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The best of the best in Harlem, including restaurants, bars, parks, shops & more. Check out our full neighborhood guide for Harlem here: urbancompass.com/neighborhood_guides/harlem
310 Malcolm X Blvd (btwn W 125th & W 126th St), New York, NY
Southern Food Restaurant · 552 tips and reviews
Compass: Jerk catfish sandwiches and oxtail stew are among the ways that celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson’s take on American comfort fare gives equal nod to his ethnic roots and present-day neighborhood.
328 Malcolm X Blvd (btwn W 126th & W 127th St), New York, NY
Southern Food Restaurant · Central Harlem · 248 tips and reviews
Compass: The constantly packed eatery serves caters to locals and tourists seeking some of the most lauded mac and cheese and Sunday comfort lunch fare in the city.
French Restaurant · Central Harlem · 81 tips and reviews
Compass: For authentic cuisine invoking the Parisian cross-culture of the Harlem Renaissance, look no further than the croque madame and mousse at this cocktail bar and restaurant.
Southern Food Restaurant · Central Harlem · 3 tips and reviews
Compass: Dive into a heaping sampler platter or order fried chicken, collard greens, potato salad, and short ribs a’la carte at the 1950s-style dining joint.
2021 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd (btwn 120th & 121st), New York, NY
Jazz and Blues Venue · Central Harlem · 27 tips and reviews
Compass: A street-facing picket fence and unmissable blue awning hint at the homey digs therein: a well-aged dartboard and jukebox have helped to establish it as a Harlem bar standard.
2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd (at W 113th St.), New York, NY
Beer Garden · Central Harlem · 122 tips and reviews
Compass: Grab a sunny spot on the street-facing patio, tuck into currywurst and brats at the German-infused restaurant, or grab happy hour cocktails at the swank bar.
Arts and Crafts Store · Central Harlem · 5 tips and reviews
Compass: Negotiate deals on traditional African crafts from hand-dyed fabrics to artisanal snacks and preserved goods at the vibrant flea market and indie market gathering spot.
144 W 125th St (Between Lenox and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards), New York, NY
Art Museum · Central Harlem · 56 tips and reviews
Compass: Peruse photographer, designer, and owner Coreen Simpson’s Black Cameo jewelry collection, plus handmade gifts and coffee table books chronicling Harlem’s history at the gallery and art studio space.
Mt. Morris Park W & Madison Ave (btwn W 120th & W 124th St), New York, NY
Park · Central Harlem · 52 tips and reviews
Compass: Free live jazz and featured comedy acts fill the summer event calendar, while public play spaces, ping-pong tournaments, and a public amphitheater keep park-goers busy all year.
W 150th St & Bradhurst Ave (at 145th Street), New York, NY
Park · Central Harlem · 20 tips and reviews
Compass: Designated as a Historic Harlem landtrust, Jackie Robinson is beloved for its community pool, event-filled recreation center, and famously named baseball fields.
Cosmetics Store · Central Harlem · 21 tips and reviews
Compass: Cheeky, sweet-smelling signature treatments such as the “Cookies and Cream” mani-pedi and “Rose Petal Ritual” face and hair services are truly unique.
328 Malcolm X Blvd (btwn W 126th & W 127th St), New York, NY
Southern Food Restaurant · Central Harlem · 248 tips and reviews
Compass: Celebrity and special occasion clients turn to chef Sylvia Woods’ catering services for bread and banana pudding, behemoth cobbler pans, and more.
2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd (116th Street), New York, NY
Butcher · Central Harlem · 18 tips and reviews
Compass: Meat-seeking foodies single out the bright white butcher shop for dry-aged sausages and steaks, rare cuts and meat pies, and charcuterie service that can’t be found anywhere else.
Compass: The community center’s holistic approach to community care, spanning an award-winning primary-through-high-school curriculum, family health services, a teaching garden, and more.