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The best of the best on the Upper West Side, including restaurants, bars, parks, art galleries & more.
Check out our full guide here: urbancompass.com/neighborhood_guides/upper_east_side
1590 2nd Ave (btwn E 82nd & E 83rd St), New York, NY
Gastropub · Yorkville · 252 tips and reviews
Compass: Though the burgers and fried sausages are excellent at this upscale Irish pub, Penrose carries rare and unknown whiskeys, and turns them into savory cocktails.
40 Central Park S (btwn 5th & 6th Ave), New York, NY
American Restaurant · Midtown East · 558 tips and reviews
Compass: Famed for its mouth-watering brunches, Sarabeth’s serves fluffy omelettes and addicting baked goods. Stop by for dinner to indulge in a flaky chicken pot pie.
Compass: A fireplace, red velvet drapes, mahogany bar, and intimate tables make Auction House an excellent date spot. Order Manhattans, but note that a dress code is enforced.
1452 2nd Ave (btwn E 75th & E 76th St.), New York, NY
Karaoke Bar · Upper East Side · 49 tips and reviews
Compass: Karaoke rules at Iggy’s, where pitchers of beer help twentysomethings get over stage fright to belt out Mariah Carey and ABBA. But have no shame; everyone’s friendly as can be here.
Compass: This dive bar favorite carries a collegiate atmosphere and cheap drinks. Organized beer pong and a killer happy hour draw diverse crowds just looking for a good time.
Cocktail Bar · Upper East Side · 25 tips and reviews
Compass: The whiskey and cigar bar is usually full of suit-clad businessmen winding down. Enjoy the refinement by the fireplace, while jazz plays overhead.
Compass: Brick walls, high ceilings, and repurposed wood are the backdrop of the rustic wine bar. Small plates are worth trying while sipping on funky drinks.
660 Madison Ave (btwn E 60th & E 61st St), New York, NY
Department Store · Upper East Side · 221 tips and reviews
Compass: Runway designs, ready-to-wear lines, and haute couture fill the nine-floor flagship, and Fred’s, the top-floor restaurant, is a playground for seasoned shoppers.
Compass: Barbour’s trademark waxed-cotton jackets aren’t the only thing at the Madison Avenue store. Find everything you need to complete a countryside-chic look here.
Compass: The world-famous zoo attracts tourists and neighbors to the Wildlife Center, where animals roam in simulations of their habitats, instead of behind bars.
Compass: Near FDR Drive in the 60s, St. Catherine’s Park is popular with the after-school crowd. A tennis wall, handball courts, and small running track are used frequently for friendly pick-up games.
Compass: Carl Schurz Park is a perfect place to relax for those who look for grassy areas outside of Central Park. A small field is perfect for sunbathicng or reading and a dog park lets pets run around.
Compass: After $1.4 million in renovations, the park near the East River features a sandbox, swings, climbing net, and giant swimming pool for kids of all ages.
1113 Madison Ave (btwn E 83rd & E 84th St), New York, NY
Hair Salon · Upper East Side · 4 tips and reviews
Compass: Every customer is loyalty at Kimara Ahnert, where makeovers are a treat. Repeat visitors’ tones and shades are kept on file and Ahnert offers makeup lessons regularly.
Compass: A robust array of sausages, bratwurst, bacon, and pate can be found at the famed Germantown butcher. For summer BBQs, it’s the only place to go.
Ice Cream Parlor · Upper East Side · 45 tips and reviews
Compass: Founded in Staten Island in 1922, Sedutto has been an NYC ice cream staple. Its Upper East Side location attracts patrons looking for the best ice cream in the city and a chance to wax nostalgic.
99 Gansevoort St (btwn 10th Ave & Washington St), New York, NY
Art Museum · Meatpacking District · 434 tips and reviews
Compass: The mecca to twentieth century American art will soon move downtown, but until then enjoy wandering the mirrored halls of the famed museum on Madison Avenue.
Art Museum · Upper East Side · 124 tips and reviews
Compass: Filled with twentieth century German and Austrian art, the small museum attracts fewer tourists than its Museum Mile counterparts, but maintains the same level of pedigree.
Art Museum · Upper East Side · 212 tips and reviews
Compass: Henry Clay Frick might have gotten his art by making a few enemies, but the collection on display in his former house is stunning. Degas, Goya, Velazquez, and many more hang on his walls.