Shopping on the Upper East Side quick links: Super Runners Shop.
With its aura of luxury and style, the Upper East Side (neatly confined between Central Park, the East River, 59th Street and 96th Street) holds a certain fascination for tourists and New Yorkers alike. Whether walking down Park Avenue or strolling through the quiet side streets of the East 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, you cannot help but think that this area of New York City, which has been steeped in the history of the city’s wealthy since the 1870s lives up to its reputation of refined chic.
The Upper East Side offers a spate of visual and educational attractions to visitors: New Yorkers and tourists are treated to some of the finest collections of art in the world, as well as to lessons on different cultures. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a striking, beaux-arts styled structure, offers visitors a glimpse into ancient times with its collection of art from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, and also proffers a fine body of American works. In contrast to the Met, the Whitney Museum of American Art offers a more cutting-edge experience for visitors to its collection and its special exhibitions. On “Museum Mile,” visitors are treated to a range of museums that introduce different art and culture, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, El Museo Del Barrio, The Museum of the City of New York, The Jewish Museum, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, Neue Gallerie New York, and the Goethe-Institut/German Cultural Center.
In addition to its museums, the Upper East Side also offers visitors a treat in its elegant buildings. The Plaza Hotel, home of the fictional Eloise, is a must-see for tourists, as is Gracie Mansion, where the mayor of New York City resides. The quiet, tree-lined side streets provide the setting for the lovely town houses and apartment buildings that house many of the families who flock to the Upper East Side for its outstanding collection of private schools.
For shoppers, the Upper East Side gives the gift of Madison Avenue where fashion houses like Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, and Prada have boutiques. Stores featuring an eclectic mix of collections also call the Upper East Side home. Pookie & Sebastian offers reasonably priced, trendy clothes, while Nancy & Co. provides shoppers with rare pieces to add to their wardrobes.
In terms of food, the Upper East Side has much to offer. The tranquil ambience of the neighborhood makes it an ideal locale for a casual Sunday brunch: take a trip to Zagat-rated Sarabeth’s, a staple of Upper East Side brunch for over twenty years and a place where the pancakes and eggs are legendary. For purveyors of dessert, visit Two Little Red Hens for cupcakes, William Greenberg Bakery for black-and-white cookies, and Serendipity 3 for hot chocolate. After a day of museum-hopping, the Met’s Roof Garden Café and Martini Bar provides a dazzling view of the city at twilight. -- Amanda McKeon
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