Upper West Side

1. Carmine’s Italian Restaurant – Upper West Side (2450 Broadway): Carmine’s boasts a gorgeous eating area and a great selection of Italian dishes. It offers generous family-size platters perfect for large groups.
2. Jacob’s Pickles (509 Amsterdam Ave): It’s another heavily (and positively) reviewed food establishment famous for its fried chicken biscuit sandwiches, Southern-style cooking, its Jewish menu, and of course, the pickles.
3. Naruto Ramen (2634 Broadway): If you are a fan of anime and have seen Naruto, you might just go in for the name. But this quaint “otaku haven” also offers amazing Japanese food.
4. El Mitote (208 Columbus Ave): For Mexican food lovers, this is one of the few great spots. But even more beloved than the food is the lively and open-air setting.
5. The Dead Poet (450 Amsterdam Ave #2): One of the best dive bars in the neighborhood, well-known for its literary theme and Irish drinks.

There are many buildings in the neighborhood with rich histories and amazing architecture. Some of them are:

6. The Juilliard School (60 Lincoln Center Plaza): Julliard is one of the most famous (if not the most famous) performing art schools in the world, thanks to its mention in numerous movies. The building itself is impressive and memorable.
7. The Empire Hotel (44 W 63rd St): Built as a 15-story hotel in 1922, it’s famous and recognized for its massive red neon sign. The hotel got a lot of attention due to the show Gossip Girl.
8. Ansonia (2109 Broadway): Currently Ansonia Condominium, was once one of the most thriving hotels in Manhattan and a site for several historic and famous events.
9. The Dakota (1 W 72nd St): The beautiful 1881 building that got its name for the Dakota Territory (due to its remoteness) is better known for John Lennon’s assassination.
10. El Dorado (300 Central Park West): It’s a beautiful luxury cooperative quite recognizable thanks to its twin tower structures. It offers a stunning view of the Central Park reservoir.

The Upper West Side offers a wide variety of one-of-a-kind attractions.

11. Central Park: The fifth-largest park in the city is home to a wide variety of activities and stunning views. It’s over a century old and part of Manhattan Island’s history.
12. American Museum of Natural History (200 Central Park West): Built in 1869, this is the largest museum of Natural History in the world. It’s spread out over 17 acres and contains at least 34 million specimens.
13. Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center Plaza): It’s the top-performing art center, not just in the neighborhood but the city as a whole. And it’s massive: 30 indoor and outdoor facilities sprawled over 16.3 acres.
14. Metropolitan Opera House (30 Lincoln Center Plaza): Even though it’s part of the Lincoln Center, this opera house has its own distinct identity as one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world (despite being one of the youngest).
15. Riverside Park South (Riverside Blvd): Part of the longer Riverside Park, this park offers amazing views and makes for an amazing walk.