There are a lot of awesome places in Manhattan, but the Upper East Side is the best place to live in today's real estate climate.
Yes, there is construction and yes, the subways are far.
But both of these factors contribute to driving down prices and making the UES affordable-- in addition to it being fun and lively. So here they are, some reasons why the UES is the best place in Manhattan to live right now.
The Midnight Diner (1715 2nd Avenue)
I am a fan of diners in general, but I am a specific fan of The Midnight Diner, located at the corner of 89th and 2nd Avenue.
Boasting a diner's typical repertoire of every food you could ever think of to order, this particular diner specializes in the world's most delicious chicken parmesan sandwiches, and like most diners, is open all night long.
I think I mostly like this diner better than all the other diners in Manhattan because it's super close to my apartment, and delivers for free.
Cafe Jax (318 East 84th Street)
This is absolutely the best coffee shop I've ever been to in New York City.
It's even gotten to the point where, when I watch Friends, I think about how Cafe Jax is better than Central Perk. For one, it's way bigger.
The entire basement of Cafe Jax is stockpiled with gorgeous couches, comfy chairs, desks, tables, plants, and paintings. The vibe is splendid-- it's perfect for inspiration, motivation, sipping lattes with a date or a friend, or just reading a book and drinking hot chocolate.
Most of the people there are also doing work, having business meetings, chatting with friends, and generally chilling. If you haven't been here yet, hop on the 4, 5, or 6, get off at 86th Street, and make it happen.
Timmy's by the River (1737 York Avenue)
This bar/restaurant, located on the corner of 92nd and York, has very balling buffalo chicken wraps, and sweet potato fries, and regular fries, which everyone knows are the best foods in the land.
They also have generally relaxed prices, and a pretty, riverside location. The main reason they make this list though, is their super-speedy delivery.
On Seamless, it'll list that Timmy's by the River will take 30-40 minutes, but this is far from true. In reality, if you order delivery from here, they'll usually have it at your apartment in ten minutes flat. Beautiful!
Supply House (1647 2nd Avenue)
I could go on and on about the wonderful ambiance in this bar. It is easily my favorite bar in NYC, and I'm not just saying that because I live 15 blocks away.
I have friends who come from far and wide (by far and wide I mean Brooklyn and the Financial District) to enjoy a night of drinking in Supply House, announcing shamelessly that it's their favorite bar in NYC, too.
For one, they have live music every single weekday. The highlight of their live music line up is Joss Sticks, a rastafari Bob Marley, “don't worry be happy” type who vacillates between singing happy beach tunes and some serious punk-rocky tunes like 21 Pilots and Walk the Moon.
He also delights the crowd with his own original tunes. There are, obviously, other bands that play on different nights.
With tons of beers on tap, a dancey-fun atmosphere, an open and lit, wooden interior, the vibes here are just phenomenal.
The Pony Bar (1444 1st Avenue)
Also excellent vibes, and very delicious French onion soup, if I do say so myself.
The best part about The Pony Bar is that every beer is $6, and while not luxuriously inexpensive, $6 is certainly a hell of a lot less than most of the places that sell beer in Manhattan.
Yes, I've paid $14 for a shitty can of Bud Light.
Also, the beers here are amazing. They always have a rotation of at least 40 beers on tap, and some of them have the absurdly-high alcohol content that produces a giddy, high-on-life drunk.
Namely, me. If you don't live on the UES, don't cry. There's one in midtown too.
The East River
The Hudson River is really pretty too, don't get me wrong. The two rivers locking in Manhattan are part of what make living here so completely gorgeous - they catch and reflect the sunlight and shout it back up at us daily.
But living so close to the East River is seriously fabulous, especially if you're like me and you love running/biking/walking/marveling at the majesty of earth. If you don't like any of those things, we really can't relate, but I guess you could enjoy the gorgeousness of the East River-- even if you're not in motion.
Puppies
And dogs of all sorts. Just take a stroll down 2nd Avenue at any time of day and be met with the happiest, frolicking puppies in all of Manhattan.
Sometimes their owners will even let you pet them. Although... I did meet a really mean pitbull once (not to perpetuate their unfavorable reputation even further).
From the most placid, relaxed and pampered poodles, to the cutest little gold retriever puppies, pretty much every breed, type, and creed of puppy can be found along the Upper East Side's avenues.
,Construction
Bet you weren't expecting to see this item on a list titled “Reasons the Upper East Side is 'the best.'”
However, the ongoing construction of the mysterious “2nd Avenue Subway” has driven our rent prices down, even though the incessant banging does tend to wake us up in the morning.
I will wake up at 8 a.m. every morning with the construction workers, if that means I can pay $1,000 less a month.
Also, if you haven't heard, we're going to have a super awesome 2nd Avenue subway line soon, so... #SuckOnThat.
Target
Did you know there was a Target in Manhattan?
Well, I didn't, until I discovered the one in East Harlem.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the UES, the 116th Street Target has it all. Well, all of them have it all. But there's one in East Harlem, and it's awesome.
Want to buy your groceries, your window curtains, your batteries, your movies, and new speakers all at the same place? Yeah, well. You can buy everything at Target, and I know I already established that, but Target is basically heaven on earth. Obviously.
Randall's Island
A hidden haven from the city, traveling over the 102nd Street and into the woodsy, gorgeous paradise of Randall's Island is a pleasure unmet by just about any experience I've had in NYC so far (although walking across the High Line in the summer is a real pleasure as well).
The best part about Randall's island is its seclusion. There are no cops, so sitting on the rocks with your feet dangling above the East River, turning and facing Manhattan in all its splendor, you can easily light up and get into that headspace where everything is beautiful (why is weed illegal again?).
Central Park
... Need I say more? Okay. I'll say more.
Living near Central Park is dope, and not just because I'm acutely aware of how many millions (maybe billions?) of people throughout the world know about Central Park, and want to visit it, and it's a mere ten minute walk from my apartment.
From free concerts and yoga classes in the summer, to winter spruced walks in the winter, when the trees are white and alive with a magical winter mist, Central Park is just all around excellent. Which everyone knows.
It's so excellent it's become a cliché. I know it's not "on" the Upper East Side, but it's super easy for me to walk there, so it counts.
East River Promenade
This is definitely a subset of the category “The East River,” however, there is a gorgeous, paved path right beside the River.
Walking down this path produces the sort of serenity that can make you forget you're even in the hustling metroplex of NYC. There are parks, gardens, lots of flowers, and rushing water.
The stress of city living dissipates instantly along this walkway, and if you walk far enough downtown (to around 83rd Street), there is a majestic circular staircase that leads down to a garden. Pretty much heaven.
The Meatball Shop (1462 2nd Avenue)
I know that many neighborhoods have The Meatball Shop, however, I really like that there's one on the UES. There are also lots of other amazing looking restaurants that I haven't tried because I always go here.
There really isn't any beating this spot for any reason, unless you're a vegetarian. They have a vegetarian option as well, but I haven't tried it because I'm a carnivore.
If you love mashed potatoes and assorted salads and delicious balls of delectable meat under hand crafted and homemade sauces then... you should go here. Now.
The Writing Room (1703 2nd Avenue)
This bar is similar to many other bars, except its high-windowed, open-aired atmosphere makes it a pleasure to enter-- plus it has an awesome name.
They also have a ton of books piled on the walls, which just makes you feel like that knowledge is slipping into your brain while you eat and drink... even though it probably isn't.
Oh, also the food here is amazing and not that pricey. It's honestly worth it for the atmosphere.