Where To Stay In New York City - Best Neighborhoods Guide

Close to Midtown but shy of the accompanying chaos, Chelsea is an area on Manhattan’s west side. One of the trendier neighborhoods in NYC, with some worthwhile speakeasies, foodie hotspots and real-deal dives, it’s a good bet for visitors wanting to experience NYC nightlife. In fact, with cobblestone streets lined by boutiques and cafes, the GreenMarket in Union Square and the urban chic that permeates the place, not to mention the proximity to (and distance from!) the bustling Midtown, it’s an ideal suggestion for where to stay in New York City for tourists overall. A particularly magical experience awaits those travelers who choose to stay in Chelsea over Christmas, when the holiday spirit takes hold and Union Square transforms into a Christmas Market of epic proportions. Year-round the area is also one of the best places in New York for art lovers and foodies alike with art galleries,

The birthplace of New York, Lower Manhattan is veritably is steeped in history; 400 years of it! Situated between the Hudson and East Rivers the haphazard maze of streets where the original Dutch "New Amsterdam" settlement was first established in 1626, the neighborhood encompasses the Financial District, Battery Park City, and parts of the Civic Center. A striking duality of old and new, Lower Manhattan is a juxtaposition of energetic financial activity (the likes of Wall Street) and historical landmarks. The Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and Trinity Church all occupy this portion of the map, drawing visitors from all over, while hip eateries, bars, and trendy stores cater to a more local market.

Another NYC neighborhood that wears its diversity with pride, Lower Manhattan has historically been a center of multiculturalism. With an energetic vibe that pervades the vintage-clothing stores, hip restaurants, and vibrant nightlife scene, the once downtrodden neighborhood has undergone revitalization on a grand scale. For lovers of architecture, the suburb is a feast for the eyes, with one block different from the next – modern glass structures contrast perfectly with historic pre-war tenements, while street art brings a contemporary urban feel to 19th-century buildings. The Tenement Museum on Orchard Street is an ode to the 19th-century immigrant experience, while the New Museum is a showcase of cutting-edge contemporary art. And while the suburb has undergone a historical and cultural revolution over the decades, the residents and shop owners that frequent the sidewalk in chairs are a testament to a firmly rooted community.

Park Slope is everything you want for your family – a passionately committed community, quiet streets, parks filled with dog-walkers and kids and stores patronized by locals – all with the convenience of being just a short subway trip from the main center of NYC activity. If you want an electric nightlife with club open till dawn; skip to the next paragraph, but if you’re looking for where to stay in New York City with family, a pleasant home base, with lush green spaces, plenty beer gardens and a casual restaurant scene, then this is the place for you.  

Near Central Park and Riverside Park, the Upper West Side of Manhattan is one of the best neighborhoods in NYC for those with a love for the performing arts, or anyone who wants the chance to glimpse the set of some of their favorite NYC-set TV scenes! Home to the stage lights of Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet (both housed in Lincoln Centre) the Upper West Side also happens to be the typically leafy, residential apartment neighborhood you would have spotted in household favorites like Seinfeld, You've Got Mail and Gossip Girl. For those too young (your kids) to recognize the setting of these classic hits, there is so much more on offer – apart from being one of the safer areas in NYC, the close proximity of Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (among other great attractions) make the Upper West Side a hit with people exploring the city with children.

One of the great reasons to visit NYC is the diversity of its neighborhoods and nowhere is there more diverse a history than in Soho, Tribeca. Once a factory and warehouse hell (quite literally nicknamed Hell’s Hundred Acres) with dismal working conditions, the neighborhood now boasts million-dollar lofts, stylish shopping options and a vibrant food and arts scene unlike any other, home to many of NYC’s highest rated restaurants, straddling a vast variety of cuisines. The fabulous lifestyle offered in this eclectic mix of refurbished warehouses, apartment buildings and boutique stores is a drawcard for the rich and famous, and is a delight to stay in, while perhaps not being as pretty on the pocket!  

If you imagine yourself seated at the window of a cozy cafe, with naked bulbs dangling above you as you type your new novel or create a sketch, looking up every now and then at a view of old industrial buildings, while probably wearing handmade leather boots and vintage tortoiseshell specs; Williamsburg is for you. One of Brooklyn's up-and-coming neighborhoods finds that perfect hipster sweet spot between the old and new, without even trying. It simply has a timeless feel to it, while being saturated with young creative energy and an effortless cool. Staying in Williamsburg means exploring a vivacious art and music scene, browsing boutique and cafeś, and – possibly best of all – dining at Michelin star eateries.

If the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple are precisely what you crave, Midtown might just be one best neighborhood to stay in New York City for you. Full with skyscrapers and the bright lights of Times Square, Midtown is central to pretty much every landmark you might want to see with the added authenticity of honking cab horns at 3am. It’s busy, it’s loud and yet still It’s an ideal pick for where to stay in New York City for first-timers with architectural gems like the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and busy Rockefeller Center, as well as the must-visit Fifth Avenue all within walking distance. Dotted with celebrities, NYC attractions, and glittering city lights, Midtown is simply what New York dreams are made of.