is a hidden gem on 2nd Avenue. This small streetfront ice cream shop serves tasty scoops sourced from the local Soco Creamery. UES Ice Cream also has a secret speakeasy that can be entered through the ice cream shop. Inside, you’ll discover a lavishly decorated lounge with a creative menu of sublime cocktails. Madison Avenue is renowned as one of NYC’s premier shopping streets. Highlights include a flagship boutique of high-end Italian fashion brand Bottega Veneta. Bottega Veneta Maison has converted three townhouses into a five-story fashion mecca with cutting-edge décor and an outstanding selection of clothing, jewelry, home furnishings, and artwork. Other leading fashion brands with flagship stores on Madison Avenue include Alexander McQueen, Celine, Dolce & Gabbana, Gabriela Hearst, Hermès, Lanvin, Missoni, Ralph Lauren Men’s, and Tom Ford.

15-acre Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East riverfront is a picturesque, landscaped green space with great views of the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse and Randalls and Wards Islands. With two separate dog runs for big and small pups, Carl Schurz Park is known as NYC’s most canine- friendly park. Originally built in 1799, Gracie Mansion at Carl Schurz Park has served as the official residence of the Mayor of New York City since the 1940s. Asphalt Green is a sports and fitness campus with an aquatics center, sports fields and courts, and a gym. Many instructional and recreational programs are available here for all ages and ability levels, from youth soccer leagues to elite Olympic-level swim training. Central Park runs along the Upper East Side’s western boundary. The world’s most famous urban green space, this sprawling park’s beautiful lakes and ponds have been captured in countless films and television shows. Attractions within the park include the Central Park Zoo. Park Avenue Armory is an imposing castle-like structure on Park Avenue that was originally built in the late 19th century as a National Guard Armory for a regiment that included elite family names such as Livingston, Roosevelt, and Vanderbilt. The Armory has since been transformed into an innovative cultural space hosting spectacular art exhibits and world-class theatrical and musical performances. The Upper East Side is also home to the many world-renowned museums comprising Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile. Some of the most popular museums here include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, and El Museo del Barrio.

The Upper East Side is served by the New York City Public Schools District.