Key takeaway:
- Gramercy is built around Gramercy Park, a fenced, private park that only key holders can enter.
- The streets around the park hold historic clubs, Pete's Tavern on Irving Place and well-known restaurants such as Gramercy Tavern and Casa Mono.
- The Gramercy Theatre on East 23rd Street is a live music venue, and Union Square, Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building are a short walk away.
Gramercy, also called Gramercy Park, is a quiet residential neighborhood on the East Side of Manhattan. The name refers to both the small private park at its center and the blocks around it. Irving Place starts at the park's southern end and runs to 14th Street, and Lexington Avenue ends at its northern edge.
It is a good neighborhood for a slow afternoon: historic architecture, a classic tavern, serious restaurants and easy walks to Union Square and the Flatiron District.
Gramercy Park
Gramercy Park covers about 2 acres inside the Gramercy Park Historic District. It is one of only two private parks in New York City. The other is Sunnyside Gardens Park in Queens. Only people living around the park who pay an annual fee get a key, so most visitors enjoy it from the sidewalk. A walk around the fence is still worth it for the view of the gardens and the buildings that face them.
The park dates to 1831, when developer Samuel B. Ruggles proposed it and bought the land, then part of a farm called Gramercy Farm.
Beautiful Buildings
Two of the most notable buildings stand on Gramercy Park South:
- The Players, at 16 Gramercy Park South, is a private social club founded by the 19th-century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth. It occupies a mansion built in 1847.
- The National Arts Club, at 15 Gramercy Park South, is a nonprofit members club housed in the former Samuel J. Tilden house.
Both are private clubs, so you will mostly admire them from outside.
Dining and Shopping Options in Gramercy
Dining Gems
- Pete's Tavern, at 129 East 18th Street on the corner of Irving Place, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant and bar in New York City. O. Henry lived down the street at 55 Irving Place from 1903 to 1907, and the tavern, then called Healy's, appears in his short story "The Lost Blend" as "Kenealy's."
- Gramercy Tavern is known for New American cooking and seasonal tasting menus.
- Casa Mono serves Spanish tapas with wine pairings.
Book ahead for the better-known restaurants, especially on weekends.
Shopping Spots
For shopping, head a few blocks south to Union Square and its surrounding streets, or west toward the Flatiron District.
Cultural and Entertainment Attractions in Gramercy
Gramercy Theatre
The Gramercy Theatre, at 127 East 23rd Street, is a music venue owned by Live Nation. Live Nation bought the space in 2006 to turn it into an intimate concert venue. Check its calendar for upcoming shows.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is at 28 East 20th Street, between Broadway and Park Avenue South, just west of Gramercy in the Flatiron District. Roosevelt was born there on October 27, 1858. The brownstone you see today is a recreation of the original house, designed by architect Theodate Pope Riddle, with a museum next door.
Exploring Nearby Attractions
Union Square Greenmarket
Union Square, a short walk south of Gramercy down Irving Place, hosts the outdoor Greenmarket farmers market four days a week. It is the place for seasonal produce, baked goods and flowers.
Union Square Holiday Market
Every November and December, Union Square hosts the Union Square Holiday Market, where more than 150 vendors sell handcrafts. Around two million people visit each year.
Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building
Madison Square sits where Fifth Avenue and Broadway cross at 23rd Street, a few blocks west of Gramercy. Nearby stands the Flatiron Building, the 22-story triangular tower at 175 Fifth Avenue, completed in 1902.
How to Get to Gramercy
Visiting The City
Gramercy is easy to reach from anywhere in Manhattan. Several subway stations are close by, including 14th Street–Union Square, 23rd Street on Broadway and 23rd Street–Baruch College on Park Avenue South.
From JFK or Newark
BLADE offers helicopter flights between Manhattan and JFK or Newark in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat. BLADE Lounge East, at the East 34th Street Heliport, is the closest of BLADE's Manhattan lounges to Gramercy, and from there it is a short car ride south. BLADE also has lounges at the West 30th Street Heliport and the Wall Street heliport.
FAQs about Fun Things To Do Near NYC's Gramercy
What are some fun things to do near NYC's Gramercy area?
Walk around Gramercy Park, have a drink at Pete's Tavern, catch a concert at the Gramercy Theatre, shop the Union Square Greenmarket, and see the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park.
Can you go inside Gramercy Park?
Only key holders can enter. Keys go to people living around the park who pay an annual fee. Everyone else can enjoy the park from the sidewalk.
What important areas are near Gramercy in NYC?
Union Square to the south, and the Flatiron District with Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building to the west.
Does the Gramercy Theatre host Off Broadway shows?
Not today. The Gramercy Theatre is a Live Nation music venue that hosts concerts.