7.5 out of 10

1st Ave, East Harlem

Ranked 2nd best street in East Harlem
40.8025029337929 -73.930585677776
Great for
  • Medical Facilities
  • Eating Out
  • Public Transport
  • Shopping Options
  • Schools
Not great for
  • Parking
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Peace & Quiet
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists

Reviews

5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 1/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Great energy but very noisy"

First Avenue is entirely too large to write about in one review. And, it changes so much, that it would be like writing about several different Avenues. Seeing as I have always lived downtown, I'll focus on that part of 1st Ave . . . with a quick stop off at the Queensboro Bridge. It is a really beautiful bridge and has been mentioned in many works including the Great Gatsby (one of my favorites). It's definitely worth a look for tourists and locals alike. I took a boat down the East River and going under that bridge was pretty spectacular.
Ok, moving onto downtown. It starts off with a real bang bringing us Bellevue Hospital. It was developed as a place to treat people with Yellow Fever but has since been synonymous for the Psych Ward. I didn't even know it was an actual hospital when I first moved here. I thought it was strictly a mental institution. Between that and the incredibly ugly and desolate looking area that surrounds Stuy Town, it must be really interesting to live around here. Note to people looking to move around here: the Stuy Town apartments are massive. But, they are also incredibly noisy and have a lot of naysayers because they are displacing Vets.
The neighboring development to Stuy Town is an even more luxury building called Peter Cooper Village. It begins at 21st and it replaced the Gashouse District which was an incredibly poor part of town due to chemical fumes in the area. I'm not sure where they went but Peter Cooper Village apartments are a pretty penny.
There's a designer discount store called Gabay's at 13th street that is really shoddy looking but has incredible deals on high end shoes. I found a fantastic pair of Chloe heels here. It's one of NY's best kept secrets and you can't talk about 1st Ave without mentioning it.
Once you get below 12th Street, 1st Ave is really great. There are a ton of phenomenal restaurants such as the famous Momofuko (at 12th), Polonia and Simone. There are tons of little bars and coffeeshops especially around St. Marks. It's quite lively and it's one of my favorite avenues.
Pros
  • Great bar and restaurant scene
  • Lively
  • Some truly stunning post-war rental apartments with loads of amenities
Cons
  • Too busy at times
  • Too loud of noise
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Gorgeous apartments in lesser-known area"

While much of the attention lavished on the Upper East Side's housing goes to Park, Madison, and Fifth Avenue - the white-gloved doormen, pre-war moldings, and general atmosphere of luxury - all too often overlooked is the phenomenal set of housing options closer to the East River. Often relatively unappealing from the outside, these modern rental developments tend to offer gorgeous views of the East River, floor-to-ceiling windows, architectural innovation, and plenty of space - all for significantly lower prices than are available elsewhere in Manhattan. That said, the neighborhood hasn't quite caught up yet; the closest you'll come to a thriving cocktail or nightlife scene here is the area around Beekman Place or the U.N., where a diplomatic enclave of sorts has sprung up. The East Village also transforms this avenue somewhat, turning it into a sea of ethnic restaurants and quirky boutiques. But further uptown this street is best considered an up-and-coming residential area, one popular with doctors due to "Bedpan Alley" - the large number of hospitals located in the area.
Pros
  • Some truly stunning post-war rental apartments with loads of amenities
  • Proximity to a number of the city's best hospitals
  • Diplomat and UN-focused nightlife scene
Cons
  • Not as pretty as some other neighborhoods
  • Far from most major subway stops and lines
  • No doorman buildings
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"27th - 30th St - Very Commercialized and Business Like"

When you go down 1st Ave, especially between 27th St. and 30th St., you will find it to be businesslike and commercialized. The biggest attraction is that there are two hospitals a few blocks apart. There is Bellevue Hospital and New York University Medical Center. There are also many deli's and one large department store. Vendors are seen on the street, especially where the hospitals are located.

When you go there, the one attraction is the huge park that is owned by Bellevue Hospital. It is located across the street from the Hospital.

Overall, if you don't mind a hospital or two being in the area, but you like to relax and rest from time to time, you might find the area on 1st Ave., to be one place you can go to. I need to forewarn you though. It is not exactly a quiet place. There is a lot of traffic going down the avenue, and people coming and going.
Pros
  • Mixed bag
  • Diplomat and UN-focused nightlife scene
  • Proximity to a number of the city's best hospitals
  • Some truly stunning post-war rental apartments with loads of amenities
Cons
  • Too busy at times
  • Too many people at times
  • Too loud of noise
  • Far from most major subway stops and lines
  • No doorman buildings
  • Not as pretty as some other neighborhoods
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
2yrs+

"A Walk Along the Eastside"

Walking down 1st Ave from the Barrio, you'll encounter many sights. The locale isn't quite as fancy as 5th Ave or Lexington, and you won't get nonstop sights and sounds like on 7th Ave, but if you have the time, it's worth a look. Ample retailers and restaurants are available, but more impressive are the glimpses you'll get of the river or the bridges that span the gap. The UN building is also accessible from 1st, a sight you'll want to see. It's worth your time, and has a vibe that is distinct from its more western counterparts.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5
2yrs+

"First among equals"

I love Thai food so when I found that First Avenue had three highly recommended Thai restaurants, there was no hesitation that this street was going to be the dining choice on a couple of occasions. It may seem hard to choose which one to go to first but the Bangkok Express serves up great food at a really reasonable price and is ideal for a vacation snack or dinner. With so many landmarks close at hand, it is easily going to be part of your tourist experience so it is really worthwhile popping in to grab a quick bite.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Lots of things to do for visitors, residents"

In the East Village, First Avenue hosts a long list of restaurants and places best visited at night. If you’re looking for a quiet place to live, this isn’t it. But if you want to live in a place that is constantly busy but not overwhelmingly trendy, you should check out First Ave. If you’re just visiting, I can vouch for the bar Three of Cups – it’s just your standard pub, but I never had a bad time.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"Fun and Worth a Visit"

A friend of mine worked for a few months on 1st ave and 13th street, and it is really a fun area to be in. It is full of great restaurants and bars that are open into the late hours of the morning, even on weekdays. On 1st ave and 10th street, there is a really grat Sushi restaurant that offers 50% of all sushi, all the time. In my college heydays, i would frequent this place. The food there is pretty decent and you can eat more than your fill for a relatively small paycheck. The bars in this area tend to follow a Mediterranean theme with many of them offering hookah smoke and hummus platters. This area is truly fun, and very easily accessible via the L at 14th street. This is great if you live in Brooklyn along the L line because the trip into Manhattan is not cumbersome, and you are pretty much guaranteed a good time. I highly recommend a small Venezuelan restaurant called Caracas on the corner of 7th st and 1st avenue for some of the tastiest arepas in the city! Beware, however, this place is closed on Mondays.
4/5
2yrs+

"Perfect for young couples."

1st avenue is a nice mix of everything. Between 7th and 12th streets is a nice mix of small shops and restaurants. Several Pizzerias and Diners along the avenue offer quick, cheap and delicious food. There are also a number of convenient amenities around. Nothing to write home about, per say, and nothing a tourist would head to the area to visit, but it's a convenient place to live, especially for someone who is looking for a convenient area to travel from.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
5/5
2yrs+

"Top spot for couples and singles.."

Some friends of mine live on 11th and 1st Avenue. It's a great spot right in the middle of the East Village. It's packed full of restaurants and bars. Basically anything you need you'll find. There's a basketball court just down the road which is handy for a Sat morning wake-up and the metro is only a couple of avenues across. I live in the West Village now which is a bit more upmarket and has that cleaner feel, but if you're looking for activity every night of the week, this area beats the West Village hands down... I'd say this is quintessential Manhattan. Definitely a cool spot for singles or couples alike...
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles

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Madison Ave

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40.7918156498315 -73.9508138026838
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40.7860832232736 -73.9493226161569
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40.8021573116731 -73.9381489674682

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