The Lower East Side is one of Manhattan's oldest immigrant neighborhoods, and much of what makes it fun to visit grows out of that history. In a few blocks you can tour a restored tenement, eat at a deli that has served pastrami since the 19th century, buy pickles out of the barrel and catch a rare film on 35mm. This guide covers the main sights, where to eat and drink, and how to plan a day.
Key takeaway:
- Book a guided tour at the Tenement Museum. It is the only way to see inside.
- Eat your way through the neighborhood's classics: Katz's Delicatessen, Russ & Daughters, The Pickle Guys and Economy Candy.
- Visit Essex Market for food from many vendors under one roof.
- Catch a film at Metrograph or an exhibition at the New Museum.
- End the night at Loreley Beer Garden or a cocktail bar such as Attaboy.
What is the fastest way to get to the Lower East Side from JFK or Newark airport?
BLADE offers scheduled helicopter flights between JFK or Newark and Manhattan. Flights take about 5 minutes and start from $195 per seat. BLADE's Manhattan lounges are BLADE Lounge West at the West 30th Street Heliport, BLADE Lounge East at the East 34th Street Heliport and BLADE Downtown at the Wall St. Heliport. From Manhattan, you finish the trip to the Lower East Side by car or subway. BLADE Downtown is the most convenient lounge for this part of the city.
All BLADE flights in the US are operated by FAA-licensed carriers. LaGuardia is available by charter only.
Tenement Museum
The Tenement Museum tells the stories of immigrant, migrant and refugee families through recreated homes in two historic tenements. The families it covers lived in New York City between the 1860s and the 1980s. At 97 Orchard Street, for example, you can learn about John and Caroline Schneider, who ran a lager beer saloon there from 1864 to 1886, and the Baldizzi family, who arrived from Italy and lived there during the Great Depression.
The museum is only accessible by guided tour. Apartment tours take you inside the recreated homes, and walking tours cover the neighborhood itself. Book ahead, since tours have set times.
Katz's Delicatessen
Katz's Delicatessen has been a New York institution since 1888. It is known for house-cured, hand-carved pastrami and corned beef, and the pastrami sandwich is the order most first-timers come for. You will find it at 205 East Houston Street, on the corner of Ludlow Street.
Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters has sold bagels and lox since 1914. It is an appetizing shop, a Jewish New York tradition of smoked and cured fish, spreads and other foods that go with a bagel. The shop is at 179 East Houston Street, a short walk from Katz's. You can order ahead by phone for pickup or take a number when you arrive. The family also runs a sit-down cafe, if you would rather eat at a table.
The Pickle Guys
The Pickle Guys carry on old-world pickling traditions, using fresh ingredients and brine with no preservatives. The range runs from classic kosher dills, sours and new pickles to olives, peppers, tomatoes and pickled pineapple. The store is at 357 Grand Street. Check the hours before you go, since the shop closes early on Fridays.
Economy Candy
Economy Candy is a classic candy shop at 108 Rivington Street. It stocks a wide range of candy and chocolate, including old-fashioned brands that are hard to find elsewhere. It is a good stop with kids, or for anyone looking for a sweet souvenir.
Essex Market
Essex Market is the Lower East Side's public market. It opened on January 9, 1940, as part of Mayor LaGuardia's plan to move pushcart vendors off crowded streets and into indoor markets. In its early years, the market's vendors and customers were largely the neighborhood's Jewish and Italian immigrants.
In May 2019, Essex Market moved to a larger, modern space at the heart of the Essex Crossing development, across the street from the original building. It is at 88 Essex Street. Come hungry and browse the stalls before you choose.
The Doughnut Plant
The Doughnut Plant has made doughnuts in New York City since 1994. Founder Mark Isreal started with his grandfather's recipe in a Lower East Side basement and delivered the first batches by bicycle to neighborhood coffee shops. The brand now has several locations, and the Lower East Side shop is still one of them.
Scarr's Pizza
Scarr's Pizza is a pizzeria at 35 Orchard Street. It is a casual place for a slice between museum visits and shopping.
Metrograph
Metrograph is an independent movie theater that opened in 2016 at 7 Ludlow Street. It focuses on rare archival screenings, on 35mm and digital, along with special premieres and Q&As. Beyond the screens, Metrograph has a restaurant called The Commissary, a bookstore and a candy store. Check the schedule ahead of time, since many screenings are one-off events.
The New Museum
The New Museum is a contemporary art museum on the Bowery. Its expanded building includes Oberon, an all-day restaurant and bar in the lobby. Exhibitions change through the year, so look at what is on before you visit.
Seward Park
Seward Park sits north of East Broadway and east of Essex Street. It opened on October 17, 1903, and it is the first municipally built playground in the United States. The park is named for William Henry Seward, a US senator from New York who later served as Secretary of State under President Lincoln. It is a good place for a break between stops.
The Back Room
The Back Room is a Prohibition-themed bar, known for serving cocktails in teacups as speakeasies once did. It suits a slow evening drink more than a big night out.
Attaboy
Attaboy is a cocktail bar on the Lower East Side, one of several in the neighborhood that draw people for carefully made drinks.
Loreley Beer Garden
Loreley Beer Garden is an indoor-outdoor beer garden on the Lower East Side. It is known for seasonal decor that changes every six to eight weeks. In the fall it celebrates Oktoberfest with seasonal German beers, soft pretzels and sausages, and the garden is heated in winter. Garden tables and semi-private rooms can be reserved for groups.
Plan a day on the Lower East Side
- Morning: a guided tour at the Tenement Museum.
- Lunch: pastrami at Katz's or bagels and lox from Russ & Daughters.
- Afternoon: Essex Market, The Pickle Guys and Economy Candy, with a break in Seward Park.
- Evening: a film at Metrograph or an exhibition at the New Museum.
- Night: drinks at Loreley Beer Garden, The Back Room or Attaboy.
The Lower East Side borders Chinatown and the East Village, so it is easy to combine with either. See our guides to fun things to do near NYC's Chinatown and the East Village.
FAQs about Fun Things To Do Near Nyc'S Lower East Side
What are some fun things to do near NYC's Lower East Side?
Take a guided tour at the Tenement Museum, eat at Katz's Delicatessen and Russ & Daughters, browse Essex Market, catch a film at Metrograph, visit the New Museum and end the night at a beer garden or cocktail bar.
What are some must-see attractions in the Lower East Side?
The Tenement Museum, Essex Market, the New Museum, Metrograph and Seward Park, the first municipally built playground in the United States.
Where can I find a good place to eat near NYC's Lower East Side?
Katz's Delicatessen for pastrami, Russ & Daughters for bagels and lox, Essex Market for variety, Scarr's Pizza for a slice and The Doughnut Plant for something sweet.
What are some historical sites to visit in the Lower East Side?
The Tenement Museum, the Museum at Eldridge Street, which is housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, built in 1887, and Seward Park, which opened in 1903.
What is the best way to explore the Lower East Side for first-timers?
Walk. Most of the places in this guide are within a few blocks of each other. Start with a Tenement Museum tour, which gives you the history behind everything else you will see, then eat and shop your way through the neighborhood.