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History of Upper East Side
The Upper East Side has always known abundance. From its beginnings in the seventeenth century of flowing streams and dense forest, to today—one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in New York City—the UES is land to be desired.
Running north/south, the UES spans from 59th Street to 96th Street and is bounded east/west by the East River and Central Park/Fifth Avenue. Within these posh and leafy borders, Museum Mile sits majestic with its row of world famous museums, including the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
It’s been the setting of countless movies, books, and television shows, from Breakfast at Tiffany’s to The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City. And it’s been home to some of the world’s most notoriously wealthy families—the Rockefellers, the Roosevelts, the Kennedys, the Whitneys—as well as artists, inventors, scientists, financiers, and politicians, from Ulysses S. Grant to Madonna. Indeed, even Robert Moses, referred to as the “master builder” of New York, called Upper East Side home.
The Vibe of Upper East Side
Upscale shopping and refined culture aside, the Upper East Side has the feel of a suburb within the city. Among the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets, you’ll find an abundance of playgrounds, community centers, and top ranked schools. Central Park is your backyard, and the beautiful Carl Schurz Park is your front yard, with its incredible views of the East River.
Although the posh real estate of the area may feel exclusive, the nightlife of the neighborhood is just the opposite—there are no clubs or guest lists among the lively bars and pubs along Second Avenue, but instead a welcoming atmosphere.
When you’re ready for a hot-off-the-runway look, the neighborhood’s westerly streets (Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, etc) have all the luxury boutiques and high-end department stores you could hope for, and when you’re ready for learning and exploring, the most famous museums and libraries in the world are at your doorstep. The Upper East Side is a beautiful, cultural, and vibrant neighborhood, which moves at a more relaxed pace than other areas of the city.
Things to Do on The Upper East Side
Take part in the annual Museum Mile Festival. Traditionally taking place on the second Tuesday in June, this event is a collaboration of all nine museums on Museum Mile to raise awareness and promote public support of the arts in New York City. Dubbed “New York’s biggest block party,” the museums are open free to the public during the festival, and include such activities as art activities for kids, live music, and street performers.
Head to a dive bar. Yes, the fancy UES has them. For the dive to end all dives, (as well as historically famous for its past clientele, including Anthony Bourdain and Marilyn Monroe), head to Subway Inn, where the old bar and worn booths offer up cheap brews and great American pub fare. Or, for one of the best burgers in NYC, head over to the original JG Melon, where an old-school vibe and checkered tablecloths will make you forget you’re in a pretty ritzy neighborhood.
Go shopping. Why not? You’re on the Upper East Side, the epicenter of high-end fashion, where nearly every top name designer has a store, many of them flagships. Stroll down Madison Avenue for all the best— Alexander McQueen, Hermès, Ralph Lauren (the men’s store is its flagship, and resides inside Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo’s former mansion), Celine, Lanvin, and oh-so-many more. For the recycler in you (or the you-on-a-more-modest-budget), head straight to Vintage Twin for the very best in handpicked and reworked vintage.
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