Upper East Side

While this large swathe of Manhattan was historically a prestigious playground for the rich and famous, whose mansions and townhomes line the streets closest to the park, an influx of students, recent graduates, and young families has brought in youthful energy and attracted new restaurants and other businesses to the area. The neighborhood has so much to offer, including world-class museums, art galleries, and cultural institutions like the 92nd Street Y, designer boutiques on Madison, and independent shops on Lexington and Third Avenues farther east. Restaurants for every taste and proximity to Central Park and the East River Greenway, all made easier to access with the recent Second Avenue subway extension, are big pluses.