If the Upper East Side is a straight-laced socialite sporting Chanel suits, the Lower East Side is her edgy, adventurous sister rocking Vivienne Westwood. Coined LES, the New York City neighborhood possesses a storied history from its “gangs of New York” era in the 1800s to Jewish Immigration at the start of the 20th century, an influx of Latino culture during the 1940s, and a vivid phase of art and music in the ‘80s. Now considered one of Manhattan’s most desirable haunts to hang out in, LES boasts world-class restaurants, hip boutiques, on-trend galleries and a vibrant nightlife.
Contemporary culture blossoms amongst enduring traditions such as the Orchard Street Bargain District and iconic delis including Katz’s and Russ & Daughters on East Houston. All provide the Lower East Side with its unique personality and historical charm, found nowhere else in the city’s five boroughs. Located in the southeastern part of New York City and spanning a dozen or so zigzagging blocks, LES’ rich architectural character has been embraced by developers and entrepreneurs alike. Numerous dilapidated buildings turned hotels and restaurants showcase rooftop lounges where the views of Manhattan are just as tasty as the drinks.
While neighborhoods like Times Square, Greenwich Village and Brooklyn may be your initial draw to the City That Never Sleeps, the LES shouldn’t be missed. For accommodations, the 175-room Ludlow Hotel located beside the famed Ludlow Guitar shop, embodies LES grittiness with a luxurious twist. The boutique property’s lobby lounge features oak paneled walls, mosaic marble floors and a grand limestone fireplace. Year round, its glass enclosed courtyard draws celebrities including Johnny Knoxville, Kate Bosworth and Susan Sarandon for craft cocktails and snacks. Upstairs, Bohemian accented queen, king and penthouse lofts ranging between $425 to $1,350 a night, flaunt Bellino fine linens from Italy while roomy marble tubs offer sweeping views of the big apple during bath time.
One of the neighborhood’s jazz brunch hotspots to hit up while in town is Hotel Chantelle for a new American cuisine meal atop the property. The rooftop transports you from NYC to a Parisian inspired garden oasis complete with lamp post lighting, draping greenery and a retractable roof. For posh people watching and a likely celebrity sighting, spend an evening on the Hotel Indigo’s 15th floor at the recently opened Mr. Purple. Sip on the namesake cocktail spiked with tequila while gazing at sparkling city views or reserve a table in the club’s VIP section—designed to evoke an artist’s loft.
When it comes to shopping, fashionable devotees flock to Assembly. The boutique store’s flagship location on Ludlow Street has meticulously-curated designer duds and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. While plenty of travelers head to the MoMA for their art fix, the Richard Taittinger Gallery or the New Museum, are great alternatives to the often busy MoMA. They are both home to globally-recognized contemporary artists.
Among LES’ dining options, head to Souvlaki GR on Stanton Street for authentic Greek cuisine. The white washed café decorated in bougainvillea blossoms serves up the tastiest chicken and pork Souvlaki you’ll taste outside of Mykonos. If you’d rather stay closer to home, within the Ludlow Hotel is Chef Mario Carbone’s Dirty French restaurant. The bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has received rave reviews from the New York Times. Sunday brunch begins with complimentary donuts, cinnamon rolls and madeleine cookies and the menu offers items such as duck hash confit leg and fried eggs as well as eggs Benedict with brown butter hollandaise.
End your time in the neighborhood with tickets to a musical performance at the Bowery Ballroom. The historic theater was built just before the stock market crash of 1929 and is still a thriving, frequently-visited venue today. If indie rock and post-punk revival are more your speed, check out LES’ Mercury Lounge where The Strokes got their start. If you’re lucky, you may even be among the first to witness the start of future music legends.
