6.7 out of 10

2 Ave, Kips Bay

Ranked 3rd best street in Kips Bay
40.7416470673304 -73.9781633439196
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Medical Facilities
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Childcare
  • Schools
Not great for
  • No ratings yet
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Who lives here?
  • Singles
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Hipsters

Reviews

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

"Great Downtown: Awful Uptown"

2nd Avenue is really sleepy and aesthetically boring uptown but as you move down it becomes really lively and interesting. The UES is one of the most boring areas in town, but the East Village is fantastic. The only thing that is really crappy about 2nd Avenue all around is that there is no East Side Subway so it makes getting anywhere a real pain.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway cracks me up because it looks so Disneyland. It is an elevated car type thing that starts at 2nd Avenue at 59th. It was supposed to be a subway alternative but that thing looks scary as hell. Speaking of kid's memorabilia, just down the street (the corner of 2nd and 57th) is where JD Salinger lived after the publication of Catcher in the Rye. I think I'm one of the only people alive that didn't like that book. There are mostly just giant apartment and corporate buildings throughout 2nd Avenue in the uptown to midtown area. It makes the area pretty charmless and boring -- although way less crowded than midtown west especially on the tourist front. But, there is a pretty interesting place at 2nd and 47th. There's a pizza place called Nino's where you can buy a caviar pizza for 1,000 bucks. That seems like not only a waste of money but really disgusting -- but people actually buy it. Only in New York . . . .
Once you get into the 30's at 2nd, you enter one of the most boring neighborhoods in New York: Kip's Bay. It's named for Jacobus Kip who was a wealthy landowner when New York wasn't even New York yet. Kip's Bay in it's entirety was Jacobus Kip's farm. That is one huge farm. Now, the only thing noteworthy (in my opinion) in Kip's Bay is the massive movie theatre. It's a really personality-less part of town.
When you get down toward the Stuyvesant part of town -- Peter Stuyvesant used to own all of the 2nd Avenue land from 23rd to 6th -- things start to get a little more lively but it's still pretty sedate. There is a park called Stuyvesant Square that is pretty but it hasn't really got the appeal or energy of even Madison Square. The 20's and late teens of 2nd Avenue seem to be so sleepy, in my opinion, because there are so many hospitals and medical schools around here. I guess it's just all students and sick people. There is a really cool building at 18th and 2nd called the Rutherford Place Apartments. It used to be a hospital where pretty much every baby was born in New York city. Now it's really swanky apartments where Judd Nelson has lived. The architecture is really lovely and it would be pretty cool / creepy to live in a former hospital.
Once you get to 14th street and you're in the East Village, things really start to get shaking. There are a ton of restaurants that are fantastic (like Veselka and Mermaid Inn), great bars (like Bar Veloce) and shopping (Urban Outfitters and American Apparel). The St. Marks at the Bowery church is pretty much my favorite church in the city. It is very old and absolutely stunning.
There is so much life on 2nd Avenue once you get below 14th. It's one of my favorite areas to hang. You can walk into almost any restaurant or bar and have a great time. Plus, there is always a ton of people watching.
Pros
  • Lively downtown
  • Affordable
  • In a few years, there will be a subway line
Cons
  • Boring above 14th street
  • Less attractive than other neighborhoods
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Hipsters
  • Students
2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 3/5
2yrs+

"Not until the Subway Line question is resolved..."

Winding its way from Harlem to the East Village, heading through Gramercy Park and Murray Hill, this laid-back commercial and residential area isn't particularly pleasant, although in its uptown stretches it plays host to a number of uber-preppy bars where blazer-ed boozers play pool and reminisce about Deerfield (case in point, Dorrian's Red Hand on 84th Street). That said, while Second Avenue can be a viable option for a family looking for a safe and livable neighborhood on a lower income, the Second Avenue Subway Line - which has begun its constructed phase after nearly a century of on-again, off-again, planning - has led to an almost unbearably level of noise, mess, and general unpleasantness in the area, an unpleasantness which seems poised to last for quite some time. While the Second Avenue Line is sure to provide New Yorkers with an easy commute upon its completion, upping the value of the area's real estate, for now it's only an inconvenience.
Pros
  • In a few years, there will be a subway line
  • Property values bound to rise
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Noise and chaos of construction of the subway line
  • Less attractive than other neighborhoods
  • Loud, preppy bar scene
Recommended for
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"For a little touch of Ireland"

Mid March is obviously the time when New York, and the world, goes crazy on the Irish theme but there is a rich Irish history woven into the fabric of New York and if you want to experience this or you are feeling homesick, head to 2nd Avenue where a bevy of Irish bars will welcome you. Oneills, Failte, Doc Watsons, Eamon Dorans and Clancys is more than enough to keep even the most hardened Irish drinker occupied so why not see this street and have a great night out that’s guaranteed to be full of great craic.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
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+

"Interesting Variety, Off the Beaten Track"

A pretty cool place to visit (if you are in the mood for cakes and cupcakes) on this street is the Buttercup Bake Shop – everything inside of it looks absolutely incredible. Restaurants on the Upper East Side include Cilantro (which as you may have guessed features southwest-style cuisine. So if you’re missing your hometown Texican cuisine, or you’re just in the mood for a green chile cheeseburger – you should check it out.
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+

"Everyone should check out Veselka"

As you go west from First Ave, the scene changes from one that caters more to young people wandering in from the Lower East Side to one that caters to the brownstone apartment owners. There are a good deal of restaurants and shops to visit on Second Ave, like Veselka Restaurant. Veselka is a really great Ukrainian restaurant where I have eaten brunch several times (it was always crowded!).
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
3/5
2yrs+

"What You See"

Second avenue seems like it is a nice place to live in, especially on the lower east side. The vibrant and varied community adds for some great spots of interest along the block, especially the Israeli Max Brenner Chocolate bar, and the Ukrainian Veselka’s across the street. Second Ave and the East Village in general is not lacking in its entertainment value. All along the street, you will find underground poetry and comedy bars that appeal to any adventurous soul. The street also has some really great speciality supermarkets, many with varied foods from Europe and the Middle East. There is not much lacking on Second ave, including easy access to the BDVF line at the second ave/Houston stop.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"Great bar for a good place"

In my opinion, the only real place worth visiting is the Telephone bar. It is one of my first memories of New York City, and it was a good experience. It's a real throwback to London, which is where I spent some of my youth. It was a shot of nastalgia, which only added to the great atmosphere. A must-visit for any bar lovers coming to New York.
Recommended for
  • Singles
3/5
2yrs+

"On the East Village section"

Second avenue in the East Village is home of a gathering of fun places. The two big highlights are Telephone Bar (featuring London style telephone booths at the gate) and Pommes-Frites, Belgian-style fries with delicious sauces. The prices for the fries are high, but the happiness one gets from them is priceless. Best sauce in my opinion is the mango chutney mayo.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"A reliable spot in Manhattan"

I lived here for about a month and my friend lives here now. It's a nice spot, pretty straight-forward, ie what you see is what you get. There is a Gristedes next door and a decent supermarket around the corner. It's pretty safe, you see a few shady characters but that's not unusual anywhere in Manhattan.. The subway is 1-2 avenues away and there is a bus on the corner which takes you across town.

My friend lives in the apartment buildings on 27th and 2nd, they are safe, clean and reasonably priced. He's got a good studio for around $2200 I think.

All up, it's a decent spot, lacking that neighbourly spirit and charm, and sort of tucked away from the action but anywhere below 30th is decent I think, and this area has the added advantage of being only $5 downtown east village.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
AriS
AriS I think that the public housing by third in the high twenties make this area a little dicey. I also had a friend who lived at the clarendon at 26th and second and she complained of alot of drug dealing in the neighborhood
2yrs+
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3.5/5
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2 Ave

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East 28th St

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East 32 St

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6

East 31 St

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"Old hotel row"
40.7437256790645 -73.9792743256116
7

3 Ave

2.5/5
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8

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East 29th St

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