6.8 out of 10

5 Ave, Central Park

Ranked 7th best street in Central Park
40.764260000221 -73.973862501056
Great for
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Public Transport
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • Parking
  • Internet Access
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Peace & Quiet
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Singles
  • Tourists

Reviews

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

"Crowded part of the park"

5 Avenue only runs for about a block in Central Park before it runs through other neighborhoods (5th runs the entire east side of the park but the neighborhoods it runs through change). This bit of 5th is lovely but it's also the most crowded area because it's the southern part of the park. There are tourists everywhere, people getting out of the subway, a million taxis and people trying to sell things to the tourists so it can be really overwhelming if you're just trying to enjoy the park or, heaven forbid, get somewhere near it quickly.
The famous Cipriani restaurant is right on the corner of 5th and 59th. It doesn't have quite the cache that it did ten years ago but it's still pretty busy during the power lunch hours. The restaurant is on the ground floor of the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. It's not a big contender for luxury hotels anymore but it used to be. And, the architecture is really cool. Francis Ford Coppola used to live in this hotel and I highly suggest people check out the gargoyles on the building facade and the lobby.
Across from the hotel is the Grand Army Plaza part of the park. It's part of the park, technically, but kind of tapered off with a bunch of statues of generals. It's too crowded to enjoy on most days, in my opinion, but it's still nice. The rest of the block until the neighborhood changes is a really ugly apartment building. It's really ugly and really expensive but at least the view is gorgeous. I just feel like for that kind of price tag, why does the building look like a tenement in hell?
5th Avenue is hard to beat along the park but this is probably the least desirable part to live on because there are just too many tourists and noise when you're paying that kind of money. For that price, at least live in Carnegie Hill.
Pros
  • The park
Cons
  • Tourists Everywhere!
  • Noise
  • Expensive
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
2yrs+

"The Bridge Between East and West"

If you're in Midtown looking to switch from westside to eastside, you can have a nice stroll along Central Park's southern border by using this street. It's bookended by two huge landmarks -- Columbus Circle, a must-visit, on the west, and the giant Apple cube and FAO Schwarz on the east. The downsides are busy, busy people hurrying along rather thin sidewalks and the horse carriages, which are fun at first and then a little off-putting once you get a whiff of the smell.
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+

"If you have money and are a tourist, you'll love it"

This street is a haven for tourists who have come to the city with plenty of money to spend. It not only houses some of the country’s most glitzy hotels (try the Plaza Hotel), but features a number of restaurants as well. The street is relatively busy with tourist and street traffic just about all of the time. It’s close to plenty of shopping on Fifth Ave as well.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5 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 3/5
  • 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+

"Living on the Ritz"

Fifth Avenue lets out on to this part of the park which is filled with fun street performers and lots of great things to see. I really enjoyed walking here with friends and not only seeing a troupe of breakdancers/magicians, but also a man dressed in the American flag. It was fantastic. It reminds even the saltiest of New Yorkers of all the fun that can be had in this city, especially when you're willing to have it. You'll find art, and even the Apple Store at this end, and the most expensive retail is all on 5th and Madison Avenue which are only minutes away.

This street is near to the N,R,W at 5th Avenue.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5
2yrs+

"You should really just walk in the park"

The south side of Central Park is full of over-priced restaurants and high-class high-volume stores. At the eastern end of the street, the Apple Store is essential visiting. As is FAO Schwarz, though both are prettier than they are good values. The hotels are gorgeous but pricy. The west end's Columbus Circle is fun for a bit, after one realizes that the mall is worthless.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
4/5
2yrs+

"Classic New York but also the smell of horse dung"

Nothing is is more classic than than hotel life in new york. CPS is loaded with hotels even if many have gone condo in recent years. With all the great people watching and magnificent lobbies not to mention central park this is one of my favorite streets in NY. The downsides inclue a lot of traffic, people hocking black market purses and yes; the classic scent of horse dung permeates the air.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

Best Streets in Central Park

1

West 59 St

4.5/5
"Park Living"
40.7662411785499 -73.9775761874709
2

East Dr

4/5
"The best of Manhattan, this street runs the length of Central Park."
40.7838795750048 -73.9591768447992
3

Columbus Cir

3.5/5
"A Hub of the Westside"
40.7684265265769 -73.9816315647617
"Transverse this Road with caution!"
40.769865218902 -73.9747038359898
"The route to all the goodies"
40.7738043695359 -73.9725121707311
6

West Dr

3.5/5
"Great for joggers, during off-traffic hours"
40.7870201971717 -73.9671436207382
7

5 Ave

3.5/5
"Crowded part of the park"
40.764260000221 -73.973862501056
"Top end of the Resevoir"
40.7884015005813 -73.9561449973001
"The American Museum of Natural History Tops The List"
40.7851415700214 -73.9694464924141
"The way to Belvedere and the Wall"
40.7786856035021 -73.9681952675445

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