Upper West Side Description
The home of diverse cultural attractions, the Upper West side is sandwiched between
Riverside Park to the west and
Central Park to the east. Both parks are excellent leisurely green spaces to spend a day. Central Park is especially notable, as it is New York’s "flagship" park. With over 843 acres of land, it is home to 275 species of birds. It’s quite easy to spend an entire day there too, as the park has several restaurants on its perimeter, a Boathouse, a Carousel, ball fields, a running track, reservoir, sculptures of Alice in Wonderland and Shakespeare, and a nearly endless list of events and other attractions.
In addition to being the most densely populated area of the United States, the Upper West Side is the home of several academic institutions and a litany of famous people too numerous to list here.
The American Museum of Natural History is among the most notable museum in the neighborhood. This world-famous museum is comprised of several different Halls, each dedicated to a particular theme. The museum's exhibition-halls house a stunning array of artifacts and specimens from all corners of the world and all historical periods including some magnificent dinosaur fossils. Other nearby cultural institutions worth checking out include the
New York Historical Society, and the new
Rose Center for Earth and Space which houses the Hayden Planetarium; the most technologically advanced Space Theater in existence.
The Upper West Side also contains some of the greatest venues to hear classical music. There is the
Metropolitan Opera House —one of the world’s leading opera companies since its opening in 1883—as well as
Avery Fisher Hall,
Alice Tully Hall and the renowned
New York City Opera. Additionally both The Julliard School and Fordham University grace the area.
You’re bound to get hungry while visiting the neighborhood, but fear not -there are plenty of famous places to nosh or grab some classic New York smoked salmon in the Upper West Side. There’s
Zabar’s—a heavenly deli if there ever was one;
Fairway Market which has a huge, gourmet selection of just about everything;
Citarella, with fresh fish and much more; and
Murray’s Sturgeon Shop—just to name a few. If you're looking for a more substantial meal, head to
Prohibition, an upscale restaurant and bar. The interior, which invokes the glamour and romance of the Prohibition-Era style of the twenties and early thirties, helps create terrific ambience. All of this has made Prohibition a mainstay on the Upper West Side. There's also the takeout booth at
Carmine's. Carmine's simple and very popular concept is to serve every meal in the style of an Italian American wedding feast - which means large portions of homestyle antipasti, pastas, seafood and meat entrees served on large platters designed for sharing. And when we say large, we mean large; an entree here could easily feed three to four average eaters. After your weekend mid-day meal, take a walk back through
Riverside Park or stroll down Riverside Drive and admire the impressive monuments, grand apartment buildings, and views of the Hudson River, all while burning off a few calories of course.
Given the number of attractions and cultural institutions in the neighborhood, the Upper West Side is an ideal location to spend your stay in New York. The charming
Excelsior Hotel is located right near the Museum of Natural History and Central Park. Meanwhile, the cozy and reasonably priced
Belnord Hotel is another conveniently located option for the budget conscious traveler, as is the
Comfort Inn Central Park West.
