Top 5 Neighborhoods in Manhattan

I love walking around Manhattan. noise-canceling earbuds in, listening to Nujabes. It makes me feel like I’m in a game and I’m expanding my map. I have to walk around the neighborhood a couple of times to memorize the layout and places of interest. I enjoy using my feet to travel. I haven’t gone to all the neighborhoods and seen all the cool places—this list is purely based on my opinion and my knowledge of neighborhoods I’ve been to.

5. Koreatown

Koreatown is a small neighborhood in Midtown. It’s a homey area with good food and activities. I like how small Ktown is, but because it’s small the options can be limited. Even so, the tall buildings and narrow streets create tension and excitement to see what your journey will bring.

Walkability: ★★☆☆☆

Places of interest:

• Food Gallery 32 (when a group of people don’t know what they want to eat)

• BBQ Chicken Ktown (great Korean fried chicken)

4. Meatpacking District

The Meatpacking District borders Chelsea and is near our school. It gets its name from the slaughterhouses, packing plants, and oil lamp factories that were housed in the buildings. I like the aesthetic of the Meatpacking District; it has the cobblestone roads with wide windowed stores. The low buildings and greenery make this neighborhood open and fresh. It's a nice place to walk around with or without company.

Walkability: ★★★★★

Places of interest:

• Whitney Museum (cool museum, free for students with ID)

• High Line (nice out-lunch spot, enjoy the view or seating)

• Little Island (enjoy the view or seating, nice out-lunch spot)

3. Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village borders NoHo and the Meatpacking District. Home of the West 4th subway station and Stonewall. When doing my research, I found out Greenwich Village is a lot bigger than I had imagined. Due to gentrification, the Village has an interesting blend of vintage and modern buildings. In a way it sucks you in to explore more of it; there’s always something new to discover. Unlike the Meatpacking district, it feels more city-like and cozy. It is one of the few neighborhoods in Manhattan where I wouldn’t mind going if it rained—it already has a form of sogginess to it (in a good way, like wet biscotti). It’s a fun place to go to if you just want to hang out but with nothing specific in mind.

Walkability: ★★★☆☆

Places of interest:

• (obviously) Washington Square Park (cool shape & flow to it, the vendors are cool, poofy trees—beware of the zaza)

• Generation Records (vinyl meets CD meets cassette meets posters—for people who like seeing music)

• St. Luke in the Fields Garden (small little garden, a walk for your walks)

• Eli Klein Gallery (very mind-opening)

2. SoHo

I love SoHo as much as I hate it. SoHo borders Lower Manhattan and Greenwich Village. It stands for South of Houston Street. I hate the tourists who walk around like the sidewalk is theirs. I love the outfits people wear. I hate how each store seems so bougie. I love how each store is unique in its architecture and layout. I think there’s a stigma around SoHo. It can be seen as the Times Square of shopping. I don’t think I can emphasize how beautiful the buildings are. They’re so unique but somehow come together. The greatest problem with SoHo are the tourists and entitled people. I went there during Thanksgiving and there was nobody there. It is just such an amazing place when there’s no one but me and the buildings. The atmosphere was serene and “flowy.” Thanksgiving in SoHo was honestly a notable moment in my life. It’s a good place to go walking by yourself and shopping with friends.

Walkability: ★★★★☆

Places of Interest:

• Sunrise Mart (lovely Japanese grocery store)

• MoMa Design Store (artsy objects that are inspirational to look at, discuss, and possibly buy)

• A Pasta Bar (good food)

• Housing Works Thrift Shop (for people who like to thrift)

1. NoLita

NoLita or North of Little Italy is a neighborhood next to NoHo and SoHo. I get a lot of pleasure from walking around NoLita. It’s just a vibe. It is like SoHo but fewer tourists, fewer big name brands, and more of a welcoming vibe. There’s so much more to it than the surface. When you go deeper into Nolita, you can see the independent business owners selling interesting stuff. You can feel each story the buildings and stores are telling. The streets make me feel like I’m in a garden but there are no flowers. The food is good but the parks are great. Getting takeout and eating it in a park is relaxing, borderline therapeutic. Eating lamb on rice while seeing a babysitter playing with the kids and fashionistas drinking their matcha lattes is really fun. NoLita is honestly for anyone, by yourself or with friends. If the weather is nice then your day will also be nice.

Walkability: ★★★★★

Places of Interest:

• McNally Jackson Books (chill bookstore)

• Goods For The Study (chill pen & pencil store)

• DeSalvio Playground (chill park)

• Prince St Pizza (possibly the best grandma slices in Manhattan)

There are so many hidden gems in Manhattan and I encourage people to go walk around, find places and share them. There are also a lot of places that are cool to just meet up with friends and hangout.