Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is synonymous with classic New York sophistication, but this huge swath of the city actually encompasses many diverse lifestyles. Stately mansions and designer boutiques west of Lexington Avenue give way to a more understated, affordable scene to the east in Yorkville.
When many think of the Upper East Side, they think of a quiet, tree-lined urban expanse filled with posh apartments and purebred dogs. There’s some reality behind the neighborhood’s old-money image, as the blocks between Park and Fifth Avenues are home to some of Manhattan’s most expensive real estate: stately co-ops staffed with collared doormen and sleek condos overlooking Central Park. But there’s more to the UES. Museum Mile throngs with tourists, street artists, and culture hounds drawn to its abundance of high art. The eastern side of the neighborhood, toward Yorkville, exhibits a less rarefied character, while Second Avenue is home to sports bars, pubs, and excellent restaurants. The avenues and commerce-lined thoroughfares can be hectic, but many streets on the UES are blessedly quiet — just one more way this oft-stereotyped neighborhood can surprise you.
The Mood
Close to many tourist destinations, the UES is lively, but the historic architecture, clean sidewalks, and manicured flowerbeds give it a calm, unhurried atmosphere.
Heart of the Neighborhood
Central Park is the Upper East Side's crown jewel. From jogging around the reservoir to sprawling on the Great Lawn, the range of activities here appeals to both tourists and locals.
Neighborhood Quirk
Fifth Avenue was once lined with huge mansions built by the oligarchs of the Gilded Age like the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Vanderbilts.
Best Perk
The Upper East Side feels a lot like Paris: cosmopolitan, refined, and set apart from the chaos of the rest of the city.
Biggest Downside
If you crave warm sunlight, this may not be your place: the many high-rise buildings can cast long shadows over the neighborhood's streets.
Prices shown are base rent only and don't include any fees. Visit each listing to see a complete cost breakdown.
The Mood
Close to many tourist destinations, the UES is lively, but the historic architecture, clean sidewalks, and manicured flowerbeds give it a calm, unhurried atmosphere.
Heart of the Neighborhood
Central Park is the Upper East Side's crown jewel. From jogging around the reservoir to sprawling on the Great Lawn, the range of activities here appeals to both tourists and locals.
Neighborhood Quirk
Fifth Avenue was once lined with huge mansions built by the oligarchs of the Gilded Age like the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Vanderbilts.
Best Perk
The Upper East Side feels a lot like Paris: cosmopolitan, refined, and set apart from the chaos of the rest of the city.
Biggest Downside
If you crave warm sunlight, this may not be your place: the many high-rise buildings can cast long shadows over the neighborhood's streets.
The real estate along Fifth and Park Avenues is some of the most expensive in the city, but as you move farther from the park, prices become more moderate — especially for co-ops and rentals.
Central Parks's reservoir, boathouse, and Great Lawn are all easily accessible from the Upper East Side.
The Upper East Side remains synonymous with classic New York sophistication.
Museum Mile is a major tourist destination, containing the Met, Guggenheim, Smithsonian, and more all within 10 blocks of each other.
Peaceful streets are found throughout the neighborhood, dotted by countless playgrounds.
With plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, schools, grocery stores, libraries, and cultural sites, there’s rarely a reason to leave.
Restaurants on the Upper East Side vary widely, from ultra-fancy spots on Park Avenue to casual comfort food in Yorkville.