Header image by Leo Chiou
While fairytales are certainly possible anywhere in New York City, it feels like they’re a lot more possible in Forest Hills. Step off the subway in this Queens neighborhood and you may feel like you’ve stumbled into another century, thanks to fanciful Tudor architecture, a circa 1903 carousel, and co-ops that look like they could appear in a Wes Anderson film.
“There’s also a good amount of greenery and open space,” says Sushant Batra, Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker with Casa Blanca Real Estate, StreetEasy Expert, and a Forest Hills resident.
And yet that’s only the beginning. This neighborhood is like a tale of two lifestyles — cottage charm and commuter convenience — in one. Read on for everything you need to know and love about Forest Hills.
Where is Forest Hills?
The name alone conjures a leafy retreat, and in a way, that kind of says it all. Forest Hills is bordered by Forest Park to the south and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the east. And yet despite its decidedly green neighbors, the area is a commuter’s dream, with the E, F, M, R train running through, not to mention a Forest Hills LIRR station for quick jaunts out east (or to Penn Station).
“It is very easy to get around [from here],” Batra says. “There’s the local train, there’s the express train, there’s the Long Island Railroad.” Translation: you can live in a de facto English village, but still make curtain time on Broadway.
A Brief History of Forest Hills
Developed in the early 20th century by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. (yes, the son of the renowned landscape architect behind Central Park), the storybook 142-acre enclave of Forest Hills Gardens is studded with English Tudors aplenty arranged on winding, tree-lined streets. The neighborhood surrounding it — a.k.a. Forest Hills, general — became famous from 1915 to 1977 for hosting the U.S. Open before it decamped to nearby Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Today, Forest Hills Stadium itself is a star, having been reborn as an al fresco concert venue that’s hosted everyone from Bob Dylan to Drake.
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So Why is Forest Hills Such a Great Place to Live?
In Forest Hills, “You really have the best of both worlds,” says Jessica Kaufman, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with The Corcoran Group and StreetEasy Expert, who cites the juxtaposition of the tree-lined streets with the buzzing neighborhood restaurants and proximity to both Manhattan and Long Island.
For Batra, it’s all about the mix. “I grew up in Rego Park, which is the town over, and I’ve always enjoyed being near Forest Hills,” he says. “There’s a lot of shops and restaurants; it’s very transportation easy…and Forest Park has trails, a carousel, and [nearby] horseback riding, so there’s tons of different things to do.”
And the neighborhood itself is no slouch. “Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve seen more people come here and move here, and more restaurants and shops are opening,” Batra says. “So I just like where it’s headed.”
Architectural Highlights & Housing Options
From quaint co-ops to sprawling Tudors, Forest Hills offers something for everyone. Architecturally, “There’s a lot of variety,” says Batra. “There’s plenty of co-ops, and then you also have the nice houses in the Gardens, which are rare, but you have them. And then you also have a lot of mansions near the other side of Forest Hills, too.”
The neighborhood is also changing: “They’re starting to build a few more condos, as well as a few new construction rental buildings in the area,” Batra adds.
Buying in Forest Hills
If Hansel and Gretel were house hunting in New York City, they’d come here.
“I think the real estate market has remained stable or increasing in value there because it’s so central, and you really get good value,” Kaufman says.
For first-time buyers, the neighborhood can be an accessible entry point into the NYC market. “Whenever I go on StreetEasy here and look for clients, I end up finding that most of the properties that I find, especially for first-time home buyers with the budget that they have, there ends up being a lot of options in Forest Hills,” says Batra.
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Renting in Forest Hills
Cinderella would no doubt renew her lease in this neighborhood, where the rental market offers a mix of prewar apartments and newer condos. While inventory can fluctuate, the area’s combination of space, greenery, and transit options makes it highly appealing for renters seeking a more relaxed pace without sacrificing city access.
Fair warning: once you move into the forest, you may not want to leave. “A friend of mine, I helped sell her property on the Upper East Side, and she moved to Forest Hills at least three years ago now,” Kaufman says. “She loves the neighborhood so much.”
Parks and Green Spaces
Tree-lined streets and pocket parks throughout the area make everyday life feel calmer and greener than many parts of New York. While Forest Park is a local gem with over 500 acres of wooded trails and athletic fields, the neighborhood is also adjacent to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, a sprawling urban idyll with museums, an ice rink, lakes, an indoor pool, and sundry sports fields on its 897-acre plot. And speaking of horseback riding: anyone from beginners to rodeo stars can book riding lessons at Lynne’s Riding Center NYC, where Forest Hills locals RoseBud, Bourbon, and King await.
What to Eat, Drink, and Do
Manhattan who? Forest Hills’ restaurant scene is downright flourishing, with new restaurants including Tourmaline, a French boîte from Food Network finalist (and Michelin restaurant-alum) Chef Yvan Lemoine.
One of Batra’s recent finds is Gnocchi Bella, on buzzing Austin street, the neighborhood’s main drag. “It’s this small gnocchi shop [with] surprisingly really good gnocchi,” he says; your options might include potato gnocchi in pomodoro with tear drop peppers.
He also recommends a brand-new favorite, Stellar Pokhara, “a Nepalese restaurant and it was actually surprisingly very good. So that actually I might put that on top of the list.” On the menu: kimchi fried rice and chicken momo.
Kaufman’s go-to when she’s in the area is Martha’s Country Bakery, where desserts range from Mississippi mud pie to pistachio Dubai chocolate cake. “I love that place,” Kaufman says. Just call it a fairytale ending to a great day in Forest Hills.
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