New York
Lower East Side & SoHo
Lukas Bato / Unsplash
New York's most creative downtown — independent shops, restaurants, and the city's best nightlife.
The Lower East Side and adjacent SoHo and NoHo represent downtown New York at its most creative and liveable. The LES has the best bar density in the city; SoHo has the retail. The area is well placed for both Manhattan and Brooklyn, with the Williamsburg Bridge giving easy cycling access. Accommodation ranges from boutique hotels to apartment-style stays at prices below Midtown.
Scores
Walkability
Transit
Price
Local feel
Nightlife
Family-friendly
Centrality
What you gain
- ↑Best bar and nightlife concentration in Manhattan — the LES has dozens of excellent venues within 4 blocks
- ↑SoHo retail: some of the most interesting independent shopping in New York
- ↑Well placed for the High Line, Brooklyn Bridge, and DUMBO — the best of downtown without committing to Brooklyn
What you sacrifice
- ↓Noisy on weekend nights; the bar scene that makes it special makes sleep difficult
- ↓SoHo has gentrified heavily — the boutique-and-cobblestone aesthetic now commands high prices
- ↓Less family-friendly than Midtown or the Upper West Side
Best for
Avoid if
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