The Best Neighborhoods in NYC to Spend a Weekend

Expand your Big Apple knowledge with an exploration into the neighborhoods of NYC.

Since every neighborhood in New York City is a unique experience and it can sometimes seem like a daunting task to specialise down just one area to hang out in for a weekend . That ’s why we ’ve fall prepared with a thorough rundown of some of our best-loved areas toeat , drink , shop , andstayacross the five borough . Whether you ’re looking to channelize over to Concourse for a spring game at Yankee Stadium , brunch your nitty-gritty out in Ridgewood , or the great unwashed watch in Greenwich Village , here are some of the best neighborhoods in NYC to pass a weekend .

Ridgewood

Ridgewood has long been one of NYC ’s most underrated region . sandwich between the younger party air of Bushwick and the quieter residential blocks of Central Queens , the triangle - shaped area exudate an effortless stratum of cool . Among our favored perks of the neighborhood are an inimitable gang of brewery , dive bars , brunch spot , quirky shops , and gorgeous green distance . Things to do : be given into your nature side atRidgewood Reservoir . Shop local withDeep Cuts Record Store , Topos Bookstore , Other People ’s Clothes , andRidgewood Antiques . trip the light fantastic the Nox away atTrans - Pecos , The Deep End , BierWax Queens , andNowadays . eating place and bar : Brunch your mettle out atCute Cat Cafe , Tasty Diner , Ridgewood Ale House , andJulia ’s . Stuff yourself at longtime stone likeRolo’s , Porcelain , Odaan , Joe & John ’s , andCream . Check out viral newcomers likeMama Yoshi Mini MartandDecades Pizza . recoil back at local haunts such asAunt Ginny’sandThe Bad Old Days . Brews are best served fromQueens BreweryandEvil Twin Brewery . Where to quell : Penny , Hotel Indigo , and42 Hotel .

NoHo

Often overshadowed by neighboring hotspot like SoHo and Greenwich Village , NoHo ’s charm meld the gilded and smart vim of business district with a pleasantly surprising laidback side . While its small size and lofty price point qualify the amount of New Yorkers that can actually call this area domicile , we incline to our reverie via temporary weekend escapades . Things to do : Catch a free functioning atThe Public Theater . correspond out an exhibit that celebrates everything tiny , titledSmall is Beautiful : Miniature Art Exhibition . Dive into story at theMerchant ’s House Museum . Shop at curated stores likeShowfields , Dashwood Books , Codex , Goop , Ulla Johnson , andDienst + Dotter . Pop by a voguish workout class atRise NationorBox + Flow . Restaurants and bars : seek to snag sought - after reservations atC as in Charlie , Bohemian , KYU , Il Buco , andIndochine . Stop by for Thai food atFish cheek . Energize atCafe Lyria . Brunch atAtlaorVic ’s . Dine on Italian and French fare at the latterly debutedRaf ’s . Top grade spots to snap up a drink includeJac ’s on Bond , The Nines , andTemple Bar . Other spots for libations can be found atGreat Jones Distilling Co. Where to stay : The Bowery Hotel , The Standard , East Village , PUBLIC Hotel .

East Village

Since becoming its own neck of the woods in the sixties , the East Village has blossom into a downtown epicentre of cool where eccentricity and night life fanfare . Edged between the Bowery and Third Avenue with fourteenth Street to the north and Houston Street to the south , the East Village is dwelling to top eating place and ethnic hub like Little Ukraine as well as generations of new college students from nearby universities that carry on the neighbourhood ’s stylish and bohemian legacy . Things to do : Shop local atBonnie Slotnick ’s Cookbooks , Mast Books , Metropolis Vintage Clothing , Tokio7,La Sirena , andStranded Records . take in live medicine atWebster Hall , Nuyorican Poets Cafe , andConnelly Theater . cool out inTompkins Square ParkorCreative Little Garden . pop LGBTQIA+ bars in the surface area includePhoenix , Nowhere , andThe Boiler Room . Restaurants and ginmill : Dine at institutions likeB&H Dairy , Veselka , Casa Adela , Downtown Bakery Cocina Mexicana , andCafe Mogador . Drop by newcomers includingFoul Witch , Claud , HAGS , Virginia ’s , andAriari . Sip swig beer and cheap drinks atMcSorley’s , Sophie ’s , andThe Boiler Room , plus cocktail fromMister Paradise , Sake Bar Decibel , and11 Tigers . Where to continue : The Standard , East Village , The Bowery Hotel , andEast Village Hotel .

Meatpacking District

The Meatpacking District may be compendious , but it has a dynamic presence in Manhattan . Bordered by the Hudson River , Greenwich Village , and Chelsea , the neighborhood ’s name can be traced back to the large number of abattoir that used to occupy its streets from the late nineteenth century to the mid 20th hundred . The region has since become synonymous with impressive art assembling , swank stores , urban out-of-door blank , and voguish lodgement . Things to do : search stunning exhibits atWhitney Museum of Art . Get some fresh atmosphere at two of the urban center ’s cool urban parks : The High LineandLittle Island . cut some bucks with the aid of high - enddesigner boutiques . Hit the town at visitor - favorite night life spots likeLe BainandSNS Bar . Restaurants and bar : smear renown at famed dining terminus likePastis , Genesis House , Old Homestead Steakhouse , andFig & Olive . Upscale Taiwanese menu shinny atHao Noodle . Have a date dark atRH Rooftop , Brass Monkey , orHelen ’s . bibulous sweet treats reign supreme atAubi & Ramsa . Full mail your caffeine obsession at the nearbyStarbucks Reserve Roastery . Where to stay : The Standard , High Line , The Maritime Hotel , High Line Hotel , andDream Downtown .

Bed-Stuy

A mecca for sinister finish and home to thelargest aggregation of entire Victorian architecturein the U.S. , Bedford - Stuyvesant is pullulate with residential district , artistry , and beauty . recognize colloquially as Bed - Stuy , this northern section of Brooklyn was magnificently once the rest home of icon like Shirley Chisholm , the Notorious B.I.G. , June Jordan , and Jay - Z. Stroll picturesque Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - line streets , lounge in idyllic parking area , and frequent local occupation — you never fuck who you might see . Things to do : Shop , sip , and peruse atSEED Brklyn . Picnic atHerbert Von King ParkorFulton Park . Volunteer at theHattie Carthan Community Garden . collar evidence atBillie Holiday Theatre . Bring fresh spirit to your excavation viaNatty GardenandSeasons . care for yourself to some retail therapy atPeace & Riot;Sincerely , Tommy;BLK MKT Vintage;Byas & Leon . eatery and bars : Sip coffee berry atCorto , Zaca Cafe , andBrooklyn Kettle . nip breakfast at hotspots likeBrown Butter Craft Bar & Kitchen(and its ice pick siblingBrown Butter Creamery ) . Drop by the top restaurants likeThree Maples , Saraghina Restaurant , Peaches(plusPeaches HotHouse),Buka , andHart ’s . Toss back inexpensive deglutition atAll Night SkateandDo or Dive . light upon a receive atmosphere and elated vibe at the poove concepts ofOddly EnoughandC’mon Everybody . Where to stay : Akwaaba Mansion , Airbnb , andVrbo .

The South Bronx

We could n’t pick just one neighbourhood in the South Bronx . comprise of Concourse , Melrose , Mott Haven , and Port Morris , this cultural crossroad is home to everything from sport area and artistry midpoint to community - led farms and a vino prevention / sovereign bookstore . Although one weekend is certainly not enough time to in full hit it up up all that the southernmost part of The Bronx borough has to offer , it ’s in spades a start . Things to do : Catch a spring game atYankee Stadium . discover stimulating content at theBronx Documentary Center . Drop by theBronx Music Heritage Center . Volunteer at theLa Finca Del Surcommunity - led farm . Peruse local art at TheBronx Museum , WALLWORKS NY , or theBronxArtSpace . Load up with Bronx merch courtesy ofBronx NativeandPerico Limited . Sip wine and blab lit atThe Lit . measure . Restaurants and bar : Satisfy your sweet tooth atChocobar Cortes . Lunch is done right atBeatstro , Hudson Smokehouse , Ceetay , andMonte ’s Brick Oven . toil in at local classic likeRosa ’s at Park , Charlie ’s Bar and Kitchen , andMade in Puerto Rico Bar and Lounge . Local tearing holes includeBar 47,The Bronx Brewery , andPort Morris Distillery . Where to delay : Opera House HotelandHaven Park Hotel .

Greenpoint

Steeped in historical Polish culture and advanced millennial influence , Greenpoint is one of Brooklyn ’s trendiest neighborhoods . Once home to a enceinte area of factories and marine pier , the neighborhood ’s recent evolution has resulted in an groundbreaking team of eateries , lachrymation holes , and amusement enclave . comparatively off the beaten track , Greenpoint retains its grounded appeal due to its deficiency of tourer drawing card — and that ’s why we love it . Things to do : Catch a film atSkyline Drive - InorFilm Noir Cinema . Unwind via sensational privation atVessel Floats . Brighten your flat with plants fromGreenery Unlimited , Tula House , Horti PLAY , andTend Greenpoint . Frolic aroundMcCarren Park , McGolrick Park , andTransmitter Park . Source local produce and ingredients atGreenmarket SaturdaysorGreenpoint Terminal Market . Livelier nights out can go you in the focus ofPonyboy , Eavesdrop , andTwins Lounge . eating house and bars : mistreat up your dinner time routine with a stop atRule of Thirds;Fulgurances , Laundromat ; orAchilles Heel . Other beloved standbys includeBernie’s , El Pingüino , Little Dokebi , Di an Di , Taqueria Ramirez , Pauli Gee ’s Slice Shop , Sweetie ’s K Chicken , andOxomoco . Karczmais your terminus for stellar Polish culinary art . like an expert curated cocktails can be found atBar Americano , Little Rascal , andHana Makgeolli . Sip on small passel brews atTørstorThrees Brewing . Where to stay put : Henry Norman Hotel , The Box House Hotel , andFranklin Guesthouse .

Long Island City

A mixture of residential and commercial-grade high rise construction signal your arrival into the heart of this up - and - coming Queens neighborhood . Accessible via underground , motorbus , ferry , and two LIRR station , LIC is a fuss - detached destination if you ’re come from Manhattan or Brooklyn . household to East River views , compelling business debuts , and Instagram - friendly landmarks , discover what lies beyond the iconic Pepsi - Cola polarity of Long Island City . thing to do : Stroll under cherry blossom canopies atHunter ’s Point South Parkthen sofa inGantry Plaza State Park . Wander around industrial art blank likeMoMA PS1,The Noguchi Museum , theSculpture Center , or theSocrates Sculpture Park . Visit a rooftop farm byBrooklyn Grange . Challenge your fear of acme atThe Cliffs at LIC . Have play in the sun atThe Summer Club . Restaurants and bars : Pop by lauded restaurants likeCasa Enrique , Cafe Henri , Adda Indian Canteen , andM. Wells . Barbecue lover can check outPig Beach BBQandJohn Brown BBQ . consolation classic are found atCourt Street Diner . research theJACX&COfood hall . The thriving beer vista includesLIC Beer Project , Fifth Hammer Brewing Co. , andFocal Point Beer Co. Cocktails - wise , there’sDutch KillsandThe Beast Next Door . Where to stay : Boro Hotel , Ravel Hotel , andThe Collective Paper Factory .

The West Village and Greenwich Village

When it comes to the West Village and Greenwich Village , it ’s tough to separate or even liken one to the other . So , we ’ve film the gentle path out : We ’re giving you both . The story - laden landscape of culinary habitue , euphony locale , clowning clubs , and LGBTQIA+ hubs combined with voguish newcomers is a siren call for eccentricity and revel . If even for just the weekend , it ’s never a bad mind to embrace that intoxicatingly dreamy ambiance . Things to do : People catch inWashington Square Park . Unwind from your week at theComedy CellarorVillage Underground . fall by historical music venue likeCafe Wha?,The Bitter End , andBlue Note . Experience the palmy LGBTQIA+ community at beloved bar likeCubbyhole , Julius’,Stonewall Inn , The Monster , andHenrietta Hudson , and yield your respects atChristopher Park . Restaurants and bars : bend your restaurant reservation skills at Italian favorites likeI Sodi , Via Carota , andDon Angie . Frequent celebrity magnets likeMinetta Tavern , Carbone , andAmerican Bar . Other hot spot admit ( but are definitely not define to)Dame , Semma , The Noortwyck , Llama San , Corner Bistro , Joe ’s Pizza , andShuka . celebrated newcomers areLord’s , Balkan StrEAT , Lin & Daughters , andThe Wesley . Sip boozy libation atDante , The Garret , andBandits . Where to continue : The Marlton HotelandThe Walker Hotel .

DUMBO

Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass endure an industrial haven . Although sometimes perceive as a kitschy dearie of tourist ( in search of that Greco-Roman bridge exposure opp ) and a somewhat inconvenient locale , DUMBO ’s iconic waterfront views , cobblestone streets , hard - to - land eatery reservation , and stellar thrift scene make it hard to resist . Give it a pellet , you might just shine a little ( or a lotta ) bit in love . thing to do : Meander by the pee at theBrooklyn Bridge Park . Take a spin aroundJane ’s Carousel . research art gallery likeA.I.R.,Smack Mellon , andLoop of the Loom . Thrift Y2 K fitsatBrooklyn FleaandBots Clothing Co. , plus vintage vinyl radical fromLegacy . Restaurants and bar : Pizza shinny atGrimaldi’sandJuliana’s . Vinegar Hill House , Celestine , andThe River Cafehave dominate devouring fan bases over the years . ice-skating rink pick can be found atSugar Hill Creamery , Oddfellows , andBrooklyn Ice Cream Factory . A satiny new bar , calledGair , can be get hold on the corner of Washington Street and Water Street . Where to stay:1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridgeand theNew York Marriott Brooklyn Bridge .

DUMBO